Kia’s Tasman: A Pickup Truck Today, an SUV Tomorrow?
On the 23rd, a glimpse of Kia’s new pickup truck, the Tasman, was revealed, sparking hot reactions from consumers. After removing the Tasman’s camouflage cover, Kia officially unveiled a prototype that only had a camouflage film attached.
Shrouded in mystery, the unveiled front view of the Tasman closely matches the previously released renderings, causing quite a surprise. What if Kia doesn’t stop at the Tasman pickup truck and releases a proper off-road SUV model as a derivative?
The front end is similar to the actual car. What’s the difference with the pickup truck?
The car concept creator, New York Mammoth, posted a concept of the Tasman SUV model on the 24th. As the Tasman is a new car targeting the Australian market, the SUV based on it also emphasizes off-road driving performance. The front end follows the design of the official prototype, but some elements have been modified to fit the SUV concept.
In the pickup truck, the five vertical grille pins have been expanded to six, and the front camera has also been moved from the bottom grille to the center of the top grill. The dual grill frame, finished in black, is left as is to emphasize the majestic front end, and the lower part of the front bumper is finished more steeply. This design seems to secure the approach angle needed in extreme off-road conditions.
The off-roader tuning car also catches the eye. It has a visual that seems actually to exist.
Except for the front end, engine room surroundings, side mirrors, and rear wheel arch cladding, all other parts have been transformed into an SUV shape. The DLO line remains flat to the second-row door and rises near the rear quarter glass. The door handles are placed closer to the window, and the thick wheel arch cladding seems to require no unique tuning.
The concept of a fully tuned off-roader also captures attention. It features an aftermarket part that appears to be made of metal, replacing the original front bumper. The larger-diameter all-terrain tires and searchlight placed on the top of the front windshield also emphasize the outdoor vibe. It doesn’t seem overshadowed by other popular models in its category, such as the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.
Kia has no plans to release an SUV
Kia has not yet revealed whether it will develop an SUV derivative based on the Tasman, but the Tasman will likely remain an exclusive pickup truck model. Some people think that if the Tasman SUV in the concept is released, it could secure a considerable fan base. If they develop this model, it seems like they could tie it into the heritage of the Kia Retona.
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