A fresh report out of Korea claims the new Kia Tasman bakkie will go without V6 power at launch, instead coming to market in 4-cylinder turbodiesel guise…
The new Kia Tasman – if that’s indeed what the company’s upcoming bakkie ends up be called – is expected to be revealed late in 2024. Now, a fresh report out of Korea claims the ladder-frame contender will launch without V6 power.
According to The Korean Car Blog, the Tasman will come to market with just a single engine option: the company’s familiar 2.2 CRDi powerplant. As a reminder, this 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel motor is employed by the likes of the Sorento and Carnival, where it generates peak outputs of 148 kW and 440 Nm.
If this report turns out to be accurate, Kia’s upcoming body-on-frame bakkie will debut with slightly lower 4-cylinder outputs than the equivalent engines in stalwarts such as the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. For instance, Toyota’s 2.8-litre oil-burner makes 150 kW and 500 Nm in standard guise (or 165 kW/550 Nm in uprated GR Sport form) while Ford’s 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel unit offers 154 kW and 500 Nm.
That said, the 2.2 CRDi engine would at least outpunch the Isuzu D-Max’s 1.9-litre motor (110 kW/350 Nm) and beat the Japanese firm’s 140 kW 3.0-litre unit in terms of peak power (though would be down slightly on the latter’s maximum twisting force of 450 Nm).
Earlier rumours suggested Kia might use the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel unit that powers the Mohave SUV offered in South Korea, delivering 191 kW and 560 Nm in that domestic-market model. That engine, of course, would allow the Kia bakkie to go toe-to-toe with the 6-cylinder oil-burning versions of the Ranger and closely related Volkswagen Amarok. But this latest report suggests this won’t be the case – at least not initially.
Of course, other engines options could indeed be offered at a later stage, from the aforementioned 6-cylinder motor to some sort of hybrid powertrain (be it a mild-hybrid to battle the Hilux 48V or a plug-in hybrid to take on the forthcoming Ranger PHEV).
In addition, The Korean Car Blog claims Kia plans to build between 120 000 and 130 000 units annually, adding that the Kia Tasman will be sold in Australia, Europe and even North America. No mention of Africa, but Kia’s local distributor recently confirmed to Cars.co.za that it’s “currently conducting all the feasibility studies to see whether or not [the new bakkie] will be a viable product for the South African market”.
Though the Kia South Africa told us “no timing of possible introduction is available as yet”, it’s worth noting the new 1-tonne bakkie – which is expected to be offered in both single- and double-cab body styles (the latter catering to the all-important leisure market) – is slated to launch in fellow right-hand-drive market Australia only at some point in 2025.
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New Kia (Tasman?) bakkie: SA ‘feasibility studies’ ongoing
