Asia Motors Rocsta History
Asia Motors' compact Jeep-style 4x4 (1990–1997) — sold in South Korea, the UK, Australia, and the Philippines with Mazda-derived petrol and diesel engines.
Photo: “1996 ASIA Rocsta (3992627885).jpg” by Spanish Coches / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
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The Rocsta was Asia Motors' most recognisable product — a compact, boxy four-wheel-drive SUV launched in 1990 and built on a separate ladder frame. Two Mazda-derived engines were offered: a 1.8-litre petrol (Mazda F8 unit) and a 2.2-litre diesel (Mazda R2 unit), both paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. Body choices ran to a three-door hardtop, a softtop, and a pickup variant.
In export markets, Kia's UK distributor sold the Rocsta in Britain from 1994 to 1997, and Australian deliveries ran from 1993 to 2000. The vehicle found a lasting following in the Philippines, where it was positioned as an affordable off-roader. Production in South Korea ended in 1997 and was replaced by the Asia Retona, though Australian dealers continued to sell remaining stock into 2000.
Generations
First (and only) generation · AM101/AM102
Photo: “1996 ASIA Rocsta (3992627885).jpg” by Spanish Coches / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Mazda-engined ladder-frame compact 4x4; petrol and diesel variants in hardtop, softtop, and pickup body styles.
1993 Photo: “1993 Asia Rocsta.jpg” by Declinwalts / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1994 Photo: “Asia Rocsta AM 102 1994 (19085801498).jpg” by order_242 from Chile / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
1996 Photo: “1996 ASIA Rocsta.jpg” by Spanish Coches / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1997 Photo: “Asia Rocsta TX 1997 (13449208995).jpg” by order_242 from Chile / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Body styles
- 3-door SUV (hardtop)
- 3-door SUV (softtop)
- Pickup truck
Notable special editions & performance variants
Rocsta Pickup
Open-bed pickup variant of the Rocsta platform, available alongside the SUV body in domestic and some export markets.
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