GALLERY: Renault’s Alaskan Concept Pick-Up Emerges, Heads To Frankfurt 2015
RencanaRenault has peeled the curtain back on what its future contender in the pick-up truck space will look like. Called the Alaskan Concept, it is a striking take on Renault’s more utilitarian ambitions, with a one tonne payload capacity and very modern but rugged looks.
The Alaskan Concept, Renault's first effort in this space after the 2015 Duster Oroch, will be shown at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show and the French automaker has confirmed that it will make it to production in the first half of 2016 and be built at their production facilities in Mexico and Spain where some reports suggest it may be based on the Nissan Navara.
When this future pick-up does make it to showrooms, it is not clear if will brandish the 'Alaskan' moniker, but will what will likely remain, however, is the concept’s striking looks – Renault say it be “similar in spirit” to the Alaskan Concept which right now strikes the balance between a show truck and production model.
On the concept, there’s Renaults LED PURE VISION tech in the headlights and taillights, sculpted wheel arches that frame 21-inch rims and some rather beefy tyres, and a centre exhaust out back. The body can be finished in satin-effect, brushed and polished metal as well. There’s also a camera fitted into the door mirrors to record the pick-up’s passing surroundings.
According to 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.”
There are no interior pictures as of yet but Renault says it offers “premium travelling comfort” and the “highest standards in terms of equipment and connectivity.”
As to what powers this new pick-up, Renault say it will offer best-in-class fuel efficiency, impressive power output and acceleration figures through a four-cylinder twin-turbocharged diesel engine – the 148hp 2.3-litre unit currently found in the Renault Master, but tuned for higher power output.