Kia ute rendered

If sister brands Kia and Hyundai want to be true global players, they're going to need a mid-size ute like Toyota, like Volkswagen, like Ford.

Indeed neither Korean car-maker has made any secret of its desire for a pick-up, and an all-new family of utes based on the same platform is expected from both brands as soon as 2021.

So far there have been no spy shots of either the Hyundai or Kia ute, but Kia Australia boss Damien Meredith told carsales.com.au last month that Kia’s first ute is currently in development in Korea and now has a codename, confirming “it's locked in”.

Now this fresh rendering posted by KiaTellurideForums.com could be the closest thing to the real deal so far.

Although this artist's impression is based on the five-metre-long Kia Telluride SUV, which like the closely related Hyundai Palisade SUV is based on a stretched version of the Sorento’s monocoque platform, it nevertheless provides an intriguing vision of how a Kia ute could be styled.

It's understood there have been several internal design proposals for a Kia ute based on the ladder frame of the previous-generation Kia Mojave (known as the Borrego in North America and China) which was replaced by the Sorento and Telluride.

Kia and Hyundai have made it clear that any ute released in Australia would not be car-based like the Hyundai Santa Cruz, but frame-based to rival the most popular models in the nation’s single biggest sales segment.

“It’s no good bringing it to Australia if it can’t compete with HiLux and Ranger,” said Meredith, suggesting that 4x4, diesel power, a range of body styles and a 3500kg towing capacity will also be prerequisites.

Diesel power shouldn’t be a problem for the Korean groupo, which has a 147kW/441Nm 2.2-litre unit in the Santa Fe and Sorento.

As it stands, Kia Australia is confident that a ute wearing Kia badges could be released as soon as 2021, but details such as body styles, engines, transmissions, pay loads and towing capacities are not yet known.

Kia Australia's general manager of media and corporate communications, Kevin Hepworth, said a ‘proper’ ute range to suit both commercial and lifestyle tastes in Australia remains one of the Korean brand’s top priorities.

"Were still pushing, at every opportunity, every time we get a chance to talk to the product planners. We impress on them how important that car is to the Australian market."

Indeed Kia Australia’s mid-term goal is to reach 100,000 annual sales, making it a top five brand, which will only be achievable with a ute and a compact SUV. The latter confirmed for late 2019.

However, Kia Australia’s ultimate prize is a ute and whether it looks like this render or not, the upstart Korean brand reckons it could generate upwards of 20,000 sales Down Under, which would make it one of the five most popular models in its class.