Spy photos: The Kia ute Australia won’t get

An upcoming ute from South Korean car maker Kia has been spotted testing on US roads in heavy camouflage.

But it is not the Tasman – a heavy-duty, diesel and electric Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival due in Australia next year – rather a larger electric Kia pick-up planned to be built in the US, for sale in North America.

Kia Australia has confirmed it will not offer the US-focused ute – photographed here by The Korean Car Blog – in local showrooms, to focus on South Korean-built Tasman due in 2025 with a diesel engine, ahead of an electric version in overseas markets in 2026.

The US-focused Kia is expected to spawn a twin from Hyundai – possibly named 'Ioniq T10' – which is more likely to reach Australia, Drive has previously reported.

The first 'spy' images of the US-focused Kia electric ute have been published by website The Korean Car Blog, shown testing with body panels from a Kia EV9 electric SUV – and tail-lights from a Hyundai Santa Cruz petrol 'lifestyle' ute.

While the showroom version is expected to wear unique bodywork, the EV9 basis of this early 'test mule' lends weight to expectations the US-focused ute will be similar to a Rivian R1T or Ford F-150 Lightning in size.

The EV9 measures 1980mm wide – slightly narrower than an F-150 (2030mm), R1T (2007mm) and Tesla Cybertruck (2032mm).

The 'other' Kia ute is set to use a dedicated electric-car platform shared with next-generation Kia passenger cars and SUVs, rather than a heavy-duty ladder frame.

The images of a test mule on the road in California show rear disc brakes, independent front and rear suspension, and possibly air springs.

Little can be discerned about the production model's design from these initial photos, though to match rivals in the US, the electric Kia ute would need two or three electric motors, all-wheel drive, and 500-600km of claimed unladen driving range.

“We’ve been looking at one line of product, and we haven't even thought about the other one,” Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith told Drive earlier this year, when asked about the second Kia electric ute.

“And whether that's being developed or not, I don't know, because our focus has been on that one train of product that we've been talking about, wishing about, and hoping about for quite a long time.

“We're only thinking about one line of product.”

Kia announced plans in 2022 for two electric utes – a “dedicated” model built in the US for developed and emerging markets, and a “strategic model aimed at emerging markets”.

It was later learned the "strategic" model would offer a diesel version – the vehicle now known as the Tasman.