The Kia Tasman isn’t going to win any beauty contest – that’s for sure. However, it does open several possibilities for the South Korean automaker. With a platform that can handle various powertrains, including plug-in hybrid, conventional “plugless” hybrid, and the confirmed full-electric version. It can even turn into a Toyota 4Runner-rivaling SUV – and Kia has just confirmed that it can easily do so.

Speaking to Australia’s Carsales, Kia Australia product planning general manager Roland Rivero said that the Tasman’s chassis vice president, Dong Hoon Kang, has confirmed that Kia can easily make an SUV version of the Tasman and would be able to do so “very quickly” since they “already have the foundations.” However, just like what was confirmed before, the Tasman needs to succeed first before Kia decides to make an SUV version of the Tasman.

The Possibilities Are Virtually Endless

The ladder-frame structure of the Kia Tasman makes the transition to an SUV quite a cinch – think of it as a Lego block. Also, Kia has designed the platform so that it’s adaptable to any format. That said, whatever will become available for the Tasman will also likely become an option for the SUV, including the powertrains. With that in mind, the possibilities are virtually endless.

What’s probably most exciting about this is that Kia is already developing a hybrid setup – not specifically for the Tasman but for its premium marque, Genesis. The GV80 is getting a hybrid powertrain before the introduction of a fully revamped model. This will be a version for rear-wheel-based vehicles of the two-motor hybrid 2.5-liter gasoline engine for the electrified Hyundai Palisade, meaning a ladder-frame counterpart of the Palisade is possible, which will be more appropriate for off-road use than the new Palisade XRT Pro.

America’s Kia Truck And SUV Should Be Similar

Apart from the Kia Tasman SUV, the automaker has also confirmed to the Australian publication that it isn’t ruling out the possibility of a production version of the Tasman Weekender (or WKNDR) concept that debuted at this year’s Seoul Mobility Show. Think of it as a direct rival to the Ford Ranger Raptor or the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, designed with Korean sensibilities.

All this news about the Tasman is well and good, but don’t get excited just yet if you’re living in the US. America will have its own version of a ladder-frame Kia truck. However, whatever Kia is planning for the Tasman, you’d be right to expect a similar approach for its American counterpart. That’s something worth watching out for in the years to come.

Source: Carsales