The Thailand Special Thread - New Developments/News

[Franco Cozzo]

Thought this could be a place to keep all the new Thailand Special developments and news in one place, rather than a thread per vehicle for other entrants into the market - things that are on the radar for our market in the near future.

Starting off with a Chinese EV Thailand Special

Radar RD6 2023 Review – International

The Radar RD6 electric ute is well placed to spearhead Chinese auto giant Geely’s wide-ranging assault on the Australian market

At launch, the 2023 Radar RD6 is powered by a single e-motor driving the rear wheels and producing 200kW and 384Nm of torque.

Although the integrated tow hook won’t start delivery until March 2023, towing capacity for the RD6 is rated at 2500kg in China. The dual-cab can also supply 12V power to the trailer.

Payload is more of an issue at just 430kg, which drops further to 400kg on the 100kWh battery version.

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...tional-139044/

Also the Kia ute everyone has been banging on about for what seems like a decade is also making the rumor mill churn out crap again:

First Kia ute expected by 2025

Kia Australia says it “will be ready” to attack the lucrative local ute market; big volume and wide model range expected

It’s not officially confirmed, but Kia’s all-new dual-cab ute seems certain to become available in Australia as soon as 2025.

Images of prototypes under test in Korea are bombarding the internet and Kia Australia is doing nothing to deny its interest in getting hold of the production version as soon as possible.

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...y-2025-139297/

In the first sentence, right off the bat with 'its not officially confirmed', with the amount of rumors and talk spreading around about this fictional Kia Ute been going on for years now I find it hard to believe its actually going to come here when its finally developed.

Interestingly, the article states Kia is also leaving the 'bottom feeder' market to Toyota to have to themselves, instead targeting the Ranger for higher end sales in this market.

Sounds like its going to be awfully congested at the top end of the Thailand Special market come 2025 if the rumors are actually true.