The new one-tonne Alaskan pick-up truck from Renault has been revealed, the concept of which was shown in September last year in Latin America. Renault’s first global pick-up takes its name by the Aleut word “Alaska” which means “Great Land”. The Alaskan’s features like the five-link rear suspension, the tough fully boxed frame, generous ground clearance of 230mm and towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes add to its off-roading credentials and should grab the attention of adventure seekers.
Under the bonnet sits Renault’s 4-cylinder, 2.3-litre dCi twin-turbo diesel engine, and depending on the market, the power output options will be 158bhp or 187bhp. Renault also promises a wide range of services, accessories and tailor made conversions to fulfill user’s requirements. To make to even more versatile, two powertrains are speculated to feature in it in the future, a 2.5-litre petrol and a 2.5-litre diesel with the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox and a seven-speed automatic transmission, plus two- or four-wheel drive.
With the Alaskan, Renault is looking to appeal to customers looking for adventure, as well as those who want a tough looking urban vehicle. Renault’s styling cues have made it into the Alaskan – the large and prominent logo on the nose which sits on the four sculptured ribs at the center, the C-shaped head lights and full-LED lighting signature. An electronic limited-slip differential will be incorporated in the 4-wheel drive variant to boost traction and a locking differential with mechanical lock to further improve the drive in any terrain.
As per Laurens van den Acker – SVP, Corporate Design. “The styling of the Alaskan Concept sticks to the rules of the pick-up segment, including impressive dimensions and a visual sense of power and robustness. At the same time, we have dialed in specific Renault cues in the form of an attractive, status-enhancing front-end design.”
Before it hits the global market, including the UK, the Alaskan will step in South America’s market first by the end of 2016.