The Asia Rocsta is a
four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer cas ...
off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle, sometimes referred to as an overland or adventure vehicle, is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with de ...
built by
Asia Motors Corporation in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
. It was available as a jeep or pickup truck.
The Rocsta is derived from the Korean army's 4WD vehicle, also developed by Asia Motors. Because this model was cheaper than competing 4WD vehicles, it contributed to the increase in popularity of
offroad racing
Off-road racing is a form of motorsports consisting of specially-modified vehicles including cars, SUVs, trucks, motorbikes, quadbikes and buggies racing in off-road environments (e.g. snow, dirt, mud, etc.).
North America Desert racing
Desert ...
in Korea.
Asia Motors
Asia Motors Industries, traded as Asia Motors ( ko, 아시아자동차, ), was a South Korean car manufacturer established in 1965 and closed in 1999. From 1976 onwards, it was a subsidiary of Kia Motors.
History
In 1962, as one of the measu ...
launched the Rocsta in 1990, and retired it in 1997. From 1998, the Rocsta's replacement, the
Asia Retona, was sold under the
Kia
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
badge.
UK sales of the Rocsta ran from 1994–1997, which included both 1.8 litre petrol and 2.2 litre diesel models. Both could be purchased with either a hard or soft-top. Both models were distributed by
Kia Motors
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
and used
Kia
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
copies of standard
Mazda
, commonly referred to as simply Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima, Japan.
In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly one m ...
engines, with five-speed manual transmission.
The Rocsta was also sold in Australia between 1993 and 2000.
Variants
*Rocsta 1.8 DX Hard Top - Model# AM102 GS. Engine Number begins JF8 being for the Mazda F8 engine
*Rocsta 1.8 DX Soft Top
*Rocsta 2.2
*Rocsta 2.2 4WD
*Rocsta 2.2 D Soft Top
*Rocsta 2.2 Diesel DX H/Top
*Rocsta 2.2 Diesel DX S/Top
*Rocsta 2.2 Diesel Soft Top
*Rocsta R2 Wagon
Gallery
File:Kia (Asia) Rocsta.jpg, Standard Rocsta.
File:Asia_(Kia)_Rocsta_R2.jpg, Rocsta R2 rear.
File:1993 Asia Rocsta.jpg, 1993 Asia Rocsta sponsored by Mishimoto.
File:Asia_Rocsta_(8421422550).jpg, 1994 Asia Rocsta (Australia).
References
External links
{{Commons category, Asia Rocsta
Rocsta pictures
Cars of South Korea
Cars introduced in 1990
Sport utility vehicles