Latest news with #TasmanX-Pro
The Advertiser
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Tougher Kia Tasman Weekender concept ute could preview future update
The Kia Tasman Weekender (WKNDR) Concept made headlines at this year's Seoul motor show and, while it hasn't been confirmed for production as yet, it could preview future design updates for the Korean's brand's first ute. Speaking with CarExpert at a local pre-production drive of the Tasman X-Pro this week, Kia Australia's general manager for product planning Roland Rivero said the polarising design of the launch vehicle is here to stay for the time being. "At the moment, to be honest – it's just a concept. It's a concept for enhancement of the brand… [to] further promote the Tasman," Mr Rivero said. "Across the lifecycle, [there is] plenty of opportunity to enhance [the Tasman] and, who knows, the facelift might draw inspiration from it, I don't know." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed at the Seoul show last month, the Kia Tasman Weekender concept – or WKNDR, as it was badged – is kitted out with hardcore off-road equipment including larger front and rear bumpers housing recovery points, all-terrain tyres, and sturdy-looking side steps. There's also a chunky roof rack that leads into a large rear sailplane, plus what appear to be dual winches and a sizeable storage box above the rear tray. It all previews what could be possible in the realm of heavy-duty genuine accessories for the polarising new Korean dual-cab. One of the other key changes for the Tasman WKNDR is the use of body colour for its controversial horizontal wheel-arches, which makes them appear less prominent than the dull black plastic material for which the production model attracted so much criticism. The Weekender is finished in a matte beige paint, which closely resembles the Tan Beige colour available for the production-spec Tasman – also reminiscent of the Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series' iconic Sandy Taupe. It's augmented by lime green accents on the front and rear bumpers, as well as tie-down straps attached to the side of the Tasman's bed. All of the chunky accessories, including the lower portion of the bed and cabin, are finished in matte grey. Kia Australia has committed to making a range of genuine accessories available from the Tasman's market launch in July – Mr Rivero indicated around 40 items will be available via dealers from the get-go. The Korean brand's local arm has collaborated with local suppliers like EGR Auto and Triple M for its catalogue of Tasman add-ons, which are said to include everything from bull bars, canopies, trays and side steps. Mr Rivero confirmed that numerous variations of each accessory will also be available to suit different Tasman variants as well as customer needs – think standard versus heavy-duty, as well as Single versus Double Cab, and Pickup versus Cab Chassis. Kia offers a number of wild and wacky extras for the Tasman in the Korean domestic market, but Mr Rivero said these options aren't locked in for Australia at the moment, largely due to the cost from factory. Do you want to see a production version of the Tasman Weekender Concept? Sound off in the comments! MORE: Beefy new Kia Tasman concept previews hardcore off-road gearMORE: Everything Kia Tasman Content originally sourced from: The Kia Tasman Weekender (WKNDR) Concept made headlines at this year's Seoul motor show and, while it hasn't been confirmed for production as yet, it could preview future design updates for the Korean's brand's first ute. Speaking with CarExpert at a local pre-production drive of the Tasman X-Pro this week, Kia Australia's general manager for product planning Roland Rivero said the polarising design of the launch vehicle is here to stay for the time being. "At the moment, to be honest – it's just a concept. It's a concept for enhancement of the brand… [to] further promote the Tasman," Mr Rivero said. "Across the lifecycle, [there is] plenty of opportunity to enhance [the Tasman] and, who knows, the facelift might draw inspiration from it, I don't know." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed at the Seoul show last month, the Kia Tasman Weekender concept – or WKNDR, as it was badged – is kitted out with hardcore off-road equipment including larger front and rear bumpers housing recovery points, all-terrain tyres, and sturdy-looking side steps. There's also a chunky roof rack that leads into a large rear sailplane, plus what appear to be dual winches and a sizeable storage box above the rear tray. It all previews what could be possible in the realm of heavy-duty genuine accessories for the polarising new Korean dual-cab. One of the other key changes for the Tasman WKNDR is the use of body colour for its controversial horizontal wheel-arches, which makes them appear less prominent than the dull black plastic material for which the production model attracted so much criticism. The Weekender is finished in a matte beige paint, which closely resembles the Tan Beige colour available for the production-spec Tasman – also reminiscent of the Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series' iconic Sandy Taupe. It's augmented by lime green accents on the front and rear bumpers, as well as tie-down straps attached to the side of the Tasman's bed. All of the chunky accessories, including the lower portion of the bed and cabin, are finished in matte grey. Kia Australia has committed to making a range of genuine accessories available from the Tasman's market launch in July – Mr Rivero indicated around 40 items will be available via dealers from the get-go. The Korean brand's local arm has collaborated with local suppliers like EGR Auto and Triple M for its catalogue of Tasman add-ons, which are said to include everything from bull bars, canopies, trays and side steps. Mr Rivero confirmed that numerous variations of each accessory will also be available to suit different Tasman variants as well as customer needs – think standard versus heavy-duty, as well as Single versus Double Cab, and Pickup versus Cab Chassis. Kia offers a number of wild and wacky extras for the Tasman in the Korean domestic market, but Mr Rivero said these options aren't locked in for Australia at the moment, largely due to the cost from factory. Do you want to see a production version of the Tasman Weekender Concept? Sound off in the comments! MORE: Beefy new Kia Tasman concept previews hardcore off-road gearMORE: Everything Kia Tasman Content originally sourced from: The Kia Tasman Weekender (WKNDR) Concept made headlines at this year's Seoul motor show and, while it hasn't been confirmed for production as yet, it could preview future design updates for the Korean's brand's first ute. Speaking with CarExpert at a local pre-production drive of the Tasman X-Pro this week, Kia Australia's general manager for product planning Roland Rivero said the polarising design of the launch vehicle is here to stay for the time being. "At the moment, to be honest – it's just a concept. It's a concept for enhancement of the brand… [to] further promote the Tasman," Mr Rivero said. "Across the lifecycle, [there is] plenty of opportunity to enhance [the Tasman] and, who knows, the facelift might draw inspiration from it, I don't know." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed at the Seoul show last month, the Kia Tasman Weekender concept – or WKNDR, as it was badged – is kitted out with hardcore off-road equipment including larger front and rear bumpers housing recovery points, all-terrain tyres, and sturdy-looking side steps. There's also a chunky roof rack that leads into a large rear sailplane, plus what appear to be dual winches and a sizeable storage box above the rear tray. It all previews what could be possible in the realm of heavy-duty genuine accessories for the polarising new Korean dual-cab. One of the other key changes for the Tasman WKNDR is the use of body colour for its controversial horizontal wheel-arches, which makes them appear less prominent than the dull black plastic material for which the production model attracted so much criticism. The Weekender is finished in a matte beige paint, which closely resembles the Tan Beige colour available for the production-spec Tasman – also reminiscent of the Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series' iconic Sandy Taupe. It's augmented by lime green accents on the front and rear bumpers, as well as tie-down straps attached to the side of the Tasman's bed. All of the chunky accessories, including the lower portion of the bed and cabin, are finished in matte grey. Kia Australia has committed to making a range of genuine accessories available from the Tasman's market launch in July – Mr Rivero indicated around 40 items will be available via dealers from the get-go. The Korean brand's local arm has collaborated with local suppliers like EGR Auto and Triple M for its catalogue of Tasman add-ons, which are said to include everything from bull bars, canopies, trays and side steps. Mr Rivero confirmed that numerous variations of each accessory will also be available to suit different Tasman variants as well as customer needs – think standard versus heavy-duty, as well as Single versus Double Cab, and Pickup versus Cab Chassis. Kia offers a number of wild and wacky extras for the Tasman in the Korean domestic market, but Mr Rivero said these options aren't locked in for Australia at the moment, largely due to the cost from factory. Do you want to see a production version of the Tasman Weekender Concept? Sound off in the comments! MORE: Beefy new Kia Tasman concept previews hardcore off-road gearMORE: Everything Kia Tasman Content originally sourced from: The Kia Tasman Weekender (WKNDR) Concept made headlines at this year's Seoul motor show and, while it hasn't been confirmed for production as yet, it could preview future design updates for the Korean's brand's first ute. Speaking with CarExpert at a local pre-production drive of the Tasman X-Pro this week, Kia Australia's general manager for product planning Roland Rivero said the polarising design of the launch vehicle is here to stay for the time being. "At the moment, to be honest – it's just a concept. It's a concept for enhancement of the brand… [to] further promote the Tasman," Mr Rivero said. "Across the lifecycle, [there is] plenty of opportunity to enhance [the Tasman] and, who knows, the facelift might draw inspiration from it, I don't know." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed at the Seoul show last month, the Kia Tasman Weekender concept – or WKNDR, as it was badged – is kitted out with hardcore off-road equipment including larger front and rear bumpers housing recovery points, all-terrain tyres, and sturdy-looking side steps. There's also a chunky roof rack that leads into a large rear sailplane, plus what appear to be dual winches and a sizeable storage box above the rear tray. It all previews what could be possible in the realm of heavy-duty genuine accessories for the polarising new Korean dual-cab. One of the other key changes for the Tasman WKNDR is the use of body colour for its controversial horizontal wheel-arches, which makes them appear less prominent than the dull black plastic material for which the production model attracted so much criticism. The Weekender is finished in a matte beige paint, which closely resembles the Tan Beige colour available for the production-spec Tasman – also reminiscent of the Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series' iconic Sandy Taupe. It's augmented by lime green accents on the front and rear bumpers, as well as tie-down straps attached to the side of the Tasman's bed. All of the chunky accessories, including the lower portion of the bed and cabin, are finished in matte grey. Kia Australia has committed to making a range of genuine accessories available from the Tasman's market launch in July – Mr Rivero indicated around 40 items will be available via dealers from the get-go. The Korean brand's local arm has collaborated with local suppliers like EGR Auto and Triple M for its catalogue of Tasman add-ons, which are said to include everything from bull bars, canopies, trays and side steps. Mr Rivero confirmed that numerous variations of each accessory will also be available to suit different Tasman variants as well as customer needs – think standard versus heavy-duty, as well as Single versus Double Cab, and Pickup versus Cab Chassis. Kia offers a number of wild and wacky extras for the Tasman in the Korean domestic market, but Mr Rivero said these options aren't locked in for Australia at the moment, largely due to the cost from factory. Do you want to see a production version of the Tasman Weekender Concept? Sound off in the comments! MORE: Beefy new Kia Tasman concept previews hardcore off-road gearMORE: Everything Kia Tasman Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Tougher Kia Tasman Weekender concept ute could preview future update
The Kia Tasman Weekender (WKNDR) Concept made headlines at this year's Seoul motor show and, while it hasn't been confirmed for production as yet, it could preview future design updates for the Korean's brand's first ute. Speaking with CarExpert at a local pre-production drive of the Tasman X-Pro this week, Kia Australia's general manager for product planning Roland Rivero said the polarising design of the launch vehicle is here to stay for the time being. 'At the moment, to be honest – it's just a concept. It's a concept for enhancement of the brand… [to] further promote the Tasman,' Mr Rivero said. 'Across the lifecycle, [there is] plenty of opportunity to enhance [the Tasman] and, who knows, the facelift might draw inspiration from it, I don't know.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed at the Seoul show last month, the Kia Tasman Weekender concept – or WKNDR, as it was badged – is kitted out with hardcore off-road equipment including larger front and rear bumpers housing recovery points, all-terrain tyres, and sturdy-looking side steps. There's also a chunky roof rack that leads into a large rear sailplane, plus what appear to be dual winches and a sizeable storage box above the rear tray. It all previews what could be possible in the realm of heavy-duty genuine accessories for the polarising new Korean dual-cab. One of the other key changes for the Tasman WKNDR is the use of body colour for its controversial horizontal wheel-arches, which makes them appear less prominent than the dull black plastic material for which the production model attracted so much criticism. The Weekender is finished in a matte beige paint, which closely resembles the Tan Beige colour available for the production-spec Tasman – also reminiscent of the Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series ' iconic Sandy Taupe. It's augmented by lime green accents on the front and rear bumpers, as well as tie-down straps attached to the side of the Tasman's bed. All of the chunky accessories, including the lower portion of the bed and cabin, are finished in matte grey. Kia Australia has committed to making a range of genuine accessories available from the Tasman's market launch in July – Mr Rivero indicated around 40 items will be available via dealers from the get-go. The Korean brand's local arm has collaborated with local suppliers like EGR Auto and Triple M for its catalogue of Tasman add-ons, which are said to include everything from bull bars, canopies, trays and side steps. Mr Rivero confirmed that numerous variations of each accessory will also be available to suit different Tasman variants as well as customer needs – think standard versus heavy-duty, as well as Single versus Double Cab, and Pickup versus Cab Chassis. Kia offers a number of wild and wacky extras for the Tasman in the Korean domestic market, but Mr Rivero said these options aren't locked in for Australia at the moment, largely due to the cost from factory.
West Australian
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Tougher Kia Tasman Weekender concept ute could preview future update
The Kia Tasman Weekender (WKNDR) Concept made headlines at this year's Seoul motor show and, while it hasn't been confirmed for production as yet, it could preview future design updates for the Korean's brand's first ute. Speaking with CarExpert at a local pre-production drive of the Tasman X-Pro this week, Kia Australia's general manager for product planning Roland Rivero said the polarising design of the launch vehicle is here to stay for the time being. 'At the moment, to be honest – it's just a concept. It's a concept for enhancement of the brand… [to] further promote the Tasman,' Mr Rivero said. 'Across the lifecycle, [there is] plenty of opportunity to enhance [the Tasman] and, who knows, the facelift might draw inspiration from it, I don't know.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . Revealed at the Seoul show last month, the Kia Tasman Weekender concept – or WKNDR, as it was badged – is kitted out with hardcore off-road equipment including larger front and rear bumpers housing recovery points, all-terrain tyres, and sturdy-looking side steps. There's also a chunky roof rack that leads into a large rear sailplane, plus what appear to be dual winches and a sizeable storage box above the rear tray. It all previews what could be possible in the realm of heavy-duty genuine accessories for the polarising new Korean dual-cab. One of the other key changes for the Tasman WKNDR is the use of body colour for its controversial horizontal wheel-arches, which makes them appear less prominent than the dull black plastic material for which the production model attracted so much criticism. The Weekender is finished in a matte beige paint, which closely resembles the Tan Beige colour available for the production-spec Tasman – also reminiscent of the Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series ' iconic Sandy Taupe. It's augmented by lime green accents on the front and rear bumpers, as well as tie-down straps attached to the side of the Tasman's bed. All of the chunky accessories, including the lower portion of the bed and cabin, are finished in matte grey. Kia Australia has committed to making a range of genuine accessories available from the Tasman's market launch in July – Mr Rivero indicated around 40 items will be available via dealers from the get-go. The Korean brand's local arm has collaborated with local suppliers like EGR Auto and Triple M for its catalogue of Tasman add-ons, which are said to include everything from bull bars, canopies, trays and side steps. Mr Rivero confirmed that numerous variations of each accessory will also be available to suit different Tasman variants as well as customer needs – think standard versus heavy-duty, as well as Single versus Double Cab, and Pickup versus Cab Chassis. Kia offers a number of wild and wacky extras for the Tasman in the Korean domestic market, but Mr Rivero said these options aren't locked in for Australia at the moment, largely due to the cost from factory. Do you want to see a production version of the Tasman Weekender Concept? Sound off in the comments! MORE: Beefy new Kia Tasman concept previews hardcore off-road gear MORE: Everything Kia Tasman
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2025 Kia Tasman to get split safety rating
Kia Australia says the new Tasman dual-cab ute's success in the fleet market hinges on a five-star ANCAP safety rating which it expects to achieve, though the entire range isn't expected to be rated by the safety authority. Speaking with CarExpert at the prototype drive of the brand's first dual-cab ute, general manager for product at Kia Australia – Roland Rivero – said the local range will offer two front bumper variations, with the off-road bumper on the X-Line and X-Pro models less effective in pedestrian detection. '[The front bumper of lower grades] is safety related, in that the lower approach angle in effect assists with pedestrian safety, or vulnerable road user detection, and with the high approach angle the X-Line and X-Pro it's not as friendly from a lower leg perspective – so we want to give the Tasman a chance of hitting the five-star mark,' Mr Rivero said. 'Particularly because it's a non-negotiable for many fleets, we don't want to lose that potential 50 per cent of business if we don't achieve that five-star rating.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Tasman S Credit: CarExpert Tasman X-Pro Credit: CarExpert When asked if there will be a split rating for the Tasman similar to how the previous-generation Kia Cerato had a split rating depending on specification, Mr Rivero said the off-road-focused models will likely go unrated instead. 'At this point in time, the off-roaders will be unrated, in effect. But you can still take an S, SX or SX+ 4×4 off-road if you wanted to, and get a reasonable approach angle if you change the bar and put a bullbar in its place that will grant you a lot more clearance,' Mr Rivero continued 'We envisage some of the big fleets will do that – QFleet, Department of Agriculture, Department of Primary Industries – they do that, and they need a five-star rating from the get-go. '[Those customers] do a lot of rural driving, and kangaroos can become a problem, so they'll put the bull bars on. That's how we see the market playing out in that regard, from a bumper perspective.' While the top-selling Ford Ranger (excl. Raptor) and Toyota HiLux (excl. GR Sport) feature five-star ANCAP ratings across most of their ranges, they're also subject to older test criteria, whereas the Kia is up against the latest standards. X-Pro Prototype with accessories Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment includes: Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) Adaptive cruise control Blind-spot monitoring Integrated trailer brake controller Lane-centring assist Lane-keep assist Parking sensors – front, rear Reversing camera Trailer sway control Tasman SX adds: Tasman X-Line adds: 360-degree parking cameras Blind Spot View Monitor Parking Collision Avoidance Assist Kia Australia has yet to confirm the Tasman's airbag count. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Kia Tasman is available for pre-order now, ahead of a first deliveries around July. Prices start from $42,990 before on-road costs for the entry-level S 4×2 dual-cab pickup, climbing to $74,990 for the loaded, off-road focused X-Pro. Read our full price and specs breakdown here. MORE: Everything Kia Tasman
Korea Herald
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Kia's first pickup, Tasman, boasts power, comfort and utility
Kia launched its first pickup truck, the Tasman, in Korea in February, aiming to revitalize Korea's declining pickup market by appealing to the growing number of leisure enthusiasts. With advanced off-road technology, uncompromised by its affordable starting price of 37.5 million won ($25,475), it recorded sales of 4,000 units in its first month after launch, equivalent to around 30 percent of Korea's overall pickup sales in 2024. On Monday, the Korea Herald test-drove the top-tier Tasman X-Pro trim across three different courses, including public roads, an off-road track, and a muddy mountain trail, all in Inje, Gangwon Province. The front view of the mid-sized pickup exudes a bold presence with angular lines and a rugged, rectangular-shaped front end, while its tiger snout-inspired grille reflects Kia's signature design language. Its cargo bed, measuring 1,512 millimeters in length, 1,572 millimeters in width and 540 millimeters in depth, offers ample space for different leisure and work-related equipment. During the on-road drive, the Tasman's 2.5-liter turbo gasoline engine delivered smooth, rapid acceleration, demonstrating its power potential to handle heavy loads. According to Kia, the truck can carry up to 700 kilograms of cargo and tow up to 3.5 tons of camping trailers. The spacious driver's seat and simple cockpit design contributed to a comfortable driving experience. Notably, the Tasman simplified the center console by minimizing control elements, relying primarily on buttons while avoiding dials and levers. This effort reduced the reporter's confusion while driving. While it offers three four-wheel-drive modes — high-range, low-range and auto — along with a two-wheel-drive mode, the Tasman operated in two-wheel-drive mode during the on-road test, sending power to the rear wheels to reduce unnecessary resistance from the front wheels and improve fuel efficiency. Thanks to this feature, the 2.2-ton truck achieved a fuel efficiency of 10 kilometers per liter during a 60-kilometer on-road test drive, surpassing its official rating of approximately 8 kilometers per liter. On the off-road course, the low-range four-wheel-drive mode was engaged to deliver maximum torque while maintaining controlled speeds. The Tasman also features a terrain management system with sand, mud and rock modes, which adjust torque and other drivetrain settings to suit specific terrains. Built on a flexible ladder-frame chassis, the Tasman demonstrated exceptional resilience on uneven terrain. As the vehicle navigated a bumpy section, some wheels lifted off the ground while others remained in contact, causing the frame to flex. However, the frame withstood the stress, preventing damage to the vehicle's body during obstacle climbs. The vehicle also tackled deep-water crossings, successfully navigating submerged paths up to 600 mm deep. With a rated water-fording capability of 800 mm, the Tasman crossed streams at a controlled speed of 7 kilometers per hour. The mud-terrain mode proved particularly useful when ascending a steep, narrow mountain trail covered in mud. Continuous movement was crucial to prevent the vehicle from getting stuck, and the system automatically adjusted the throttle response and differential locking. This feature ensured steady progress across varying slopes throughout the 30-minute climb and descent. Throughout the drive on unpaved paths, its 12.3-inch display provided key driving information, including torque distribution, fuel pressure and fuel temperature, all of which impacted the vehicle's performance. The display also provided a simulated view of the terrain ahead, including the vehicle's wheel position, which could be accessed with a swipe on the screen. While the entry-level Dynamic trim is priced at 37.5 million won in Korea, the mid-level Adventure and Extreme trims are priced at 41.1 million and 44.9 million won, respectively. The X-Pro, equipped with enhanced off-road features, is priced at 52.4 million won.
