Kia’s upcoming ute has been spotted again during summer testing in Spain, revealing a few key design details. Meanwhile, in Australia, the Tasman has been seen at New South Wales’ Stockton Sand Dunes following the release of a promotional video filmed in Victoria.
Summer in Spain
The new KIA Tasman has been spotted with less camouflage, revealing more of its design. Thanks to our spy photographers, we can see significant changes in the vehicle’s front. The removal of heavier camouflage shows the shape of the front and most of the grille. The Tasman’s exterior design conveys strength and ruggedness, preparing it for various challenges.
These photos (above) seem to confirm that the grille will be wider than implied in the camouflage teasers, with there being 5 vertical pillars separating 6 inlets, rather than 3 vertical pillars separating just 4 inlets. This is more aggressive style commonly seen on American pickups and looks less like a pug struggling to breathe.
We can also see that the front bumper is black, especially around the fog lights and along the bottom, where the recovery hooks are. We have also seen a clip showing the bumper blending into the side mud-guards (right), which must mean that both the side mudguards and front bumper will be a matte-black plastic, at least in the base model. This leaves us asking, “Could higher specs have coloured code mudguards and bumpers?” It’s not uncommon for most manufacturers to use black plastics on base models.
Looking at the computer rendering below, blue Render A from CarsGuide.com.au and the green Render B from NY Mammoth, we may assume that Render B of the bumper and grille are probably more accurate, at least for the base model.
Offroad in Australia
Photos posted to Ute Guide show Kia testing the Tasman on the Stockton Sand Dunes near Newcastle. The Stockton Sand Dunes, part of the Worimi Conservation Lands, are a highly popular destination for off-road enthusiasts. These dunes, the largest coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, stretch for 32 kilometres and cover an area of 4,200 hectares. These dunes are part of the Worimi Conservation Lands and are a popular destination for nature lovers alike and off-roaders, offering a tough testing ground for the Tasman’s sand-surfing abilities.
This comes after Kia released a video showing offroad testing at Mount Black, a 318-metre climb is located in the Heathcote-Graytown National Park in central Victoria. The region is known for its rugged terrain, steep descents, and diverse flora and fauna, making it a popular spot for hiking and off-road activities.
It’s good to see Kia putting the Tasman through its paces in at locations everyday Aussies will put it to use. Especially after Kia’s first offroad video was filmed in the Alabama Hills in California, despite the Tasman not being expected to be released in North America. Unfortunately, the American voice-over persists into the Australian test videos.
