More pictures of what could be Kia’s long-awaiting ute project have emerged online giving us a better look at this highly anticipated workhorse that could soon be a common sight on Australian roads. The images, initially published by South Korean publication Autospy, show the ute proportions of the prototype in clear view, though camouflage still covers some of the finer details.
The front of the ute seems to be taken directly from the Mohave SUV, with the distinctive headlights and grille of the rugged SUV visible under the protective disguise. The prototype also features the Mohave’s prominent rounded fenders, although it misses out on the Mohave’s plastic wheel arch protectors. The wing mirrors and front doors of the ute are also shared with the Mohave, although the ute lacks the glossy black plastic window frames of the SUV.
The Kia ute may look like a Mohave SUV at the front, but underneath the new pickup might be a new ladder-frame platform – one that could suit both ICE and electric powertrains. The former is the most likely to make an appearance at launch as previous images of the prototype ute have shown off a large set of exhaust pipes and rear differential.
In May 2021, Kia confirmed at its 2022 investor day that the company was working on two pickup trucks, one of which will be based on the E-GMP EV architecture, and the other will use an internal combustion engine (ICE) platform and will be targeted primarily at emerging markets.
Albert Biermann, founding executive at Hyundai N, said in 2020 that the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel straight-six engine found in the Genesis GV80 SUV could be a viable choice for commercial vehicles, including the Kia ute. This engine currently boasts an impressive output of 204 kW/588 Nm, which would rival the Ford Ranger’s 184 kW/600 Nm in the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine, while the Raptor is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with 292kW and 583Nm, should you like to pay $86,790 before on-road costs.
Eagle-eyed readers will also note the size difference of Kia’s ute compared to the cars around it, hinting that it might have a footprint larger than a midsize ute like an Isuzu D-Max.
