Kia has long been expected to launch a pickup truck and today, the company has done just that with the new Tasman. This is a large, rugged and visually striking offering from the South Korean company and it goes up against the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux. However, while this new truck looks the part, Kia has no plans to bring the Tasman to the UK, even though it has gone to the effort to make an right-hand drive variant for Australia.

The Tasman has, on paper got a lot of gear to help it do well off-road. All trim levels apart from the base model get four wheel drive and it can be adjusted depending on what terrain you are on, be it sand, mud, snow and rock. Kia has even fitted an electronically-locking rear differential too, but only on there X-Trek models. Kia is also suggesting that the Tasman has a 800mm wading depth, thanks to where the engine air intake is located.

Even though the Hyundai group as a whole is very passionate about electric vehicles, the Tasman won't be offered as one, which is a shame as not many EV pickups exist yet. However, Kia is making two engines available, a 2.2-litre diesel and a 2.5-litre petrol. The petrol makes 277bhp and 421Nm of torque, whereas the diesel makes 207bhp and 441Nm torque. Both engines come with an eight speed automatic gearbox.

Inside, the Tasman looks very similar to what you might find in the latest EV9. You still have the triple screens and very likely, the same app that Kia vehicles have too.

For the UK and Europe, Kia won't be bringing the new Tasman here - instead the company is focusing on its new electric and hybrid models. It would have been nice to see an electric Tasman, however.