- Kia confirms the new ute will be called the Tasman
- Sports stars appeared in advertisements to promote vehicles
- Kia expects the new car 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 car.
The Korean manufacturer has confirmed that the new vehicle will be called the Tasman when it launches next year.
Among the 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, the athletes speculate on what the new ute should be called, with some suggesting it should be named after themselves.
The ad dropped 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 car will be called the Tasman, after a viral advert featuring some of Australia’s top sports stars
Alex Volkanovski (pictured) said he is doing well in front of the camera while filming the ad
Utes are selling very well in Australia, filling the top three positions in the sales charts last year.
Kia expects to sell between 25,000 and 30,000 Tasmans a year, which would put them second in sales behind Toyota.
‘The Kia Australia team has worked closely with the research and development team at head office to develop Tasman, a vehicle that we believe will meet the needs of our unique market, so it is very rewarding that it is a Australian-inspired name to match its personality,” said Damien Meredith, CEO of Kia Australia.
“We have strong ambitions for Tasman in our market, and the fact that the name has such clear ties to our region is testament to Kia Australia’s important role in its development and future success.”
The Tasman is expected to feature a four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, matching the volume-selling versions of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
An electric version of the Tasman is expected to follow in a 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’ll be fine,” Lockyer told A Current Affair, who went behind the scenes of the filming.
The new Kia Tasmans are expected to come onto the market next year
UFC star Alex Volkanovski was much more confident in his acting skills.
“I thrive in front of the camera, I absolutely love it, I’m looking forward to it,” Volkanovski said.