Deepal could be Australia's next contender to the dual-cab ute crown, but will this range-extender rival to the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and BYD Shark 6 land here?

As if we weren’t already inundated with new Chinese utes following last weekend’s Melbourne Motor Show, in which JAC, Foton and MG previewed incoming models, it appears another entrant has its eyes set on the Australian market.

The brand is Deepal and the model in question is the Hunter. It was recently previewed at the Bangkok Motor Show where it was claimed as the “world’s first” range-extender ute.

It is already shaping up as a strong chance for the Australian market, where it could compete with the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and BYD Shark 6, following news its name was trademarked locally.

CarsGuide has contacted Deepal’s local operations for more information. An update to the article will follow with a response.

Unlike plug-in hybrids or traditional diesel utes, the Hunter will not carry a motor in the conventional sense. Rather, range-extenders use internal combustion engines as generators to top up the battery pack, which then powers the electric motors.

They are an increasingly popular powertrain of choice in the Chinese market thanks to their long-range capabilities, and given the number of Chinese brands arriving on our shores, it's likely we will see them gain in popularity here, too.

As such, the Hunter will carry a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that delivers 135kW to power a 31.2kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery. It, in turn, will power two electric motors mounted to the front and rear axles that deliver 70kW/150Nm and 130kW/320Nm, respectively.

The twin-motor setup means standard four-wheel drive, while total driving range is claimed at 900km thanks to a fuel-efficiency of 1.3 litres/100km.

Additionally, the Hunter may be plugged in like a plug-in hybrid, giving the driver alternative options to charge the battery. It will have a fast-charging capacity of 41kW, meaning a battery replenishment rate from 10 to 80 per cent charge in roughly 30 minutes.

Vehicle-to-load functionality will allow for 3.3kW worth of power, which is more than enough to power camping items like a small fridge, while there will be a cage-like structure for the entire battery unit to protect it from damage when traversing rough terrain.

Given the Hunter will presumably have a much heavier powertrain compared to its rivals due to its range-extender underpinnings, Deepal has opted for independent multi-link suspension at the rear instead of the go-to solid rear axle, which will undermine some of its off-road ability.

That said, it does carry a front- and rear-locking differential to make up for some of its shortcomings.

Design-wise, the Hunter will line up at 5380mm long, 1930mm wide, 1885mm tall and with a wheelbase of 3180mm, making it 90mm shorter between the wheels than Australia’s most popular ute – the Ford Ranger – but slightly larger everywhere else.

At the front of the Hunter, Deepal has gone for a gradient effect on the front grille, reminiscent of a Peugeot 3008. There are fang-like LED headlights and daytime running lights, a black plastic lower bumper and wheel aches, as well as large ‘Deepal’ branding on the tailgate that sits between Nissan Navara-style tail-lights.

Inside, the Hunter is ostensibly luxurious with soft-touch upholstery, metallic trims, a dual-screen panoramic for multimedia and driver functions and a three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Pricing in Thailand has been announced at 1,099,000 baht (AU$53,000), which is somewhere in the ballpark of where we would expect it to land here, given the comparable BYD Shark 6 is priced at $57,900, before on-road costs, and the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV starts at $63,990, drive-away.

For now, though, keep an eye on the CarsGuide website for further information on the Deepal Hunter, including a potential Australian release.