Renault Alaskan
The recent French Grand Prix in Marseille saw the exciting unveiling of an F1-inspired double cab bakkie. This iteration of the Renault Alaskan double-cab, which is waiting in the wings to hit the ground running in South Africa later this year, raised quite a few well-coiffed eyebrows with its black bodywork and snazzy gold accents. But what does that mean for SA consumers – are we looking at an F1 bakkie for the masses?
Sadly, ladies and gents, that would be a no. Apologies for stringing you along there, but be honest, it was fun toying with the notion of a pickup that can achieve F1 speeds, wasn’t it? This matt black steed was a once-off concept vehicle that sported the Renault team’s colour scheme, but that was about as F1 as it got.
However, the Renault Alaskan doesn’t need all the F1-accoutrement to get us excited. There are plenty of goods under the hood of this new bakkie to start with. So what exactly can South African motorists look forward to? Here’s a round-up of our favourite facts and features regarding the new Renault Alaskan:
- It’s frugal as well as powerful. It’s entry-level 160 dCi diesel engine produces 120kW and 403 Nm at 6.3 litres/100km, which is not to be sniffed at. In fact, the only bakkie that currently beats its fuel economy is the Ford Ranger.
- It’s built to work. With a whopping 2.46m2 load box, a tailgate that can take a 500kg load and a roomy 230mm ground clearance, the Alaskan is good to go.
- It features plenty of creature comforts. Just because it’s big doesn’t mean it’s not comfortable. The interior comes with all the standard bells and whistles, as well as three 12V sockets, hill start- and descend control, up to 20 storage spaces as well as 7 airbags. The flagship also boasts dual-zone climate control that can be used to adapt the temperature according to occupant preference in the front and the back of the vehicle.
- It handles like a dream.Best of all? This bakkie can take on challenging terrain without giving its occupants a bumpy ride. Boasting a multilink rear suspension layout instead of the traditional leaf springs, the Alaskan is poised for a smooth ride.
These are just a few of the features South African motorists can expect from the new Alaskan. While we wait for the exciting new Renault to make its way to South African showroom floors, feel free to get in touch with your closest Renault branch to test drive the current models we have on offer. Come get behind the wheel to get a taste of what is waiting around the bend.
