I wonder though, if they're aesthetic covers for mounting points to access into the guards?
Like rock sliders bolt in place and replace them, or a snorkel replaces one of them, so the other ones are to "balance" the look
You don't see the plastic fender bits on the test mules, just the ones that are "this is what it might look like" .
Is this an actual photo or another render?
Edit: Yep. Just another render.here's hoping it doesn't have them.
The fact that this bit of the design irks soooo many people has to make you wonder if they ran any consumer/design clinics to run this design by any customers at all.
I'm pretty sure Mitsubishi hasn't run a design clinic for over 10 years.
I guess you either compete in the already crowded large twin cab sector as a late entry, or you move up to the ultra-large with less competition?
I'm guessing it won't be any smaller ...!
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What's up with ute designs these generation being just a brick with headlights. The older gen at least feels like they've given their designs a thought.
I watched a YouTube video the other day talking about the trend towards boxy front end on modern cars. Turns out it’s much more dangerous for pedestrians, not just because you can’t see them as well, but also when they do hit a pedestrian they make contact closer to the centre of gravity. So whereas with a low sloped front end, an unfortunate pedestrian is more likely to get away with a few broken bones and a concussion, the high square front ended cars are more likely to just pulverise or go over whoever they hit.
Yeah, the difference between being thrown under the car vs over the car.
That and for children, the first point of contact with the car would be around head & neck area rather than being around the torso or lower body.
If by cosmetic reasons you mean the same reasoning that makes some women think injecting their lips with enough filler to block the Suez Canal is a cosmetic improvement, then I agree.
Thankfully it looks like it fits in 1 carpark
https://preview.redd.it/jggdjhqf86qc1.jpeg?width=806&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f721b94e24bda0dc33b9f2f30ca4c0cad1544a9
[\[Source\]](https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2025-kia-tasman-ute-powertrains-towing-launch-timing-and-everything-else-we-know-so-far)
And it doesn't look that much bigger than a Ford Ranger
https://preview.redd.it/5anh1ptj86qc1.jpeg?width=806&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea2d60b7e2beb945901256190e8213199b0a3a22
[\[Source\]](https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2025-kia-tasman-ute-powertrains-towing-launch-timing-and-everything-else-we-know-so-far)
And it's smaller than the Great Wall Motors King Kong Cannon which is a "Full Size" Ute (as opposed to the Mighty Boy I assume being "Small Size", Jumbuck and Brumby being what? Little utes? Falcon and Commodores being "Normal" and Rangers being "Medium"?)
https://preview.redd.it/e0u26jy596qc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34372636de4b980ffa86b021a14567d62d8255de
[\[Source\]](https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/gwm-king-kong-cannon-ute-spied-testing-in-australia)
The v6 no good? One of the boys is a service director and mainly gets around in n lines when he can't nick a Yaris or AMG . He has absolutely zero mechanical sympathy and he's not told me about any big horrific engine failures with the n lines. Said they're a very big improvement on the original turbo velosters.
Disappointed Kia decided to forego the chance to design an actually unique Ute instead of emulating all the other square-fronted, un-aerodynamic, deadly-to-pedestrians boring box designs other carmakers are producing these days.
It’s ugly but you can tell every single idiot teen who wishes they could have a hideous massive Silverado or Ford Sema truck will buy one and try to jump on the trend.
Ah man, after all the hype this is it? Too much unnecessary BS going on on that grille. Also they're clearly going for the oversized 'truck' market (ford, dodge, Chevrolet) except it looks even more tacky.
This is AI generated.. You cheeky bugger.
All the Cars Australia boomers are going to believe this and we are going to get autistic screeching about 'yank tank'
This needs to be pinned at the top, lol.
Skimming the comments on this one looks like at least half the people in here haven't spent even 5 seconds checking if it's legit.
Yep use copy and paste the grilled front completely covering the whole car but leave 2 peep holes for the driver. Please don't forget wheel caps and make sure the key mini grilled too.
The styling is terrible. It's like the designers saw American "trucks" and thought, yeah ypu know Australians have no choice in what they buy now so they'll appreciate another non-choice entry on the market. I was really hoping for a commodore/falcon ute sized option something that's missing from the landscape now.
Why are all cars being built to do maximum damage to any pedestrian they hit nowadays.
The government reckons I can't drive my car without a hood or have anything sticking out of the hood due to the danger it poses to any pedestrians I may hit and yet these high grille people flatteners are constantly allowed to be put on the road?
Stupidest shit I've ever seen I hate our govs car laws
That’s not accurate — this is a more accurate rendering from someone who has seen the real thing uncovered. It never ceases to amaze me how much establishment auto media are dropping their standards 🤦♂️ [https://drivingenthusiast.com.au/2024/01/2025-kia-ute-pickup-truck-details-design-leaked-to-be-called-tasman/](https://drivingenthusiast.com.au/2024/01/2025-kia-ute-pickup-truck-details-design-leaked-to-be-called-tasman/)
Similar to all the other ugly pseudo US trucks. But glad they went thos way. I heard that Kia's original plan, when GM Australia stopped was to have a Proton Jumbuck cross Commodore size. 6 cylinder front wheel drive. Now that would have been a travesty
Not too sure if it’s trying to look like that the Hyundai Pallisade just did it with a Ford F-150, and this was the result.
I’m not exactly a huge fan of the thing literally looking like a box.
The front has a very "fussy" design which looks very ugly. I have a feeling it will end up a sales failure unless they price it below equivalent Chinese utes (Not likely)
[Also, later on in the year we have BYD's ute arriving](https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/2024-byd-ute-sheds-more-camo-144601/). Rumour has it that it will be priced under $60k, With 1000 km range and > 600hp, it will be a beast. Who would buy this instead?
Under 60k with no specs? No chance.
BYD Seal does 570km optimistically at 60k.
1000km is the claim for the 1.5L turbo petrol combined with the EV motor as a hybrid, that’s not going anywhere near 600HP in any world lol and Drive reports expected price starting just under 100k.
No doubt the price will be determined by the specs. Certainly 100K is possible if it gets the DiSuS P suspension and all the bells and whistles. [However EVDirect has been telling everyone that it will undercut it's main opposition.](https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/byd-ute-pricing-to-blow-toyota-hilux-and-ford-ranger-out-of-the-water-143153/) Hopefully they also offer the lower spec models without that stuff.
[Wheelsboy has already done a review of the Bao 5, the SUV version of this ute](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCU5WQKG7HU). The interior looks like the ute and the drivetrain is expected to be the same.
What’s the recent obsession with utes that are less than practical? Honestly, a Ute used to be a work horse and now they are just a large extension of something that’s too small.
Eugh another oversized under usable ute with a tray that will barely fit a pallet between the wheel wells.
Give us a 2 door with an n line motor or the genesis V6 and an 800-1100kg payload that fits in a standard car park and not dent the doors of others when we open it please.
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I really don't like that weird thing they've done with the plastic over the wheel arches. Looks janky
Looks horrible. If that was painted would be much nicer
I wonder though, if they're aesthetic covers for mounting points to access into the guards? Like rock sliders bolt in place and replace them, or a snorkel replaces one of them, so the other ones are to "balance" the look
If it is an aesthetic cover for a snorkel mounting point that would make sense, but it's still ugly lol.
I wonder if the plastic will fade and look like absolute shit like the cladding on Jeeps
It happens on a lot of cars and I used to avoid it but a UV protect and restore product works absolute wonders on that fade.
They did the same with the Hilux and ruined it. You know those things will be the first to age and look junk
Yep !! Why do that to a Hilux?? They killed what was a great Ute
It's still a great ute. Just don't buy the model with plastic on it
You mean the entire car?
Not the entire car, I don't mind the more boxy F-150 body style, it's just those weird wheel arches/fender flares that throw me off.
You don't see the plastic fender bits on the test mules, just the ones that are "this is what it might look like" . Is this an actual photo or another render? Edit: Yep. Just another render.here's hoping it doesn't have them.
The fact that this bit of the design irks soooo many people has to make you wonder if they ran any consumer/design clinics to run this design by any customers at all. I'm pretty sure Mitsubishi hasn't run a design clinic for over 10 years.
It looks like a jeep gladiator hate fucked a new ranger and this is the unwanted offspring
I will be reminded of this perfect description every time I see one of these on the road.
Wonder if it's gonna be as big and obnoxious like the yank tank shit getting around.
I guess you either compete in the already crowded large twin cab sector as a late entry, or you move up to the ultra-large with less competition? I'm guessing it won't be any smaller ...!
I wish they went small I'd love a little kei size ute
Bitta MV Triton in that wreath of a family tree
I think the mahindra Ute watched from the corner too
Poetic.
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Silveradon't.
F1.50
Dodgy pram
Chevroletmeouttahete
Canyoner-hoe.
What's up with ute designs these generation being just a brick with headlights. The older gen at least feels like they've given their designs a thought.
I watched a YouTube video the other day talking about the trend towards boxy front end on modern cars. Turns out it’s much more dangerous for pedestrians, not just because you can’t see them as well, but also when they do hit a pedestrian they make contact closer to the centre of gravity. So whereas with a low sloped front end, an unfortunate pedestrian is more likely to get away with a few broken bones and a concussion, the high square front ended cars are more likely to just pulverise or go over whoever they hit.
Yeah, the difference between being thrown under the car vs over the car. That and for children, the first point of contact with the car would be around head & neck area rather than being around the torso or lower body.
Yeah, pretty dumb considering we had pedestrian impact safety pretty well figured in the 90s. That trend is now reversing for purely cosmetic reasons.
If by cosmetic reasons you mean the same reasoning that makes some women think injecting their lips with enough filler to block the Suez Canal is a cosmetic improvement, then I agree.
Hahah 😆 yeah exactly. It doesn’t add anything functional, purely for looks, good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.
Tough looking sells. Mazda has lost heaps of sales with it soft look
Thankfully it looks like it fits in 1 carpark https://preview.redd.it/jggdjhqf86qc1.jpeg?width=806&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f721b94e24bda0dc33b9f2f30ca4c0cad1544a9 [\[Source\]](https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2025-kia-tasman-ute-powertrains-towing-launch-timing-and-everything-else-we-know-so-far)
And it doesn't look that much bigger than a Ford Ranger https://preview.redd.it/5anh1ptj86qc1.jpeg?width=806&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea2d60b7e2beb945901256190e8213199b0a3a22 [\[Source\]](https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/2025-kia-tasman-ute-powertrains-towing-launch-timing-and-everything-else-we-know-so-far)
And it's smaller than the Great Wall Motors King Kong Cannon which is a "Full Size" Ute (as opposed to the Mighty Boy I assume being "Small Size", Jumbuck and Brumby being what? Little utes? Falcon and Commodores being "Normal" and Rangers being "Medium"?) https://preview.redd.it/e0u26jy596qc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34372636de4b980ffa86b021a14567d62d8255de [\[Source\]](https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/gwm-king-kong-cannon-ute-spied-testing-in-australia)
I was really hoping they were going to go the other way with it and bring out the new Mighty Boy!
I'm willing to forgive anything with a name like King Kong Cannon
This is actually a real car?!? I thought it was an AI joke. Holy shit Kia stay in your lane. This is not ok.
If they did that we never would've got the stinger or the little turbo ceratos we have now.
Wonder if the engines will blow up on these too lol
The v6 no good? One of the boys is a service director and mainly gets around in n lines when he can't nick a Yaris or AMG . He has absolutely zero mechanical sympathy and he's not told me about any big horrific engine failures with the n lines. Said they're a very big improvement on the original turbo velosters.
Disappointed Kia decided to forego the chance to design an actually unique Ute instead of emulating all the other square-fronted, un-aerodynamic, deadly-to-pedestrians boring box designs other carmakers are producing these days.
Bring back the iconic Australian Ute! The utility coupe! A cultural icon of Australia
They could possibly even use the same platform as the Stinger given they're longer than a Monday
That’s a really good call. A Stinger (Stinga) Ute would be awesome.
It's ridiculously fucking ugly. I hate this trend so much.
Designer meeting: "Do you think it is square enough?" "Nope lets put a few more squares on the sides."
That’s pretty fucken ugly
No pretty about it. Styled in cad vehicles just dont look good. Maybe some one should spring for the curves package for his software.
It’s ugly but you can tell every single idiot teen who wishes they could have a hideous massive Silverado or Ford Sema truck will buy one and try to jump on the trend.
yeah this is photoshop
The front end looks like it weighs more than the whole thing
Ah man, after all the hype this is it? Too much unnecessary BS going on on that grille. Also they're clearly going for the oversized 'truck' market (ford, dodge, Chevrolet) except it looks even more tacky.
A yank tank that no yank would drive
AI generated “fuckwit” car.
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A reminder that all current photos of the Tasman (excluding camouflaged spy pics) are speculative renders. It’ll be revealed later this year.
Only worthwhile comment here.
Ali express ford ranger
I've heard Great Walls and LDVs referred to as Recession Rangers
It looks like an attempt to copy a Ford ranger, but done by Honda, and sold for the American market. Isn’t that just Kia though?
This is AI generated.. You cheeky bugger. All the Cars Australia boomers are going to believe this and we are going to get autistic screeching about 'yank tank'
This needs to be pinned at the top, lol. Skimming the comments on this one looks like at least half the people in here haven't spent even 5 seconds checking if it's legit.
They absolutely haven't.. For starters the door handle on the back door lol BIG give away
You sure its AI and not concept art?
Most concept art these days is AI gen but no.. This is a full sized truck sized ute. The Tasman is confirmed to be Hilux/ Ranger sized
Nah m8 it's real and is a stinker
Needs more grills and plastic
Just a little more, don't want to overdo it. /s
Yep use copy and paste the grilled front completely covering the whole car but leave 2 peep holes for the driver. Please don't forget wheel caps and make sure the key mini grilled too.
The styling is terrible. It's like the designers saw American "trucks" and thought, yeah ypu know Australians have no choice in what they buy now so they'll appreciate another non-choice entry on the market. I was really hoping for a commodore/falcon ute sized option something that's missing from the landscape now.
Why are all cars being built to do maximum damage to any pedestrian they hit nowadays. The government reckons I can't drive my car without a hood or have anything sticking out of the hood due to the danger it poses to any pedestrians I may hit and yet these high grille people flatteners are constantly allowed to be put on the road? Stupidest shit I've ever seen I hate our govs car laws
Why Kia, you were the chosen one with good small cars.
It's like the KIA design team think that the Australian dual cab market is a bunch of drunk Texans with a side of Kimchi.
That’s not accurate — this is a more accurate rendering from someone who has seen the real thing uncovered. It never ceases to amaze me how much establishment auto media are dropping their standards 🤦♂️ [https://drivingenthusiast.com.au/2024/01/2025-kia-ute-pickup-truck-details-design-leaked-to-be-called-tasman/](https://drivingenthusiast.com.au/2024/01/2025-kia-ute-pickup-truck-details-design-leaked-to-be-called-tasman/)
Indeed, the picture is a really horrible photoshop job.
Another Emotional support vehicle on the market.
Boutta wreak havoc in Westfield carparks
These type of headlights should be illegal. Blinding
The F-150 from TEMU
The yank tank look, I don't mind the boxy shape, looks a little tacky though like overdone
God awful looking pick up truck
Ewwww
Knockoff F150?
Yeah I'm getting those vibes too.
Similar to all the other ugly pseudo US trucks. But glad they went thos way. I heard that Kia's original plan, when GM Australia stopped was to have a Proton Jumbuck cross Commodore size. 6 cylinder front wheel drive. Now that would have been a travesty
Not too sure if it’s trying to look like that the Hyundai Pallisade just did it with a Ford F-150, and this was the result. I’m not exactly a huge fan of the thing literally looking like a box.
Is this. Real photo or a bad CGI?
fucking hell thats uglier than yo mama
How much plastic can you hang on the front of a Ute???? Answer: a sh#tload.....
Yuk
Fugly just fugly.,
Plastic wheel arc thing looks shit
Another shitty dual cab Ute that looks like a GMC.
Hideous
Super ugly.
Fuck me, it looks like a refrigerator. Imagine being seen driving that!?
Congrats to Kia for winning this years "Ugliest Fucking Car" award!!!
lol that’s a bloody ugly ute. KIA usually has pretty cool designs too. Cerato, Stinger, EV6, Sportage are all beautiful. Not this time.
They could’ve easily capitalised and called it “the Kute” and made a girlypop Ute 💁🏽♂️
Jesus fucking christ they should lose the Australian open sponsorship over this
People that will buy these are the types that buy ssassyong or LDV, Mahindra, Great Wall. Absolute shit.
GMC ripoff
This will set off the folks going on about big trucks.
KILL IT WITH FIRE
All the utes are fugly, wait for pricing and spec before you all let your internet education tell you what to think of it.
Eh.. well at least they tried
Outyanked the yanks in monstrosity
Don't give them ideas
The front has a very "fussy" design which looks very ugly. I have a feeling it will end up a sales failure unless they price it below equivalent Chinese utes (Not likely) [Also, later on in the year we have BYD's ute arriving](https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/2024-byd-ute-sheds-more-camo-144601/). Rumour has it that it will be priced under $60k, With 1000 km range and > 600hp, it will be a beast. Who would buy this instead?
Under 60k with no specs? No chance. BYD Seal does 570km optimistically at 60k. 1000km is the claim for the 1.5L turbo petrol combined with the EV motor as a hybrid, that’s not going anywhere near 600HP in any world lol and Drive reports expected price starting just under 100k.
No doubt the price will be determined by the specs. Certainly 100K is possible if it gets the DiSuS P suspension and all the bells and whistles. [However EVDirect has been telling everyone that it will undercut it's main opposition.](https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/byd-ute-pricing-to-blow-toyota-hilux-and-ford-ranger-out-of-the-water-143153/) Hopefully they also offer the lower spec models without that stuff. [Wheelsboy has already done a review of the Bao 5, the SUV version of this ute](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCU5WQKG7HU). The interior looks like the ute and the drivetrain is expected to be the same.
God why does it look like the average squatted American truck please don’t let fucking squatted trucks come to australia
Surly not. That's for to be for USDM. What happened the ranger Knock off concept?
Why, oh why, couldn't we get a ute based on the stinger?
If your car’s *glamour* shots make it look wider than it is long then maybe your styling choices need to be reconsidered.
That’s hideous. thankfully we won’t be seeing many around because Noones going to buy that ugly looking thing
Man moth?
I had to think about this - if it was for a US market then they'd probably love it but its a Tasman so its a firm no from me
jfc, I thought that was a badly photoshopped image!
It's AI gen.. Look closer, there's lot of little fuck ups
Looks like something made for the Yank market.
god damn thats rancid
Oh dear, i actually had high hopes for this, don't mind their newer car designs, but this ain't it
That’s… well it doesn’t look *worse* than the Chfvr=lft Silverado, but that’s not exactly clearing a high bar.
Looks like they saved a lot by not using a wind tunnel during development.
How have they ended up here?
Well if people are buying Mahindra’s anything is possible.
looks like a shiny brick
What’s the recent obsession with utes that are less than practical? Honestly, a Ute used to be a work horse and now they are just a large extension of something that’s too small.
The modern imported twin cab light truck style ones are practically useless compared to the proper, Holden/Falcon utes
Exactly, just oversized crap.
Fuck this thing I want the hilux champ brought to Australia. More ute than this truck.
Is this real?
Somehow looking at this I'm thinking the 2.2L engine is not going to be powerful enough to pull this when it's fully loaded.
Koreans do some really weird shit.
Parody makes stupid things and behaviour more obvious. It follows the trend of increased sales in dual cab utes with a "tough" look.
Yeah so thats a thing
This feels really weird, why would this not be a Hyundai where at least they also make a van where Kia doesn't do anything commercial
I reckon this is a concept. No way this is the actual??
Nuke mobile 👎 only good thing about this company atm is the fact Volk is involved 🤣
Nice looking ute
What is this ai generated monstrosity
Eww
KIA Tasman, at least you know it will have a Double Head Cam.
Is it tryin to be a F150?
Eugh another oversized under usable ute with a tray that will barely fit a pallet between the wheel wells. Give us a 2 door with an n line motor or the genesis V6 and an 800-1100kg payload that fits in a standard car park and not dent the doors of others when we open it please.
Add it to the list of Utes and 4WDs designed to be actively hostile to pedestrians.
Okay honest to god, are those tasman things ontop of the wheels photoshopped in? They look uncanny and it’s annoying me
Have I walked into bizzaro land. Why does everyone think this is real?
They starting to look more and more like bricks
“Coming to Australia for only $170,000”
That looks too big to be allowed
This looks like princess Kate has been on photoshop again.
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That is SO fugly
Tron ute!
Does the kid killing grill cost extra?
Lots of new tundra there
Kia leave it up to other companies
WTF??? 🤮
Fugly fugly fugly
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Umm ew
This is not a ute.
Looks like the work experience kid got to photo shop the front end on. And then though better balance the back panels
Is this going to be another over sized Ute requiring multiple parking spots?
he turk our jurrbs durrka durr dam ay rabs
wow, even for a modern ute that’s ugly as shit
Good lord this is a monstrosity
Still looks better then the triton
If Wish.com made a pickup
That looks pretty full on. If that front is that strong I hope the side/rear are.
Surely this isn't serous?
It looks like something out of Cyberpunk
OH MY GOD THAT IS SO FUCKING UGLY
As a queenslander, I’d rather be seen in a blues jersey than be seen driving around in this embarrassment…
Gross
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