Kia to possibly produce their first bakkie ever

With ambitious plans to develop over a dozen new models by 2027, there is a high possibility that Kia is silently developing a model to contend in the highly lucrative bakkie segment. Here is everything we know on a potential Hilux rivalling model. 

KIA

Image: KDesign AG

During the Kia Investor Day that was held in May 2022, the South Korean automaker said that it plans to launch at least two BEVs per year in order to build a lineup of 14 battery-electric vehicles by 2027. Kia’s president Mr. Ho-sung Song revealed plans to produce specialized electric vehicles in four major markets to expand the electric vehicle volume. Will a fully electric bakkie fall under this new plan?

New spy shots and renderings have recently emerged on the internet, showing a bakkie development mule from Kia adorned in heavy camouflage. Aside from commercial vehicles like the K2700 (also known as the Bongo), Kia has never built a consumer-grade pickup and this will be a turning point for the brand as they attempt to tap into a new market. Based on what we can see from the spy shots and these Ford Ranger-based renderings, the Kia Bakkie is most likely to borrow the Mohave nameplate from its SUV sibling The potential bakkie also shares the same bodywork as the Kia Mohave including the grille, headlights, front fenders, front bumper and side mirrors.

KIA

Image: KDesign AG

The Kia Mohave is based on a ladder-frame chassis and comes fitted with a 3,0-litre diesel engine sending power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. While this configuration sounds perfect for a bakkie that could rival the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, it is still not clear that the bakkie will indeed be based on the SUV. The speculative renderings show a stylish and modern design for the Kia bakkie, borrowing some design elements from the flagship models. That is most likely to apply to the interior as well, the style and design language will possibly be familiar to the Kia Sportage.

KIA

Image: KDesign AG

There are other aspects that the bakkie could lend from other Kia models, perhaps even a Sportage powertrain. But there are suggestions and rumours that the bakkie will be fully electric from the get-go. With the automotive world transitioning swiftly into electrification, it’s very unlikely Kia’s future bakkie will feature a newly-developed diesel powertrain. If the Kia decision-makers feel generous and grant us a diesel powertrain there will definitely be a potential for an EV version too. For now, there isn’t any word on the powertrain, arrival date, pricing and specifications, it’s just pure speculation but we are liking what we see!

The post Kia to possibly produce their first bakkie ever appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more