The Kia Tasman Weekender Is Korea’s Raptor Fighter

Looking as if it came straight out of a supersized Lego Technic box, the Tasman Weekender is a Korean take on a Ford Ranger Raptor rival. Currently a concept, the overly angular pickup truck is making a splash this week at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show. It’s quite different than the polarizing production model, and dare we say that Kia has addressed the main design issue. The fenders are now body-colored, making the profile look so much better.

Of course, it also helps that the fenders are considerably wider on this concept truck. The Weekender sits on meaty 35-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires and offers a better approach angle after Kia shaved off the corners of the front bumper. The adventurous Tasman also gets a winch, beefy grab handles on the B-pillars, and a large storage box at the back. All that’s missing is a snorkel, although it’s available as an official accessory for the production model.

Another subtle change is at the front, where the headlights no longer appear to be pushed to the body’s extremities. That’s partly because of the larger front fenders, but Kia has also added a black plastic trim piece. This functional styling tweak doesn’t just alter the proportions; it also reduces the risk of headlight damage while off-roading.

But even with these modifications, the Tasman is still immensely quirky. The lifted Weekender concept is a step in the right direction, and hopefully, a production version will follow. A stronger engine would make sense, although the truck shown in Seoul had the standard 2.2-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder with 207 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Some markets also get a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with 277 hp and 311 lb-ft. A larger V-6 has been ruled out because of stricter emissions regulations, albeit rival brands offer six-cylinder midsize trucks.

Although Kia CEO Ho Sung Song says the company is “seriously studying” a truck for the United States, it won’t be the Tasman. More details about the pickup will be announced tomorrow, April 9, during Kia’s Investor Day.

Photo by: Kia