The camouflaged prototype of the long-rumored Kia pickup that was spotted a few months ago made another appearance in Korea, giving us our best look yet at its dual-cab bodystyle. Reports about the model remain unconfirmed, but chances are we are looking at an ICE-powered midsize pickup that shares its ladder-frame with the Kia Mohave, the pre-facelift version of which was sold as the Borrego mid-size SUV in North America.
The truck was spotted in South Korea, possibly near the Hyundai-Kia R&D center. The two new photos published by Autospy presumably show the same vehicle with previous spy shots taken during testing on public streets.
Read: Body-On-Frame 2023 Kia Mohave Gets A Light Refreshening In South Korea
The pickup clearly shares its bodywork with the Mohave, including the grille, headlights, front bumper, front fenders, mirrors, front doors, and greenhouse. Holes and gaps in the camouflage reveal the Kia badge on the grille, the LED graphics, and small portions of the silver-colored bodywork coming straight from the Mohave. We can also see that the plastic cladding on the wheel arches is missing, something that is common in test vehicles. Another important detail is the healthy amount of ground clearance which is an important factor for pickup buyers.
Chunks of camouflage in the rear part of the body hide the details. Still, we can see the dual-cab bodystyle with a regular-sized rear bed thanks to the stretched wheelbase and the long rear overhang. Overall, the pickup looks like a competitor for the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, combining a five-seater cabin with the practicality of an open loading area at the back.
Up to this moment, it is not clear if the pictured vehicle is an early development mule using provisional body panels or if the final production pickup will indeed share that much of its design with the Mohave. Mind you, the SUV was introduced in 2008 but went through a significant redesign in 2019.
Official Details And Speculation
At the Kia Investor Day on March 2022, the company confirmed it is working on two separate trucks, a “dedicated pickup” that will be based on the E-GMP electric vehicle architecture, and a “strategic model for emerging markets” which is likely what we are looking at. Initially, it was believed that both of them would come with fully electric powertrains, but the vehicle sightings from Korea suggest that the “strategic model” will also be offered in ICE-powered form. Electrification would be possible with a ladder-frame architecture, as an alternative to a diesel engine. Mind you, the Mohave is powered by a 3.0-liter diesel which is exclusively mated to an eight-speed automatic and a proper all-wheel-drive system.
According to the latest reports from Korea, the midsize pickup will be a global product instead of being limited to emerging markets. Production is expected to take place at the Kia Hwaseong plant in Korea. However, if the automaker wants to bring the truck to North America, then US-spec models could (and would have to) be produced locally in order to avoid the Chicken Tax – a 25% tariff imposed on light trucks imported to the US.
We expect to learn more about the mysterious Kia pickup this year, as the model will reportedly debut in 2024.
