The Land Transportation Office has just homologated a couple of peculiar Kia Tasman variants. By the looks of it, Kia’s first pickup truck could be headed straight for the Philippine military.
The variants in question are the Tasman Command Jeep and the Tasman Double Cargo Cab. The former is identified as a tactical command vehicle, while the latter is a troop carrier with a 13-passenger capacity. Both then use the Tasman’s 2.2-liter diesel engine, rated at 210hp and 410Nm of torque.
Interestingly, the two variants don’t stray too far from the Tasman’s standard dimensions. A stock model measures 5,410mm long, 1,930mm wide, and 1,920mm tall, suggesting that these could be more compact military vehicles. Unlike those Isuzu trucks the Army received last April.
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For the everyday trucker, a normal Tasman has also received LTO approval. From the listing, it appears that the base variant is the one on the way.
It could potentially join the fully electric PV5 as an additional commercial offering from Kia Philippines. The bed itself measures 1,512mm long, 1,572mm wide, and 540mm deep, with a capacity of 1,173 liters. In terms of capacities, the Tasman can carry up to 1,195kg and tow up to 3,500kg.
With a rather avant-garde appearance, Kia’s workhorse will definitely stand out in a sea of Hilux, D-Max, and Ranger trucks. As we wait for the Tasman to officially enter the Philippine market, let us know what you think about its design. The comments section is yours.
