Why has Renault’s Niagara pickup truck concept resurfaced in recent discussions?
Surprisingly, Renault, a representative French automobile company, makes a pickup truck model. Of course, it was not developed in-house but slightly modified based on the Nissan Navara. At one point, there was talk that it would be sold in South Korea through Renault Samsung, but sales did not occur because the demand for pickup trucks was low.
Last year, Renault unveiled the Niagara concept car, which shows that the company has not given up on pickup trucks. The design of this concept car is said to have influenced the design of eight new vehicles that Renault will launch in the future.
A Nod to the US Market: Bold Lettering and Rugged Design
First, looking at the front, you can see that the Renault logo and Renault English lettering have been applied instead of the Renault emblem and symbol. Some pickup trucks sold in the US, such as the F150, use English lettering instead of emblems, which seems to have been influenced by that.
In addition, it features high ground clearance, off-road tires, and a bold bumper design suitable for off-road driving. Like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick, it is a crossover without a separate cargo space, and the cargo space is not that large.
Eco-Friendly Meets Capability: The E-Tech Hybrid System
The Niagara concept car is based on Renault’s ultra-flexible platform and features an E-Tech hybrid system. The engine uses an electric motor to drive the front and rear wheels, implementing 4WD. It can run in pure electric mode for up to half of everyday driving. Like the XM3 E-Tech hybrid sold in South Korea, it is the closest hybrid to an electric vehicle.
Renault also explained that the car can be driven in extreme conditions thanks to its high ground clearance for off-road driving, sturdy suspension, and powerful braking performance. The green applied to the body symbolizes adventure, yellow symbolizes sportiness, light gray symbolizes technology, and black represents power.
A Glimpse Into Renault’s Global Strategy
Last October, Renault presented its new vehicle roadmap through the Renault Brand International Game Plan 2027. Renault announced that according to the Renault strategy (Renaulution), it will launch eight new vehicles through five global hubs based on two types of product development platforms to conquer the global market by 2027.
Two are already known: the first is the Grand Koleos, which was launched in Korea, and the second is the compact SUV, the Kadjar, which was unveiled at the Rio de Janeiro Auto Show last year. This plan will increase the proportion of hybrid and electric products sold in markets outside Europe by one generation. Pavlis Kamboliv, CEO of the Renault brand, stated that in line with Renault’s new product strategy implemented in the European market, their goal is to strengthen their position as a global brand. He added that they plan to enhance their lineup in markets outside Europe by introducing eight new vehicles over the next five years. They will create synergies by sharing product platforms between regions.
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