New Renault Alaskan pick-up truck rumbles in for 2018

This is the Renault Alaskan, a new one-tonne pick-up revealed at the Paris Motor Show that will be a rival for its sister vehicle, the Nissan Navara, as well as competitors like the Mitsubishi L200 and Volkswagen Amarok when it goes on sale in the UK at the start of 2018.

The four-door double cab Alaskan has followed the same route of development as the Kadjar crossover, so it’s based on the Navara from sister firm Nissan. That means you get a big Renault diamond badge on the nose and a rounded front end, but the rest of the car retains the majority of the Navara’s look inside and out. That’s no bad thing, as top-spec models will be well equipped as well as practical.

At the core of the Alaskan’s engine line-up will be the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s 2.3-litre twin-turbodiesel engine, as used in the Renault Master van range. It’ll be offered with either 158bhp or 187bhp. There will also be a 2.5-litre diesel and a 2.5-litre petrol for selected markets, but neither of these motors is expected to make it to the UK.

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As with the Navara, the Alaskan will be offered with a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. There’ll also be the option of a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic. The vehicle will be rated at 3.5 tonnes for towing, and will be available in single-cab, double-cab and chassis-cab body configurations. The standard wheel size will be 16 inches, but 18-inch items will be fitted to more expensive versions, and available as an option. Renault says the load bay’s design incorporates C-channels and a number of hooks to help secure loads quickly and safely. The bay also includes a 12V power supply.

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Cabin equipment includes heated front seats with eight-way power adjustment in the higher trim levels and dual-zone climate control. There’s also a five-inch TFT display, a smartphone-compatible audio system with CD player, Bluetooth and steering wheel-mounted controls, and keyless entry. Renault will offer a seven-inch sat-nav system on selected versions of the vehicle, along with a 360-degree ‘top-down’ camera system to help with tight manoeuvres.

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The Alaskan will go on sale in Colombia first, but it’ll be available in the UK in the first half of 2017. Prices are expected to be close to those of the Navara, which should mean a starting figure of around £23,000.

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