Kia has given a unibody pickup truck bound for the U.S. the green light, a new report finds. A Kia truck has been in the works for some time now, and it appears as though the new truck will now begin production around 2011.
According to Automotive News, the new truck will be based on the 2010 Kia Sorento and will be produced at the company’s new plant in West Point, Georgia. The current Sorento is based on a typical body-on-frame truck platform, but the all-new Sorento, as well as the upcoming Kia pickup truck, will be based on a more car-like unibody platform.
The yet-to-be-named pickup truck will be powered by a V6 driving the front wheels, although all-wheel drive will likely be optional.
Kia dealers were tipped off to the fact that Kia was strongly considering a pickup truck during dealer meetings held last February. At the meetings, Kia Motors America CEO Ahn Byung-Mo reported brought up the possibility and even had a Honda Ridgeline on hand for demonstration purposes.
03/17, 4:41 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
So, I guess this site is done.
03/17, 5:02 PM
posted by:
Classic-auto
A front wheel drive truck, since when? There better be an all wheel drive option for this or it won’t sell. When I buy a truck it better be able to get me across the mud flats to deer and grouse hunting grounds or to the firing range.
03/17, 5:17 PM
posted by:
gbb
A Kia…..truck….??????????? Good gawd, I have read it all now. Their cars are useless $hit and now they want to build a pickup for the US market? Smart, right up there with pissing into the wind.
03/17, 5:23 PM
posted by:
corvette
can they do it…………dun dun dun.
03/17, 5:24 PM
posted by:
golf4me
Not everyone needs a truck for fording streams and hunting rabbits…speaking of rabbits, remember that VW truck? Great little truck. My father had one (diesel) and it served him very well with hauling dirtbikes, firewood, dirt, furniture, towing a small fishing boat, etc. Ran for 300,000 miles, and got 40mpg in the bargain. Whoever makes another one of these will make some money, especially with utility companies, small contractors, pool guys, flower shops, etc who need a truck bed, but not the big ground clearance or towing of a “real” pickup, or the poor gas mileage. GM should consider giving GMC a more utilitarian version of the G8 “sport truck” with steel wheels and a v-6 (or better yet a small turbodiesel) for the commercial/DIY market as well. With gas at nearly $4 a gallon, it’s time for this. However, it shouldn’t be as big, thirsty, or ugly as the Ridgeline. Not sure why anyone would buy that over a Tacoma or Frontier, save for having a Honda badge, whatever that means anymore.
03/17, 5:41 PM
posted by:
jjayc08
Hey, Kia and Hyundai have really stepped up their game, but I have yet to see them make something that I’d seriously consider. All their products are lackluster, their quality is up but not their ride or most other things (rode in the Elantra recently and Santa Fe not too long ago, the new one). They’ve really built up brand identity, but a truck? Their going into territory where buyers are extremely brand and quality conscious. Maybe they can, but we said the same thing with Toyota and look where they are now… reducing production of the Tundra.
03/17, 5:43 PM
posted by:
jjayc08
small fishing boat golf4me? How small are we talking? I haven’t ridden in one, but I haven’t spoken to one person who’s owned one that’s said it’s dangerous on the highways because it struggles to get up there. Not bashing your car, I think their a neat city runabout, but if it’s based off the Sorento then it’ll probably be larger than that…
03/17, 5:53 PM
posted by:
FairlightRacing
Its a POS jap truck. GM rules. I’ve just deepthroated a horse. It was fairly big and i felt it in my stomach. It was ticklish but i kinda liked it
03/17, 5:53 PM
posted by:
sharpie
Kia FWD Unibody Truck? Four words that should never be uttered together! I guess Kia is segment defining too, so watch out Pontiac!
03/17, 5:54 PM
posted by:
A4
so the soccer mom borrego gets the off-road toughness, but the mens pickup gets unibody. brilliant.
03/17, 5:54 PM
posted by:
FairlightRacing
sharpie do you want a blowjob?? its free
I’ve just deepthroated a horse. It was fairly big and i felt it in my stomach. It was ticklish but i kinda liked it 
03/17, 7:07 PM
posted by:
golf4me
Yeah jjayc08, it was one of those small aluminum ones with like a 10hp outboard. Even with only 48hp on tap, that little SOB could cruise all day at 80mph towing that dinghy and camping gear. Took a while to get there, but not really dangerous, just had to have a little patience, but the 40mpg more than made up for it. Empty, it was really a lot of fun to drive, especially on wooded back roads and in the snow. My dad really loved that little thing, and only got rid of it because it literally rusted apart.
03/17, 9:49 PM
posted by:
Stridder44
Except that it’ll still be a Kia…
Keep your Korean P.O.S.
03/17, 11:24 PM
posted by:
bigp
no one wants an kia truck
03/18, 7:29 AM
posted by:
lucklaster
Unibody and front wheel drive:
Not a pickup truck.
03/18, 7:47 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
Kia’s 2008 Proceed has good reviews with less mention of their previous cheap feel and more focus on their improved quality and their Sorrento can hack it off road, so why not?
Their quality is improving and although you won’t see rich bitches in these cars, there’s still people out there who could buy their stuff… Especially if AWD is an option…
http://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/630/archive/Kia/Sorento/K_978.jpg
Does what it says on the tin…
03/18, 8:08 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
Yeah, the F-150 and Silverado are going to get crushed by this new mighty KIA. Look out Ford and Chevy, this is the next best thing! LMAO
This Kia should be received well at NASCAR tailgate parties and rodeos.
I think I would rather walk than drive a Kia pretend pickup.
03/18, 9:28 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Kia makes great car but has a while to go to compete with Honda and Toyota
They should start at the bottom with GM Ford and Chrysler then build their way up
That new Kia SUV (Borrego I think) looks great and I cant wait to see them on the roads
It has a very upscale interior let just hope it has navigation as an option
03/18, 10:44 AM
posted by:
lucklaster
Man, Lust, Kia:
One does not go with the others.
03/19, 9:18 AM
posted by:
jjayc08
golf4me- Well, you don’t make it sound that bad. And hey, maybe it isn’t, but I know that my compact pick-up with about 4 times that amount of power struggles pulling a 1500 ibs (maybe not even that much, but I’ve never really taken the time to check) boat behind it. Part of that is poor engineering, but I wouldn’t want anything slower for pulling that boat, it would be great for a runabout or a second vehicle.
ZO6ified- Nobodies saying American trucks are going to get crushed by this thing. Hey, it may actually do good against the Ridgeline, but simply because of the brand identity and platform I kind of doubt it. Might be a good way to start however.
03/23, 3:09 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
the second gayest vehicle on the market!