3 days ago
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Kia has been snapped testing a different wheel-arch design for the Tasman ute – both in shape, and in colour – amid criticism of its unconventional styling.
Work on alternative designs for what is arguably the 2025 Kia Tasman ute's most controversial styling element is well underway.
A white Kia Tasman prototype has been spotted testing in Australia by a member of the Kia Tasman Owners Club on Facebook with wheel-arch flares in body colour, rather than contrasting matte black.
Drive understands body-coloured flares may not be just an optional extra, but rather standard equipment on particular versions of Kia's new ute in Australia.
The vehicle pictured has applied body colouring to the Tasman's optional wrap-around wheel-arch flare, a dealer accessory that will be sold as Kia's other solution to criticism of the unconventional sausage-shaped flare fitted as standard.
It seems body-coloured versions of both flare designs – the wrap-around flare as an accessory, and the regular shape as standard on some versions – will be offered.
The prototype also wears lower body cladding finished in the body colour, rather than matte black, but it's not clear if that will make it to showrooms.
The design of the Tasman's wheel-arch flares has been one of its most controversial talking points since the ute was unveiled late last year.
"You're all aware of the commentary around launch from an aesthetic standpoint, but we're really starting to see a narrative shift in terms of opinions," Kia Australia general manager of marketing Dean Norbiato told media last year.
"A lot of people, the more time they see it and spend with it, we are seeing a separation in opinion from the initial launch.
"We've done some customer research as well. We had a week-long research piece with the Tasman, and in terms of the feedback, we feel we're confident from a position of overall sales volume targets we have with that model – the product and its specification – that we're in a good position."
The executive said "people who have physically seen it in the flesh seem to have a different opinion from seeing one 2D image of the vehicle."
Kia's Vice President of Next Exterior Design, John Buckingham, told media at the Tasman's reveal last year the ute has been styled to make a "bold impression" and act as "something new in the market".
Australian prices for the Kia Tasman are due to be announced closer to its showroom arrival in July.
South Korean prices released this week point to an entry price for a two-wheel-drive dual-cab in the low-$40,000 range, rising to the mid-to-high $50,000 region for a high-spec model, and the low-$60,000 band for the hero X-Pro.
However, the cost of shipping and homologating the vehicle for Australia – as well as specification differences, most notably a 2.2-litre diesel engine for local showrooms rather than a 2.5-litre petrol – means it may cost more locally.
A top-of-the-range X-Pro could cost closer to $70,000 before on-road costs – in line with a Ford Ranger Tremor or Toyota HiLux Rogue – while a less-hardcore X-Line could sit closer to $60,000.
A dual-cab pick-up will be the sole body style available at launch, with dual-cab chassis and single-cab versions to follow in the months after.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
