It seems that the long-rumored Kia pickup truck is lastly beginning to take form, with a camouflaged tester noticed out within the wild. Whereas it’s not clear from these photographs if it’s an early improvement prototype or a take a look at mule, a number of physique panels are clearly sourced from the Mohave SUV, with the dual-cab truck boasting a wholesome quantity of floor clearance.

Within the photographs that had been shared on-line by customers of Bobaedream and Kia_Club_Official we see that the entrance finish is roofed by camouflage however the LED headlights are on and look equivalent to those on the Kia Mohave. The identical applies to the Kia emblem, the grille, and the bulged entrance fenders, though the plastic cladding is lacking from across the wheelarches.

Learn: Physique-On-Body 2023 Kia Mohave Will get A Mild Refreshening In South Korea

Equally, the A-pillar, the entrance doorways, and the mirrors additionally seem like sourced from the ladder-frame SUV, though the tail is new and the bottom clearance has been elevated. The rear mattress is totally coated that includes a boxy form and an extended rear overhang. A pair of Hilux-style taillights are positioned on the corners, leaving room for a correct drop-down tailgate, whereas the rear differential can be seen from beneath.

The Kia Mohave is predicated on a ladder-frame chassis and comes fitted with a 3.0-liter diesel engine sending energy to all 4 wheels via an eight-speed automated gearbox. Whereas this configuration sounds excellent for a pickup that would rival the Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger, it’s not clear if the tester is certainly primarily based on the SUV’s underpinnings. In actual fact, it might be an EV underneath disguise. In any case, the Mohave was initially launched in 2008 and despite the fact that a complete facelift in 2019 introduced it on par with Kia’s present design language, it’s fairly outdated for use as a base for a brand new mannequin.

KIA Has Confirmed Two Electrical Pickup Vehicles By 2027

As identified by The Korean Automobile Weblog, on the Kia Investor Day held final March, the automaker confirmed it will launch two electrical pickup vehicles amongst 14 new BEVs set to be unveiled by 2027. One in all them can be a “devoted pickup”, and the opposite “strategic mannequin for rising markets”. The pictured car might be a improvement mule for the latter, hiding its EV nature underneath Mohave-sourced physique panels.

In any case, we should be affected person till Kia tells us extra about its future plans. Followers of the Korean model have been dreaming a few Kia-branded pickup for years, particularly in markets like Australia the place the demand for the phase is rising.

Images Bobadream / Kia_club_official