2026 Kia Tasman EV rendered

Kia has said from the outset that its first ute will be offered with both internal combustion and battery-electric powertrains, the latter of which is expected to arrive in 2026 – 12 months after the diesel versions of the all-new ladder-frame pick-up.

It’s fair to say the 2025 Kia Tasman – which will eventually be offered with a full range of body styles and drivetrains to take the fight to Australia’s two most popular new vehicles, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – will be one of the most important new model releases of the year when it’s released.

And so it stands to reason the electric version will be an even bigger deal, given Kia’s established EV form and the fact there’s only one electric ute currently available in Australia and it largely comes up short of expectations.

We’ve already seen camouflaged prototypes of the diesel Tasman undergoing development testing on public roads in Korea, but we’re yet to see anything official to do with the electric version and it’ll likely stay that way for a while.

Until then we’ll have to rely on unofficial renders like this new one from SRK Designs, which depicts a futuristic dual-cab with whispers of GMC Hummer about it.

The Hummer reference primarily applies to the back of the cabin and the tub, which are headlined respectively by a sloping C-pillar and relatively short rear overhang, the latter of which is garnished with integrated tail-lights.

This sets the tone for a butch front-end design featuring a largely enclosed tiger nose grille arrangement, EV9-style vertical headlights and a near full-width lighting signature circumnavigating all the key features.

Chiselled and buff but equally streamlined in its character lines, the rendered Tasman EV really looks the part with its integrated features, minimal front overhang and tough body cladding, which envelope a slightly oversized set of alloy wheels and wide-set tracks.

Look a little closer and you’ll note the suicide rear doors, flush door-handles and an expansive wheelbase that would provide the zero-emission load-lugger with generous approach and departure angles, if slightly compromised ramp-over clearance.

Odds are the Kia Tasman’s inevitably big battery will be stashed between the axles, while the inevitable pair of electric motors will be mounted directly to the axles, freeing up cabin and cargo space and permitting those short overhangs.

Kia’s global design boss Karim Habib said in October the first glimpse of the Tasman would be coming “pretty soon”, so our money is on the first teaser and/or concept preview coming within the next few weeks at the Australian Open, given the Korean brand’s long-standing partnership with the high-profile international tennis tournament.