newsKia rules out ‘fast-tracked’ Tasman restyle, like this viral AI renderClaims that Kia is about to launch a facelifted Tasman – amplified by a viral, but in-house render of a military-spec version, seemingly created by AI – have been shot down.Alex Misoyannis07:0018 December 20250comments + 8 PhotosKia has knocked back speculation that a redesigned Tasman – with fresh front-end styling – is being fast-tracked to showrooms to address criticism of the polarising original design.Much of it has been stirred by seemingly AI-generated renders of a military-ready Tasman – wearing softer styling – posted on a Kia website in South Korea, which duped much of social media into thinking they were an early look at a restyle.The Tasman's styling is said to have been designed to stand out from the ute crowd, but has proved divisive – at least among potential customers who had yet to see the vehicle in the metal.MORE: Kia Tasman facelift could be fast-tracked with Weekender styling cues+ 8 Photos+ 8 PhotosPreviousNext"If there's any rumour or if there's any suggestion that we are going to fast-track a PE [product enhancement], or a facelift, that is completely incorrect," Kia Australia general manager of product planning, Roland Rivero, told Drive."A facelift, as per usual, would fall within the milestones of the product lifecycle plan, and there's no fast-tracking of any sort."What we definitely do know for a fact is that the customers who have purchased a Tasman, they're very, very positive about their purchase, and they speak very highly of their purchase. We just need more of them."Kia revealed an off-road-ready Tasman concept earlier this year, known as the Weekender (below), wearing a revised front fascia, wider wheel arches, taller tyres, and a tougher look.MORE: Kia Tasman price already discounted as sales start slow+ 8 PhotosIt was met with a positive reception online, and led a top Kia Tasman engineer to tell Drive earlier this year that "they [head office] want to make [it] a little bit faster, a little bit earlier."Asked if positive response to the Weekender concept's styling is helping its case, Rivero said: "Truthfully, yes. Weekender has created some attention, but it remains a concept at this point in time."Whether it's executed in an EV5, or it's executed in a Tasman, they remain as concepts."Concepts can have multiple roles – they can inspire future PEs and future redesigns – but at this point in time, it [Tasman Weekender] is not planned to go into production."MORE: Kia Tasman ute's rejected name is now used on a Toyota Prado+ 8 PhotosSpeculation surrounding a potential Tasman facelift went into overdrive in October after internet sleuths found two illustrations posted on the Kia Special Vehicles website, advertising in-house military conversions of the new ute.The renders (below) show Tasman-like proportions, with familiar cues such as outboard headlights and a similar grille, but little shared with the ute in showrooms today, and a softer edge to its styling.They were interpreted as an accidental early look at an inbound restyle for the Tasman, and received widespread media attention.MORE: Kia studying rival to BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute, but it's not right around the corner+ 8 Photos+ 8 PhotosPreviousNextKia Special Vehicles website showing the original AI renders.However, all signs point to the renders being artificial intelligence (AI) illustrations, possibly created by a Kia employee needing quick mock-ups of what a military Tasman could look like, and not expecting anyone to mistake them for a dramatic restyle of the regular ute.Differences between the two renderings – including in the doors, wheel arches, and bonnet – and distorted tyre lettering are telltale signs of AI-created illustrations.Kia Special Vehicles has since replaced the viral images with two new illustrations (below), which still look to have some AI involvement, but actually use the showroom Tasman's body as a basis for the military-specification upgrades.MORE: Kia Tasman 'Raptor equivalent' off-road ute could've existed by now, but remains on wish list+ 8 PhotosUpdated Kia Special Vehicles website, with new renders.Using other Kia models as a guide, expect the facelifted Tasman to arrive in about three years from now.There is likely to be a second facelift later in the ute's life – just as the Stonic city SUV has just received its second restyle since launching in Europe eight years ago – given commercial vehicles typically have a life cycle of 10 years."PE [Kia-speak for facelift] work starts the moment you launch a brand-new car, and that's every car line, no matter how good [it is] or, you know, whatever it has achieved in terms of sales," Rivero told Drive."The concept for PE immediately starts at the moment you launch the brand-new car," he said, acknowledging there is "nothing immediately over the horizon".8 ImagesPreviousNext MORE:Kia ShowroomMORE:Kia NewsMORE:Kia ReviewsMORE:Kia Tasman ShowroomMORE:Kia Tasman NewsMORE:Kia Tasman ReviewsMORE:Search Used Kia Tasman Cars for SaleMORE:Search Used Kia Cars for SaleMORE:Kia ShowroomMORE:Kia NewsMORE:Kia ReviewsMORE:Kia Tasman ShowroomMORE:Kia Tasman NewsMORE:Kia Tasman ReviewsMORE:Search Used Kia Tasman Cars for SaleMORE:Search Used Kia Cars for SaleAlex MisoyannisDeputy News EditorAlex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 WinnerRead more about Alex Misoyannis