Reports suggesting Kia was fast-tracking a styling update for its Tasman ute have been shot down.
Kia Australia general manager of product planning, Roland Rivero, says what you see today is essentially what you get for years to come.
“Any rumour out there suggesting that there’s a fast-tracked facelift is not true,” said Rivero, referencing recent comments from a senior executive in South Korea that suggested significant styling changes for the Tasman are imminent.
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“The vehicle that you see on the roads today is the vehicle that we’ll have until the usual product life cycles, phasing or stages of PE (product enhancement). So we’ve got a fair bit to go.”
Rivero referenced previously reported “short-term adjustments” in the styling but warned not to get too excited.
FULL DETAILS: Kia Tasman ute
“It’s fairly minor – and that’s still a while away in any case. In essence there’s not going to be a radical change to the car any time soon.”
Essentially, then, the Tasman’s design is locked in until its full mid-life facelift, which is expected towards the end of the decade.
Rather than a redesign, Kia Australia is instead planning to use special edition models and accessories packages to generate momentum and give dealers fresh talking points.
“We might look at special editions,” Rivero said. “We might try a few other things as well. It’s on us to keep that demand and that momentum going. So stay tuned…”
Some of those special editions are expected to lean on Kia’s accessories range.
Recently appointed Kia Australia CEO Dennis Piccoli backed the product despite its slow sales start, describing it as “a great pickup” and “a great truck, adding that the company is “absolutely confident in the product”.
The Tasman has been on sale for less than a year and has faced tough competition in Australia’s fiercely contested ute segment, dominated by the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
An influx of newcomers from China – including plug-in hybrid offerings such as the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha – have also shaken the make up of the local ute market as buyers warm to more efficient options and sharp pricing.
