Kia‘s forthcoming Tasman bakkie might be getting a serious off-road sibling after a prototype was spotted wearing some chunky tyres and raised ride height.
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An image from the Kia Tasman Club shows a Tasman sporting some clear off-road upgrades. This test vehicle is rolling on beadlock-style wheels wrapped in burly all-terrain tyres. It also looks like the bakkie sits higher than a standard Tasman, but specifics on any suspension upgrades remain unknown.
The prototype’s look borrows heavily from Kia’s X-Pro trim, featuring black accents, unpainted bumpers, and those pronounced “eyebrow” fenders. If this version makes it to production, expect even more visual and mechanical bits to boost its off-road cred. This isn’t the first time Kia has teased a more extreme Tasman, since this follows the WKNDR (Weekender) concept at the 2025 Seoul Motor Show. That concept was even wilder, replete with a revised grille, bigger skid plates, a redesigned bonnet, and massive 35-inch tyres, plus a wider stance and other trail-focused features.
While Kia hasn’t officially confirmed a high-performance off-road model, Kia’s design boss, Karim Habib, has hinted at the possibility, saying, “Maybe that will come.” He also stressed that wider tracks and larger wheels are crucial for such a vehicle. Don’t expect a V6 in the Tasman, as emissions rules make it unlikely. However, Kia isn’t ruling out electrified powertrains. Roland Rivero, General Manager of Product Planning at Kia Australia, confirmed they’re looking into both hybrid and electric versions of the truck.
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If this rugged Tasman becomes a reality, it’ll be looking to challenge established off-roaders like the Ford Ranger Raptor, Toyota Hilux GR-Sport and the Isuzu D-Max AT35. We’ll likely hear more as development continues but for now, South Africa can gear up for the arrival of the standard model towards the end of 2025.
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