Kia ute: Dealer leak reveals details about Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux rival

The first details about the hotly-anticipated Kia dual-cab ute are right here.

CarExpert has obtained info about what is going to energy the ute, when it would launch, and which automobiles Kia is focusing on, with Australian sellers briefed about the upcoming mannequin this week.

Here are the headline details:

• The ute is understood internally as “TK”
• Kia engineers have used Australia as a take a look at mattress for the ute
• It’s been benchmarked towards the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux
• Power will come from a diesel engine
• It’s as a consequence of arrive in Australia in 2025

Known internally as TK, the brand new dual-cab ute will plug an enormous hole within the model’s Australian line-up, and has the potential to spice up Kia to new heights on the gross sales charts – doubtlessly overtaking Mazda within the race for second place, behind market chief Toyota.

“Kia is presently creating a future pickup truck mannequin that shall be extremely succesful and match for objective. Additional details shall be confirmed in the end,” a Kia spokesperson stated when questioned about the ute.

After drip-feeds from executives, and an early prototype primarily based on the Korean-market Mohave ladder-frame SUV being spotted in South Korea, these are our first details on what may very well be the model’s most vital new launch but.

What to anticipate? Read on to seek out out.

What is it?

The Kia ute – recognized internally as TK – is one in every of two upcoming pickup vans coming from the model, probably the automobile known as “strategic mannequin for rising markets” by firm executives final yr. The different shall be a devoted electrical ute.

TK is simply the inner codename at this stage, and the brand new ute will little doubt achieve a correct identify when it launches within the coming years.

According to sellers briefed on the automobile, Kia has been benchmarking the TK towards the segment-leading Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux to “obtain towing capability and payload targets”.

That signifies Kia is working to make sure the TK meets the anticipated capabilities of a dual-cab ute in Australia, which means a braked towing capability of 3500kg and a payload across the 1000kg mark relying on variant.

It additionally guidelines out the ute being a Kia-badged model of the softer, car-based Hyundai Santa Cruz supplied in North America.

When is the Kia ute coming to Australia?

A manufacturing model of the Kia ute shall be arriving in 2025, 5 years after its growth started.

According to leaked supplier info, engineers from Kia head workplace have been flown to Australia “on a number of events” to expertise rivals and native situations, so you may anticipate the ute to be well-tailored to our roads.

The ute phase in Australia might look completely different by 2025 – Ford has confirmed a Ranger plug-in hybrid is launching in Europe in 2024, and it may very well be coming right here, whereas the following Toyota HiLux is due across the identical time probably primarily based on the identical TNGA-F structure underpinning the LandCruiser

Beyond that, a brand new Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara are on the horizon primarily based on frequent underpinnings. Mitsubishi can also be working on an electric ute to sit down alongside the Triton, although it’s unclear whether or not that is coming to Australia.

China will even be within the combine, with GWM set to launch the Shanhai Cannon with diesel and hybrid choices earlier than the tip of 2023, whereas the even bigger King Kong Cannon is into consideration for the Australian market.

What engine will energy the Kia TK ute?

Based on the leaked info, CarExpert can verify the manufacturing model of the Kia ute shall be powered by a diesel engine, although details round capability and cylinder rely are nonetheless unknown.

The reality a Kia Mohave SUV was used as a base for the prototype might supply some clues, nevertheless.

In Korea, the Mohave is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine creating 189kW and 560Nm – the latter from 1500 to 3000rpm. For reference, the three.0-litre V6 diesel within the Ranger and Amarok develops 184kW and 600Nm.

The Mohave provides four-wheel drive with digital low-range and a variety of terrain modes very similar to Kia’s different SUVs. An eight-speed auto is customary.

Kia has homologated its newest 3.0-litre diesel to Euro 6 requirements, aligning it with emissions rules probably coming to Australia quickly, and presently in drive in different markets around the globe. Few utes are presently EU6 licensed in Australia.

We might see Kia supply a number of engines to hit completely different value factors and regional calls for, with the model’s 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel one other potential starter.

A business model of this engine presently does service within the Hyundai Staria van, making 130kW/430Nm and teamed with an eight-speed computerized transmission. In the Staria it will get customary all-wheel drive, however it’s unclear whether or not Kia will persist with this drivetrain or develop a extra rugged 4WD system akin to the Mohave’s.

How a lot will the Kia ute tow?

As famous earlier, the point out of the Ranger and HiLux getting used as benchmarks signifies Kia is trying to give the TK ute a 3500kg braked towing capability no less than.

It’s understood the Mohave is already able to towing over 3.0 tonnes, so there’s already a stable base there.

All of the Kia ute’s most important rivals supply a 3.5-tonne braked towing capability, together with the Ranger, HiLux, D-Max, BT-50, Amarok and Navara.

Currently, the automobile in Kia’s native line-up with the best towing capability is the Sorento SUV, which might haul as much as 2000kg with a braked trailer.

Stay tuned to CarExpert for the most recent, and inform us your ideas within the feedback!

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