Best known for its range of passenger and SUV models, Korean manufacturer KIA is making a concerted bid to dominate
Best known for its range of passenger and SUV models, Korean manufacturer KIA is making a concerted bid to dominate the light truck market in Australia, with the launch of its new K2900i.
While the chassis is an evolution of the popular previous K2700 model, the new engine offers a massive increase in power and torque as it moves to Euro 4 compliance, also boosting payload over the previous version.
Power is now 92 kW at 3800 rpm, 59 percent more than the old engine, while torque is up 49 percent to 245 Nm at 2000 rpm.
With a gross vehicle mass of 3291kg, the new truck has a payload of up to 1740kg, in cab-chassis configuration, combined with a tray length of 3.11 metres.
Bill Gillespie, Director of Sales for KIA, says the new engine introduces common rail fuel injection and wastegated turbo charger, and uses Exhaust Gas Recirculation to meet the stringent exhaust emission targets.
All KIA diesels would be marketed as CRDi, to signify the company’s complete shift to Common Rail Diesel technology across the board, offering improved fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions.
Gillespie expects many sales to come from local government and the building industry, with it s ability to enter height restricted areas such as underground car parks a key ingredient to its popularity, as well as not requiring drivers to hold a specific licence.
Rural buyers would also be targeted as potential buyers, with particular emphasis on the payload, which remains around 1500kg, even with the factory fitted steel drop side tray.
A five year/130,000 kilometre factory warranty, coupled with a starting price of $28,990 for the cab chassis version would also make it attractive to buyers.
Gillespie says KIA has a history of building trucks that stretches back to 1971, and has a Centre for Excellence for Diesel Technology in its European headquarters at Frankfurt in Germany, where engineer work closely with suppliers such as Bosch, AEG and Delphi to continually improve engine design.
A full test of the K2900i will be appear in an upcoming edition of ATN and Owner Driver.