JAC News

JAC's first multi-purpose commercial vans, the Sunray and Refine made their debut at Melbourne International Truck Show. They will arrive to join a range of light duty rigid trucks from JAC expected on the market here within weeks. The JAC Sunray van and smaller JAC Refine were unveiled to intense interest from the truck trade. The company's new light duty trucks were also launched in Melbourne. The JAC Sunray tops the company's family of vans offering European styling, the latest emission compliant engines, advanced transmissions and international componentry. Sunray's Euro-styling was developed by JAC's international R&D resources with JAC's Italian Design centre creating the exterior look and JAC's Japanese Design centre handling the interior design. Sunray is the first Euro-style van to be engineered and developed by JAC in China and it has already gained an EU EEC certificate. The Sunray uses JAC's own four cylinder common rail direct injection 2.7-litre inter-cooled and turbocharged diesel engine which delivers 88kW of power at 3600rpm and 280Nm of torque at 2200rpm. This is coupled to JAC's own LCST 28 five-speed transmission while an automatic version will be available when it goes on sale in Australia.Sunray will also be offered with an optional Cummins ISF 2.8litre delivering power of 110kW at 3200rpm with maximum torque of 360Nm at 1800rpm. The Sunray has a wheelbase of 3570mm, a cubic capcity of 14 cubic metres and an agile 14 metre turning circle.It will also be available as a mini-bus/people mover with seating for up to 15 people in either standard or luxury versions making it suitable for a wide variety of operations from airport transfer, to personnel and school bus transport. Safety features in the Sunray will include ABS+EBD braking system and SRS Airbags. The smaller JAC Refine van also meets the latest emission standards with its two-litre twin overhead cam, electronically fuel injected, turbo charged petrol engine, mated to JAC's own six-speed manual transmission.An automatic transmission and a diesel engine are under development for the Refine and they are expected to be a part of the Australian line up when it goes on sale here. The turbo petrol engine delivers maximum power of 120kW at 4000rpm and torque of 235Nm between 3500-4500rpm. Refine will be available as either a cargo van with cubic capacity of up to nine cubic metres or as an 11 seat mini bus/people mover.

The Chinese ute promises a 'royal and comfortable' driving experience and is already on sale in China. Jac will export it to Australia, joining haulers from Great Wall, Foton and ZX Auto.It's called the Reni and is a Toyota Hilux size ute available as a crew  cab now, but will also be made as a single cab. Sydney-based White Motor Corporation (WMC) will distribute the new ute in Australia.The company already imports buses from Higer and is about to launch JAC light trucks this March. It will expand its footprint with one Higer van and two JAC vans during the middle of the year. WMC was deep in negotiations to import a ute from JAC rival brand Foton, but negotiations fell over when the parties could not agree on pricing. Within weeks of knocking back the Foton Tunland ute distribution deal,  WMC was surprised when JAC management confirmed it would make the Reni ute available for Australia from the end of next year.Given the quality issues that have pushed back the launch of the JAC light truck range,  which was initially slated for a mid-2011 launch, that could stretch out  to the first half of 2013.Still, it is a considerable commitment to build the Reni for Australia given the ute is currently only produced as a left-hand-drive model. The Reni, often referred to as the Pick-Up in China, will be offered as a two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive with a manual transmission to start off with, while an automatic will join the line-up later.The Reni runs JAC engines, instead of being fitted-out with a Cummins powerplant as is the case with JAC light trucks and large vans.  A 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel manages 68kW and 210Nm, while a 2.3-litre petrol four-cylinder generates 78kW and 190Nm. JAC, which is short for Jianghuai Auto Company, is especially strong in the truck market in China, but also produces a full range of passenger cars.