Half-Ton Bakkies

[SlyFly]

Does anyone know any new info on Half-Ton bakkies? Like when will Corsa launch their new Utility, rumour has it, that it will be branded as a Chevrolet (Like in Brazil and other markets). I know GM is upgrading a factory for the bakkie...

Also does anyone know anything about a Ford replacement bakkie, the Bantam shape is old and the facelifts are getting tired? Is their any info on Ford taking the Bantam over to the new Ikon shape perhaps? The new Ikon is not to bad looking and this will put it in the same "size" of bakkie as the NP200 and Utility?

Also anyone know if VW will ever bring their half tonner to South Africa, with the launch of their new Big Bakkie in South Africa seen, maybe this could lead to the smaller one coming here aswell?

Then what about the Proton Arena, any news if this Bakkie will get a replacement model in South Africa (The current one is horrid and still comes with a tape player)

The newest bakkies is the NP200 and then the Fiat Strada range just got a small facelift and bigger engines... If the Strada's spare would have been under the Bakkie like other Half tonners, I would really considor it an option, but the spare behing the seats isn't very practical in my opinion...

Just general info that you might know or would like to comment about... Currently driving a Bantam 1.3 (First Facelift of the new shape)

 

[SlyFly]

THought I'd also add the sale figures for Half Ton Bakkies, those that appear on the Top 10 for Commercial vehicles in SOuth Africa:

Opel
Corsa Utility 1 180 (3 Spot)

Nissan
NP200 575 (6 Spot)

Ford
Bantam 480 (8 Spot)

Bantam has dropped over the last 2 years from over 1500 a month to just under 500, the Utility has been constant performer above 1000 units and the NP200 is slowly eating away at the Bantam numbers and to a lesser extend the Utility (That used to average also around the 1500)

 

[Brawler]

Agreed about the bantam. New face lift looks horrible

 

[SlyFly]

Anyone have any new info on what we can expect in 2011?

 

[Brawler]

That siff new Chev thing.

 

[Captain Beer]

Looking at the Naamsa stats for 2010 and we really have a limited choice of half ton bakkies in SA.

Chana Star (not sure if this one counts)
Chev Utility
Fiat Strada
Ford Bantam
Nissan NP200

 

[Brawler]

yeah.

A little bit off topic but I was surprised to find out that I could fit more in a Honda Jazz with its back seats folded flat than in my Bantam with canopy.

 

[SlyFly]

BTW Talking about NAAMSA, anyone know where you can get the Top 10 Car/Commercial Sale figures for every month, they used to be on Wheels24, was great to see what was selling but now I can't find it anywhere anymore and the stats from their site is to "RAW" for my liking.