Kia Tasman name confirmed? Aussie-inspired name appears in first TV commercial for Kia's most Australian vehicle ever

Kia has seemingly confirmed the Tasman name for its new Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux rival, hiding the detail in plain sight in the ute's first TV commercial.

While much of the add is dedicated to trying to decide on a name for Kia's first ute – with a whole heap of Australian sporting legends offering up suggestions largely based on their own nicknames – it seems the decision has already been made to go with Tasman.

In fact, the ad opens to a newspaper clipping which, though it requires some careful zooming, clearly reads:

"One standout model making its debut is The Tasman, a versatile 4X4 engineered to take Australia's diverse landscapes. Boasting robust off-road capabilities and a sleek yet durable design, this vehicle is set to capture the hearts of adventure enthusiasts across the country."

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That feels like a confirmation to us, especially given "Tasman" is also the only name currently trademarked for the ute in Australia.

First lodged with Australia's trademark office in June last year, the name Tasman will be instantly recognisable to Australian buyers, with Trans-Tasman the long-standing term used to describe the relationship between our country and New Zealand, and relates directly to the Tasman sea which separates our two nations.

The Aussie-flavoured name is a reflection of the amount of work Kia Australia has put into the Tasman, first in championing the project, and then in leading its development.

Asked whether the new ute would be the most Australian Kia ever, the brand's General Manager of Product Planning, Roland Rivero replied: "Definitely."

"It's a different sport," Mr Rivero says. "But with that involvement comes a lot of responsibility."

Kia also says its long-awaited ute will be Australia's benchmark diesel dual-cab, telling CarsGuide that it's "not mucking around" in its mission to overtake segment favourites like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

"We're definitely aiming for (the benchmark)," Rivero said.

"We're not mucking around when it comes to the ute. We wan to make sure that the first attempt at a ute from our brand is one that's going to do well in our market."