Renault’s Alaskan
A Renault bakkie for South Africa? In a roundabout way perhaps. Here is the story.
A bakkie is called a Ute in Australia, short for utility vehicle. Utes are big down under, with their miles and miles of nothing much there. Renault already has a bakkie called the Alaskan. This is based on the Nissan Navara, like the Merc X-Class bakkie.
First reports suggested that they would offer a right-hand-drive Alaskan, but this decision has since been shut down. According to Renault Australia MD Anouk Poelmann, the Alaskan was not suitable, because its suspension was tuned for the European lifestyle market. The Aussie ute market is more workhorse-based and developing suitable suspension for the Alaskan would have been too expensive.
There are rumours that Renault may base their new bakkie on the platform of the Mitsubishi Triton, which is already a firm favourite in Australia. This could be soon, using the current platform, or in about three years when the next Triton is due for release. The next Navara is only due on about five years.
It is worth noting that Renault is in an alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi and they share common platforms. This gives them massive savings in development and parts procurement. But the three partners are very careful to maintain their own brand identities, making sure their vehicles are not seen as a rebadged this or that.
So, reading between the lines, it will probably share a platform with the next generation Triton. Poelmann was adamant that the new bakkie will look like a Renault and have a unique body. “It would be a true Renault . . . it would look different,” said Poelmann. “The whole organisation is under new wings. We look at product planning and product development through new and fresh eyes.”
So how does this affect South Africa? There have been persistent rumours that Renault would bring the Alaskan to our market. But with the Aussie decision, the market for a right-hand drive version may now be too small for this.
Is there a Renault bakkie in our future? Most likely. Will it use the same platform as the Triton? Time will tell. In the meanwhile, you can browse the available range of Renault vehicles here.
