Renault has plans to unveil a one-tonne pick-up truck later this year in concept form, to take on the hot-selling Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger in the highly lucrative segment. Renault is keen to cash in on the increasing demand for pick-ups globally with one of its own. Renault’s pickup truck will of course be based on its sibling’s new truck, the all new 2015 Nissan Navara. This new unnamed pick-up will most likely mirror the Navara in offering a range of two-door single-cab and four-door dual-cab body styles.
Everything forward of the A-pillars will feature unique Renault styling and panels, meaning that from the doors back, the French and Japanese-badged twins will be virtually identical. The Renault’s cabin may be given a makeover to keep it looking more on-brand than the Nissan’s. The rest of the Renault will most likely be shared, including the separate chassis construction, double wishbone front end and leaf springs rear suspension.
This new Renault pickup will be powered by a four-cylinder engine range likely to include the new Navara’s 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel unit, as well as a 3.2-litre turbodiesel.
Renault’s sister company Dacia last year unveiled a concept truck badged as a Duster pickup utilising the platform from Nissan and styling from Renault. This concept pickup truck has yet to see final stages of production and could be waiting for the Renault pickup truck to be unveiled first before taking production seriously.
