It’s being billed by Kia as “the most Australian Kia yet” and the South Korean automaker’s long-awaited ute finally has a name – Tasman.

Named for the Tasman Sea and Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, the Kia Tasman is due to launch in 2025 as the brand’s first body-on-frame dual-cab utility vehicle, finally giving it a rival to the dominant duo of Ford’s Ranger and Toyota’s Hilux. With the popularity of dual-cabs in Australia unlikely to diminish anytime soon, the arrival of the Tasman is, naturally, of huge commercial importance to Kia’s local operation as well.

Technical details are still sparse at this point, as is any information about the Tasman’s bodystyle range and starting price. However, the brand has let slip images of a pre-production vehicle clad in eye-catching camouflage that nevertheless reveals the Tasman’s general form. Styling will be blocky, per the general preference within the segment for broad-shouldered bodies and rugged, outdoorsy design cues. The wheel arches appear to be clad in rectangular black plastic protectors, while the headlamps, though largely covered up, stay true to the vertically oriented units that are a hallmark of Kia’s SUV lineup. The glasshouse is similarly upright, so expect good outward vision in all directions.

What we can’t see is the underpinnings, but Kia says it’s a proper ladder-frame architecture with genuine off-road-ready suspension and the durability needed to cope with Australian conditions. This platform is also expected to underpin a related Hyundai ute, as well as a passenger-oriented SUV.

As for the engine, a turbo diesel four-cylinder paired with an automatic transmission will be the default, likely derived from the 2.2L diesel used in the Hyundai Staria medium van. Power outputs for the Tasman are unknown, but in the Staria that 2.2L powerplant delivers 130kW of power and 430Nm of torque.

As far as payload capabilities, Kia is aiming to capture around 10% of the LCV ute market, meaning it will need to replicate the bodystyle diversity of the Ranger, Hilux, Navara and Triton if it’s to succeed. That means that while a dual-cab ute is expected to account for the majority of sales, we should still expect to see a single-cab 4×2 entry model, space cab options and cab-chassis derivatives of each for those owners/operators looking to mount a tray or service body.