Kia’s upcoming pickup truck model has been spotted once again in a familiar camouflage in Korea.
Camouflaged Kia pickup truck [Photo: Autospy]
In a report by Autospy, the two new photos of the presumed Kia pickup truck show the same test mule spotted a few months ago. Like the previous report, the Korean automaker is still mum regarding the details and specs of the camouflaged truck. So we’ll just talk about what we can expect for now.
The resemblance between the test mule and the Mohave, Kia’s midsize SUV model, is noticeable. From the squared-off front fascia to the long body that we get to see more of thanks to the new photos, one can say that the new Kia pickup will share the same platform as the Mohave.
The front fascia looks borrowed from the Kia Mohave [Photo: Autospy]
With that in mind, Kia won’t likely base its new pickup on the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The former is expected to be more of a workhorse pickup, while the latter remains Hyundai Motor Group’s sole lifestyle truck.
No powertrain details were also disclosed as of this writing. But if it will share the same engine as the Kia Mohave, the truck will be powered by a 3.0-liter V6 diesel with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and a four-wheel-drive (4WD) system. All of these will be mounted on a ladder frame chassis.
Kia Mohave
Another possibility is the use of an all-electric powertrain. Kia mentioned at its 2022 CEO Investor Day virtual event that it will add two electric pickup trucks to the lineup. These will be part of the automaker’s plan of establishing a full line-up of 14 battery electric vehicle (BEV) models by 2027.
Kia will likely reveal details of the unnamed pickup truck this year ahead of its speculated launch day sometime in 2024. If it is indeed a midsize pickup truck, the Kia model will compete against the likes of the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Navara.
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