- Kia confirms new ute will be called Tasman
- Sports stars appeared in advertisement to promote vehicle
- Kia expects the new ute to sell very well in Australia
-->
-->
-->
-->
Kia has finally announced what its new Toyota Hilux rival will be called after using some of Australia’s best-loved sporting icons in a viral commercial to promote the vehicle.
The Korean manufacturer has confirmed that the new vehicle will be called Tasman when it is launched next year.
Among the line-up of athletes in the advert were NRL legends Darren Lockyer and Wendell Sailor, former cricketers David Boon and Steve Waugh, AFL great Buddy Franklin and tennis star Ash Barty.
During the commercial, athletes speculate on what the new ute should be called, with some suggesting it should be named after them.
The advert gave a hint about the new name when former football star Alan Langer threw a dart at a map of the Tasman Sea.
Kia has announced its new ute will be called the Tasman after a viral advert featuring some of Australia’s top sporting stars.
Alex Volkanovski (pictured) said he excels in front of the camera while filming the ad.
Utes sell very well in Australia and last year occupied the top three positions in the sales charts.
Kia expects to sell between 25,000 and 30,000 Tasmans a year, which would put them in second place in sales behind Toyota.
“The Kia Australia team has been working closely with the Research and Development team at headquarters to develop the Tasman, a vehicle we believe will meet the needs of our unique market, so it is very gratifying that it has been awarded a Australian-inspired name to match his personality,” said Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith.
“We have big ambitions for Tasman in our market, and the fact that its name has such distinct links to our region is testament to Kia Australia’s vital role in its development and future success.”
The Tasman is expected to feature a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, matching the best-selling versions of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
An electric version of the Tasman is expected to arrive in the next year or two.
The sports stars involved in the commercial had fun putting it together.
“I’m not going to win any Oscars, but as long as they keep the dialogue short, I’m fine,” Lockyer, who was behind the scenes during filming, told A Current Affair.
The new Kia Tasman is expected to hit the market next year
UFC star Alex Volkanovski was much more confident in his acting skills.
“I feel happy in front of the camera, I love it, I’m looking forward to it,” Volkanovski said.
