Korean brand considering twin-turbo Kia Stinger V6-powered version of its first ute
There could soon be a new player in the hero ute market – one capable of bloodying the nose of the seemingly untouchable Ford Ranger Raptor – and it could be based on the first ute from Kia, which has been confirmed for Australia in 2025.
The Korean car-maker has confirmed it is studying every facet of the local pick-up market, including the high-performance hero sector, as it continues development of its first-ever ute, which could be called the Tasman.
Kia Australia has been pushing for its first direct rival for the market-leading Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger for more than five years now, telling carsales in 2019 that a Kia pick-up with a similar model range would help it generate 100,000 overall annual sales.
Late last month it confirmed to its dealers that the long-awaited TK-series Kia ute, which has been spied testing several times in Korea recently, has been in development since 2020 and would arrive in Australia in 2025 with a ladder frame, diesel power and both (3500kg) towing and (1000kg) payload capacities to match the key rivals against which it was being benchmarked.
Speaking to Australian media this week, Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero said both the standard Ford Ranger and the hard-core Raptor flagship had been “major” benchmarks in their respective sectors for generations now, and that – without specifically confirming a hero Kia ute was in the works – Kia is most certainly keen to enter the high-performance ute segment.
“We need to look at the entirety of the ute segment,” said Rivero.
“When you dissect that category, there’s many sections… that every OEM would desire to have a crack at, and we’re no different.
“The Raptor has been around for a while, since when it was a four-cylinder bi-turbo [diesel]. You’re always looking at who are the main benchmarks, and Ranger is a major benchmark.”
Such a vehicle could be known as the Kia Tasman GT and may even be powered by the retiring Kia Stinger’s 3.3-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, an engine that Rivero said was “active still – very much so”.
The installation of this engine under the bonnet of the Kia ute would undoubtedly send Ford Performance into a cold sweat given its current 274kW/510Nm outputs aren’t all that far off those of the current Raptor (292kW/583Nm) and could quite easily be increased.
But with the Euro7 emission regulations beckoning it could make more sense to utilise the Hyundai-Kia group’s bigger and more modern 3.5-litre TTV6 that currently powers the Genesis GV80 and G80 twins, in which it outputs 279kW/530Nm – albeit in a much lazier manner than the feisty 3.3.
The alternative to both these theories or possibilities is the previously discussed fitment of the Genesis 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder diesel engine (204kW/588Nm) in an effort to rattle the cage of more subdued flagship utes like the Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior and Toyota HiLux GR Sport.
A Baja-conquering V6 petrol-powered ute is obviously a niche product in the market, but it’s a segment that Ford has managed to make its own while Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Holden (previously) and now GWM battle it out in the homegrown diesel-powered tough-truck market.
But the fitment of the Genesis diesel could see Kia straddle both sub-segments by offering drastically more performance than the aforementioned diesels while retaining plenty of tractability.
“We’re exploring all avenues,” said Rivero. “Kia Australia is committed to this product, as are the other regions around the world that will be getting it.
“And to achieve that success, you’ve got to look at all avenues to ensure that it’s desirable across all buyer types.
“Ford’s done a fantastic job with the Raptor. And even from the Nissan side of things, the Navara Warrior PRO-4X is a substantial amount of [sales] mix and doing a lot of the heavy lifting for Nissan.”
Neither Rivero nor any of the other executives present at the media briefing would be drawn on what exactly will power the mainstream Tasman line-up, however, the general consensus is the core range will feature an enhanced version of the familiar 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder as seen in the Kia Sorento.
The Kia Mohave 4×4’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 has also been touted as a possibility given the huge local demand for the V6 Ford Rangers and VW Amaroks.
Rivero said a “substantial” amount of Australian input has already been applied to the Kia TK program, which is expected to result in a full range of body styles, powertrains and model grades – including a ‘tradie spec’ – to compete with Australia’s top-selling utes.
carsales understands Kia has conducted several customer focus groups and engineering ‘fact-finding’ missions in Australia as part of its extensive market research into the lucrative local ute sector, and that the new ute will undergo a local chassis tuning program as per all Kia Australia models.
“A lot of work has already been done to, as much as possible, influence development to suit our market,” said Rivero.
“When you’re involved this far out, Australia’s role is seen as a very important one.”
Kia Australia COO Damien Meredith said in the same roundtable interview that the company hopes to gain a 10 per cent share of Australia’s pick-up market, which last year totalled almost 230,000 sales, making it one of the world’s largest.
Consistent with Meredith’s previous comments, that means Kia Australia is forecasting at least 20,000 ute sales a year, which based on 2022 figures would make the Kia TK the nation’s fourth most popular ute behind the HiLux, Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton, alongside the Isuzu D-MAX.
In turn, 100,000-plus annual sales would see Kia, which overtook its more established Hyundai sister brand last year, leapfrog Mazda (which achieved only 95,700 sales last year) into second place behind Toyota in Australia’s overall auto sales race.
Meredith said that while an Australian trademark filing for the ‘Tasman’ name had been lodged, the nameplate for the Kia TK – which will be covered by Kia Australia’s seven-year warranty – “is still under discussion”.
But despite advising Australian dealers to expect the new ute in 2025, meaning the TK could make its world debut next year, Kia’s local chief indicated it might not arrive until 2026.
“We announced to our dealer network it is happening… and we’re confident that within the next 24 to 36 months it will be in Australia,” said Meredith.
“We put together a compelling business proposal quite a few years ago… and it’s come to fruition and now we’re nearly there.”
Rivero said the first Kia ute would be a global model, designed to appeal to be fleet and private customers, suggesting petrol power could be available in some markets.
“It is a global product… and the business cases have to come from multiple regions too. All of the business cases come together – Middle East, South Africa, Asia, etcetera – and then it’s all bundled together and looked at as a collective business strategy. All of those stars have to align to make a decision about a new product.” He said.
“There are so many facets to determine whether a new product comes to life or not and gets the green light. Some utes in the market are aimed at private buyers and others are aimed at fleets, and we want to appeal to everyone. For the car to resonate for us, we need to tackle every part of the ute market.”
Digital images: Kleber Silva Spy images: Autospy.net, kia_club_official
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Keyword: Kia ‘Tasman GT’ ute to target Ford Ranger Raptor