New 2.5-litre hybrid likely for 2025 Kia Tasman

A sophisticated new 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid is emerging as the leading candidate to be the 2025 Kia Tasman’s first electrified powertrain.

Simultaneously revealed in both Hobart and Saudi Arabia last week, the controversially styled Tasman will only be powered by a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine when it’s release next year.

And it seems set to stay that way for some time, as the new TMED-II 2.5-litre hybrid system being developed by the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) won’t enter production until early 2025 in Korea.

Intended as a replacement for the group’s aging 3.8-litre naturally-aspirated V6 petrol engine, the new hybrid system is expected to make its global debut in the next-generation Hyundai Palisade in January.

Performance and economy improvements over the current TMED hybrid are promised along with smart regenerative braking and V2L (vehicle to load) capabilities.

It seems set to gain precedence over orthodox internal combustion choices such as the HMG’s powerful 3.0-litre turbo-diesel straight six.

While the V6 would have given the Tasman the tools to battle the Ford Ranger V6 head-on, Kia is confident its inaugural pick-up truck will be competitive against the best-selling Ford in its current form, with the new 2.5-litre hybrid also shaping up nicely – pending outputs.

The looming CO2-cutting New Vehicle Emissions Standard have curtailed the V6’s chances, while the defunct Kia Stinger’s twin turbo petrol engine being used in a Raptor rival now seems even more remote.

At this week’s launch it was confirmed hybrid was the first planned electrification option for the Tasman ahead of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a battery-electric set-up, with the new 2.5 at the top of the list.

An important note is the fact the Tasman’s modular ladder frame chassis is package-protected for all three electrified powertrain types.

“That’s our desire for sure,” Kia Australia product planning chief Roland Rivero confirmed when asked if a hybrid would be the Tasman’s first alternative powertrain step.

“That would make sense,” he added when asked if the 2.5 was the favourite.

However, he was quickly trying to douse expectations it would arrive soon.

“It’s not from the get-go and it’s not lined up at this very point in time.

“We have a 10-year lifecycle that we can continue to evolve the Tasman through and ensure its not hurting us on the NVES front.”

Going with hybrid first makes sense because PHEV as – debuted in Australia this week by the BYD Shark 6 Premium – is not a common technology in Kia’s portfolio and BEV is years from production readiness.

Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith has also confirmed the brand’s intention to broaden its hybrid offering widely across the range as the technology is increasingly adopted by buyers and the incoming NVES encourages the technology’s adoption by auto brands.

“It’s all about fundamentals at the beginning and add more complexity as time goes by as NVES gets tougher and tougher,” Rivero said.

He didn’t entirely rule out the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel six – previously seen in Australia in the Genesis GV80 – for the Tasman, but his language made it clear it was highly unlikely.

“We wouldn’t completely close the door on it but we’ve got to be mindful of that word again NVES and the huge penalties and the CO2 footprint that will provide.

“We’ve dissected the category and 80 per cent of sales are still four-cylinder and we’ve gone for that [2.2-litre diesel] to start off with.

“At this point in time it’s [V6] looking very unlikely.”

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