Kia · 1980–present

Kia Bongo

The Kia Bongo (Hangul:기아 봉고), also known as the Kia K-Series or Kia Besta, is a cabover pickup truck and van produced by the South Korean automobile manufacturer Kia since 1980. The Bongo was first launched in 1980 under the name Bongo. In 1997, the third generation Bongo Frontier was launched. As of 2004, the Kia Bongo was in its fourth version, confusingly sold as the Kia Bongo III. "Frontier" was dropped from the name with this revision.

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Background

Kia has produced small and large trucks for the South Korean market for at least 25 years. Rear-wheel-drive Bongo trucks have been on the market in Korea since at least the late 1980s, and these were equipped with a four-cylinder diesel engine. They have occasionally been sold with various surnames such as Kia Bongo Frontier (third generation Bongo), which was replaced by the Kia Bongo III in 2004, and under a variety of names in different export markets. The Bongo Frontier was one of the first Kia cars to be exported to Europe and South America. In some markets, such as Europe, Australia and South America, the Bongo is branded as the Kia K-Series or the Kia Frontier, which includes the K2400 and K2700. In Taiwan, it is known as the Kia Kaon, while in Vietnam, it is manufactured under license by THACO and sold as the THACO Kia New Frontier. First generation (1980–1994). Production of the truck started in 1980 and the van started in 1981. Early Bongos had round headlights, although these were changed for square units in 1981. The first Bongos also used "Kiamaster" logos rather than simply "Kia"; this was changed in February 1986. The Bongo originally came with the 2.2 liter "S2" diesel engine of Perkins origins, producing 70 PS (51 kW). The 1.4 liter "UC" petrol engine became an option in 1985. 'Wide Bongo' production started in 1987. Between 1987 and 1990 the Bongo was sold as the "Power Bongo", to reflect an upgrade to the 80 PS (59 kW) 2.4 litre "SF" diesel engine. The Power Bongo also has wide rectangular headlights, rather than the smaller units used previously. The first generation Bongo was removed from production in December 1994, although the tougher Ceres version continued for another seven years. Kia Ceres. The Kia Ceres was a special agricultural version. It

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Specifications

name: Kia Bongo
Manufacturer: Kia
aka: Kia Frontier, Kia Big-Up (Pickup variant; Indonesia), Kia Pregio/Bongo III Coach (Van variant), Kia Travello (Van variant; Indonesia, 2004–2018), Kia Kaon (Taiwan), Forland K1, THACO Kia New Frontier (Vietnam), Kia KC2700, Kia K2400, Kia K2500, Kia K2500 Karga (Philippines, 2019–present), Kia K2700, Kia K3000S, Kia K4000G, Kia Jumbo (Pickup variant; Thailand, 2004–2011), Kia Towner K2500 People Land and Serbia Kia Pitipan
Production: 1980–present
Class: Light commercial vehicle
Body style: Van, Pickup truck
Assembly: South Korea: Gwangju (Gwangju Plant), Ecuador: Quito (AYMESA), Uruguay: Montevideo (Nordex), Algeria: Batna (GLOVIZ), Pakistan: Karachi (Kia Lucky Motors), Philippines: Parañaque (1990s–2006), Biñan, Laguna (2006–2019); Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC); Santa Rosa, Laguna (2019–present); (Kia Philippines), Vietnam: Chu Lai (THACO)
Successor: Kia Pregio (for Besta)