Mohave has been limited to South Korea since the current second generation's debut in 2019. Image: Kia South Korea
Kia’s only body-on-frame SUV, rumoured to provide the underpinnings for the upcoming Tasman bakkie, is reportedly set for discontinuing within the next two months over its age and tumbling sales.
Once sold in North America, but marketed in its current second generation guise since 2019 solely in South Korea, the diesel engine Mohave won’t only be phased-out in nameplate and bodystyle, but also mechanically in light of apparent more stringent emissions regulations.
Used in no other Kia model, the Mohave has derived motivation, since its debut, from a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine pumping out 191kW/560Nm.
ALSO READ: Almost South Africa certain Kia Tasman shows itself in first teasers
Hooked to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the unit has been long rumoured for Tasman given the supposed platform sharing as opposed to Kia’s opting for a unibody architecture that underpins sister brand Hyundai’s Santa Cruz in the United States.
Citing a report from South Korea’s etnews.com, drive.com.au reports that production of Mohave will cease in July as a means of freeing up production at the Hwaseong Plant for assembly of the Tasman next year.
Reportedly, Mohave sales have remained low with only 257 units sold last month, despite it having been the personal project of former Kia President and now Hyundai CEO, Chung Eui-sun, ever since the first generation that lasted from 2008 to 2019 under the Mohave name and as the Borrego in North America.
According to drive.com, total Mohave sales in 2023 amounted to 5 023 units, a drop from the alleged 20 000 moved in 2020 after the second generation’s debut.
With the Mohave’s departure, the door closes on the chances of the Tasman receiving a six-cylinder engine fellow outlet, The Korean Car Blog, reported in March had been decided against in favour of the venerable R-series 2.2-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder used in the Sorento and Carnival.
A report that now seems to have pre-dated the Mohave’s ending, the etnews.com claims doesn’t specify whether the Mohave’s axing would have any bearing on the Tasman’s platform, nor does it state whether an entirely new architecture had to be constructed without any reliance or parts sharing.
Although only due to enter production in early 2025 as indicated, the Tasman is still set to make its formal unveiling by year-end, with sales planned for South Korea, and then the key market of Australia where most of the development work had occurred.
Named after the Tasman Sea that separates Australia and New Zealand, the EV9-inspired Tasman has been confirmed for South Africa, but only from next year with exact details to be revealed once a global launch date emerges.
“Where we position the Tasman will be very important. We need to show respect to the bakkie market in South Africa in determining where it will fit in,” Kia South Africa CEO, Gary Scott, told The Citizen on the sidelines of the facelift Picanto launch in Cape Town last month.
“The fact that the Kia brand has taken so long for this product to come to fruition shows that we have big aspirations. Yes, the Tasman name obviously makes it relevant to Australia, but I think it is just as relevant in South Africa”.
Asked about the Tasman days before at the reveal of the facelift Seltos in the Mother City, Kia South Africa General Manager for Marketing, Christo Valentyn, said, “There have been multiple entrants in [the bakkie segment] and you can see from their success or lack thereof, that it is a tough segment to enter.
“[However], we remain cautiously optimistic that the product, from an engineering and mechanical perspective, will be more than suitable for the country, however, it is still way too early to make a call [regarding specification]”.
Teased for the first time last year, expectations are that more images, and information, will become apparent within the coming months until an official date of unveiling is approved.
NOW READ: REPORT: Kia Tasman will debut initially only with four-cylinders
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