Bakkie blitz

Mitsubishi and Fiat (yes, Fiat) have both announced all-new bakkies for the South African market, due in 2016. Eagle-eyed readers will certainly notice a few similarities between them. Chevrolet has also hit a milestone with its Utility.

Improved Triton
Mitsubishi has finally announced that the all-new, fifth-generation Triton will be available from the middle of the year.
   
“The new Triton offers a surprisingly quiet ride and cabin comfort reminiscent of a passenger car, while the functionality and reliability required for tough working conditions are as present as ever,” says Wynand Pretorius, COO of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa.
   
In addition to its revised suspension, the new Triton will feature a new-generation 2,4-litre turbodiesel engine that will produce 133 kW and 430 Nm. A six-speed manual and five-speed automatic will be available.
   
High levels of safety and luxury equipment will also help raise the appeal of this traditionally left-field challenger.

“The new Triton was designed to match the ride quality of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) without compromising the workhorse qualities that have made double-cab bakkies so popular. We believe our engineers have hit their target and that the new Triton Sport Utility Truck will prove as popular in South Africa as in other countries,” says Pretorius.

Introducing Fullback
Due to land on local shores during the third quarter of 2016, the all new Fiat Fullback will be available in single-cab 4×2 and double-cab 4×2 and 4×4 configurations. Depending on the configuration, the payload capacity will top 1 100 kg.
   
Two engine options will power Fiat Professional’s first contender in the medium-duty, pick-up truck segment in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

These will be a 2,5-litre diesel, with a power outputs ranging between 100 and 131 kW, and a 2,4-litre petrol engine that delivers 97 kW. All engines will drive through a five-speed manual transmission.
   
Fiat Group Automobiles South Africa says that more details will be made available closer to the Fullback’s local reveal.

Impressive Utility
The 250 000th Chevrolet Utility rolled off the General Motors South Africa (GMSA) production line at the Struandale plant, in Port Elizabeth, on November 6. The 1.8 Utility Sport marked 17 years of the vehicle’s production.
   
“We are proud that this is a South African-built bakkie. Our Struandale plant is geared up for the manufacture of light commercial vehicles and we pride ourselves in building quality vehicles for our customers,” says Ian Nicholls, president and MD of General Motors Sub-Saharan Africa Operations.

After undergoing an international audit, the Struandale plant was recently awarded a higher manufacturing quality status by General Motors Company.