Renault Alaskan News

Renault Australia is hoping to add the next-generation version of the Alaskan dual-cab ute, and the smaller Oroch ute to its local line-up in the coming years.

Mitsubishi is preparing the next-generation Triton dual-cab ute, which inevitably means the new Pajero Sport large SUV won’t be too far behind it.

Renault Australia is still hoping to expand its LCV line-up beyond vans, with the Alaskan and Duster Oroch dual-cab utes still on its radar, but just not in the short term

Pick-ups, or utes as we call them in Australia, are our continent’s most competitive segment an automaker can play in – but they present unique design challenges that are sought after by Europe’s car designers.This is according to Renault’s Francois Leboine, who elaborated greatly on the very idea of designing a pick-up truck when CarsGuide simply asked if he would like to design one.“For Renault, pick-ups are a limited field,” he said. “We have Alaskan, which is [Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi] alliance, and another which is based on the Dacia Duster.“But as a designer, I would absolutely love to draw a pick-up, especially a big one, it’s an old dream of European designers. We don’t see them on the streets, designers love to work on something they are not usually exposed to.”Renault has toyed with the idea of launching the Nissan Navara-based Alaskan to our market for some time, and has even done some sums in the past to see if it was worth importing the Dacia Duster-based Oroch.It seems neither has made it as far as a confirmation, with the most recent news from the brand’s local product manager Charly Clercin suggesting that that European-spec Alaskan truck simply isn’t right for for the Australian market.“We looked into it and we couldn’t get the car we wanted out of the factory. Local development costs would have added too much to the price,” he told CarsGuide in November 2019.While details are light on the ground, the Oroch could stand a better chance for an Australian launch, as its Duster sibling is already offered in right-hand-drive configuration for South Africa.Renault has stated to Australian media before that the Oroch could be a viable option in a sub-$35,000 bracket, with a near-700kg payload having once been offered by the Australian-made Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes.The current Oroch, which dates back to 2015, is front-wheel drive and offered with either a 1.6- or 2.0-litre engine. A new generation is due imminently, and it could be then that we learn more about any Australian launch plans.On the topic of pick-up designs, Mr Leboine had good things to say about Tesla’s Cybertruck, however.“As a design exercise, it’s perfect,” he said. “There’s no better way to be recognised as a designer than to design something simple. It’s iconic, there is a brutality to it.“Could I do something like this? I don’t know… but as a design exercise I love it.”

It’s no secret that platform sharing among the popular light-commercial ute market is only going to become more widespread, but the Mitsubishi Triton is set to be the first cab off the rank when the expanded Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance launches its next-generation workhorse.Since Mitsubishi was added to the mix in 2016, it’s been elementary that the next Triton will share its fundamental design with future versions of the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan, but Mitsubishi global Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta confirmed with Australian media this week that it will be the triple diamond-badged model we see first. “As of today, we are taking the lead,” he confirmed.Mr Gupta cited the Triton’s sole manufacturing source in Thailand as a key reason for it to lead its siblings to market, but would not confirm if it was also a result of the Triton development program having started earlier than the alliance expansion. “It all depends on each brand’s business decision when they launch,” he said. Mr Gupta explained that the Triton’s value in the equation was clear during what’s known as a “best practice exchange” with Nissan when analysing the current models. Mr Gupta would only speak on behalf of the Mitsubishi arm of the alliance, but recent reports out of Europe suggest the existing Mercedes X-Class offshoot is in danger of ending with this generation. The existing Triton is also sold across Europe, the Middle East and Africa wearing Fiat Fullback badges, but Mr Gupta suggested this arrangement was only locked in for the current generation. Other examples of future platform sharing include the next Mazda BT-50 which is being co-developed with Isuzu, along with the next-generation Volkswagen Amarok that will team with the future Ford Ranger.Mr Gupta explained that electrification is also being considered for the next-generation Triton, but it’s unclear at this stage if it will come in the form of pure electric, plug-in hybrid or series hybrid. It’s also unclear if a hybrid model would be paired with a petrol or diesel engine. Mr Gupta also reinforced the value of the Australian market to Mitsubishi’s global business, representing 10 per cent of activities, and including three out of the four models considered key for the brand’s core growth models. These models are Triton, Pajero Sport and Outlander, with the fourth being the Expander MPV sold in several developing Asian markets. He also reflected that Australian customers are not the same as other markets. “The aspirations the Australian customer has are pretty promising, and that brings us to put more and more effort into our products to meet our Australian customer aspirations.” Exact timing for the next Triton is still unclear, but given the freshness of the current model which only arrived in Australia in January 2019, we’d be surprised to see the next generation in showrooms before 2023. 

Renault’s Alaskan pick-up is now on track for a 2020 launch, with the brand's local arm working through Australian Design Rule (ADR) changes before it can confirm an official release date.

Renault has reopened the case to release its Alaskan one-tonne ute Down Under, garnering “full support” from the French carmaker's global head of light-commercial vehicles, Ashwani Gupta.