VIDEO: 2025 Kia Tasman ute previewed in Australia-inspired camouflage

The 2025 Kia Tasman ute has been teased in a unique camouflage wrap ahead of its full debut later this year.

Images released this week show a pre-production example of the Kia Tasman in an “Australia-inspired camouflage wrap” designed by local artist Richard Boyd-Dunlop.

Reflecting the Tasman’s significance for the Australian market, the bright-coloured wrap – a different take to traditional black-and-white camo – is said to be “influenced by the untamed beauty of Australia’s diverse landscapes” from the coast to the outback.

“Our Tasman pickup truck embodies Kia’s commitment to design and innovation, as well as its spirit of adventure,” said Kia executive vice president and global design boss Karim Habib.

"Artist Richard Boyd-Dunlop crafted an exclusive camouflage design, with the support of the Kia design team, that depicts a journey and reflects an essence of adventure that is unique to the Tasman."

Boyd-Dunlop said he based the Tasman’s wrap on his personal experiences travelling across Australia.

“These experiences are influential to my work, and the Tasman enabled me to create a continuation of this, depicting the connection, joy, and sheer sense of adventure that is inherent to Australian culture.”

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The latest teaser follows confirmation of the Tasman name for Kia’s new ute – due in local showrooms in mid-2025 – earlier this month, after the brand officially announced its entry into the hotly-contested segment in March. It will be unveiled in full later this year.

Based on a newly developed body-on-frame platform, the Tasman will compete against the popular Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton.

It is widely tipped to offer the familiar 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel from the Sorento and Carnival, matched to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

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While the powertrain currently maxes out at 148kW and 440Nm, the Tasman could have more power to match the 150kW and 500Nm four-cylinder class benchmark.

A 3.0-litre six-cylinder inline-six diesel – borrowed from the Genesis GV80, where it produces 204kW/588Nm – is also a possibility to rival diesel V6 versions of the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.

However, this six-cylinder diesel may be too expensive for Tasman, or the Hyundai-Kia Group could decide to reserve it for its premium Genesis brand.

Kia will offer the Tasman in single- or dual-cab form with a cab-chassis tray or pick-up tub options, while there are no plans for an extended cab option due to low sales potential.

The Korean brand hopes to sell around 20,000 Tasman units annually, which would assist in its ambition to overtake Mazda, Ford and Hyundai to become Australia's second-largest car brand behind Toyota.

For more information on the 2025 Kia Tasman ute, click on the featured article below.