Renault Duster Oroch bakkie

It’s official: Renault finally confirms new half-tonne bakkie

Renault has announced a fresh investment in its Córdoba plant in Argentina, finally confirming it will produce a new half-tonne bakkie based on the Niagara concept…

It’s finally official: Renault has announced a fresh investment in its Santa Isabel, Córdoba factory in Argentina, confirming that it will indeed produce a new half-tonne bakkie based on the Niagara concept.

Expected to replace the long-in-the-tooth Duster-based Oroch that didn’t ever make it to South Africa, the upcoming bakkie will likewise employ a unibody rather than ladder-frame configuration, riding on a new Renault Group modular platform. It’s expected to hit the market in Latin America in 2026.

According to translated press material released in the Latin American country, the Boulogne-Billancourt-based firm says its new half-tonne pick-up “will initially be manufactured only in Argentina and will have a strong export profile”.

Renault has yet to announce whether the new bakkie will also be built in right-hand-drive form (remember, countries in that part of the world use left-hand-drive models). However, as Cars.co.za reported in May 2024, the French automaker has already applied to trademark the “Niagara” badge in South Africa, so there’s at least some hope for an eventual local introduction.

 
We know SA still wants Oroch bakkie, says Renault boss

Renault SA’s MD says he knows the South African market still wants the Oroch half-tonne bakkie and confirms the door hasn’t been closed on this long-planned model…

The head of Renault South Africa says he’s well aware that the local market still wants the Oroch half-tonne bakkie, adding that “conversations are still open and we’re looking at it”.

The French firm’s local distributor has been endeavouring to bring the Duster-based Oroch to the Mzansi since at least 2016, with Renault SA having on several occasions said the unibody bakkie was “in the planning” for a local launch.

In fact, Renault SA even homologated the Oroch in 2023, before again pausing the project due to what it termed “unfavourable” market conditions. Since South Africa has experienced an improvement in the exchange rate over the past few months, we asked Shumani Tshifularo, Renault South Africa Managing Director, if the Oroch might be back on the table.

“The rethink is there. We have been talking about it as well with the team, because the car was homologated. It was ready … we were about to place orders – we were organising everything – but the commercial sense couldn’t happen,” Tshifularo told Cars.co.za during an interview at Naamsa’s recent South African Auto Week 2024 in Cape Town.

 
cr@zydude said:
I wouldn't call it a perfect replacement, but I do want that bakkie in SA.

An Oroch is a double cab qnd will probably cost over R400 000, while an NP200 was a single cab and around R250 000.
Click to expand...
Agreed on both points + your 400k + guestimate.

Still beggars can't be choosers in this segment.
 
New Renault Niagara double-cab bakkie revealed

The new Renault Niagara double-cab bakkie has finally been fully revealed, though there’s no mention of right-hand-drive production. Here’s what we know so far…

- New Niagara revealed for Latin America
- Payload capacity comes in at 654 kg
- No talk of right-hand-drive production

Almost 3 years after the concept was unveiled, the new Renault Niagara double-cab bakkie has been fully revealed in production form – though the French brand has made it clear the unibody newcomer has been developed specifically for Latin American markets.

That, of course, suggests right-hand-drive production is unlikely (for the time being, anyway). Indeed, Renault mentions a trio of “main target markets” for the Niagara – Brazil, Argentina and Colombia – while also stating the bakkie will be exported to “a number of other Latin American countries at a later date”.

Despite seemingly being offered exclusively in double-cab form, the Niagara is expected to replace the long-in-the-tooth Duster-based Oroch that also didn’t ever make it to South Africa. In Latin America, it will thus compete with the likes of the Fiat Toro, Ford Maverick and Ram Rampage, and perhaps even the (likely more compact but likewise box-fresh) Volkswagen Tukan.

So, we probably won’t be seeing the new Niagara on South African roads anytime soon, even though (as Cars.co.za reported in May 2024) the French automaker has indeed applied to trademark the “Niagara” badge here in Mzansi.

 
New Renault Niagara double-cab bakkie unveiled

Renault has whipped the wraps off the Niagara. We take a closer look at the automaker’s new double-cab bakkie.

The Niagara is underpinned by Renault’s RGMP (Renault Group Modular Platform) unibody architecture. The Niagara employs a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which produces 115 and 120 kW in the 4×2 and 4×4 variants, respectively. Renault quotes a maximum torque output of 270 N.m. The powertrain is available with the choice of two transmission options: six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch. According to the brand, the RGMP setup also supports hybrid powertrains.

The 4×4 version measures 4 940 mm in length. For comparison, this makes it 380 mm shorter than a Toyota Hilux. It is worth noting that the 4×2 derivative is 30 mm shorter than its 4×4 sibling, at 4 910 mm. The Niagara measures 1 833 mm wide and stands 1 720 mm tall, with a 2 956 mm wheelbase.

The Niagara 4×4 sports a 233 mm ground clearance. The 4×4’s approach and departure angles are 22.1 degrees. The 4×2 has a ground clearance of 223 mm, and 22.3-degree approach and departure angles. The Niagara offers a payload capacity of 654 kg, with the load bed – measuring 1 030 mm wide and 615 mm tall – offering a claimed load volume of 938 litres. The towing capacity is rated at 710 kg.

The Niagara is equipped with a multilink rear suspension setup. Ventilated brake discs can be found at all four corners.

www.carmag.co.za

New Renault Niagara double-cab bakkie unveiled

Renault has whipped the wraps off the Niagara. We take a closer look at the automaker’s new double-cab bakkie...
www.carmag.co.za www.carmag.co.za
 
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