by Repainted fenders may become standard equipment on some versions of the Tasman model.
Kia claims that potential buyers are beginning to warm up to the unusual pickup design.
The supply of the new mid-sized truck is expected to begin in Australia later this year.
If you’ve been browsing social media since its release last year, you’ve probably noticed that the pickup’s appearance has received mixed reviews. Overall, most people are unsure about its design, but Kia instead claims that public opinion is gradually changing.
Credit where it’s due — it seems that Kia is listening to the feedback received, as they’ve made efforts to rectify one of the truck’s main shortcomings: the odd fenders.
Even before the Tasman was introduced, spy photos showed that it might be equipped with strange black splashes, reminiscent of peculiar eyebrows or a pair of strange mustaches. Now a photo has been posted on social media showing Tasman with body-colored fenders, and it looks much better.
The Tasman, which has not yet gone on sale, was recently spotted in Tasmania with matching white arches. We won’t go so far as to say that thanks to this change, the Kia now looks good. It doesn’t, mainly due to the odd positioning of the headlights right in front of the fenders. The grille shape and darkened bumper are also a bit strange.
According to some reports, these chalk-painted fenders may become standard equipment on some versions of the Tasman, although they haven’t been fully introduced yet. If they do indeed become standard, Kia is tacitly admitting that the black fenders failed to impress those they likely hoped to. This could be good news for customers, especially those who were immediately put off by the black fenders.
During the discussion of the Tasman’s peculiar appearance in December, Kia Australia’s General Marketing Manager, Dean Norbiato, claimed that locals are beginning to appreciate the design after seeing the Tasman in person.
“You all know what the reaction was after the launch from an aesthetic point of view, but we are really starting to see a change in the narrative concerning opinions,” Norbiato said.
“A lot of people, the more time they spend with the product, see a divergence in opinions from the initial launch. We’ve also conducted customer research. We had a week-long study on Tasman, and based on the feedback received, we are confident that from the position of the overall sales volume we plan with this model — the product and its characteristics — we are in a good position,” he added.
