Renault unveils pick-up truck concept

The Alaskan previews a production model, due to be revealed in the first half of 2016 and sharing significant parts of its architecture with Nissan’s latest NV300 Navara and the first pickup that will be offered by Mercedes-Benz.

Renault is giving broad hints to the look of its forthcoming pickup truck, with the unveiling of the Alaskan concept.

“Based, to a degree, on the new Nissan NP300 Navara, the Alaskan comes with a set of 21″ alloys under big wheel arches, LED lights, satin-effect paint and polished metal highlights and blue and yellow detailing on the mirrors, calipers, alloys and tow hook.

Pick-ups account for a third of all light commercial vehicles sold in the United Kingdom and are also now increasingly being bought for leisure reasons. As for engines, it could source the Energy dCi 135 and/or Energy dCi 165 four-cylinder, longitudinally-mounted twin-turbodiesel engines from the Renault Master LCV range.

Like many concepts these days, the Alaskan looks to be a thinly veiled version of the upcoming production model, with realistic proportions augmented by oversized 21-inch wheels, stylised head and taillights, along with other details.

Renault says the Alaskan Concept is created to meet the requirements of three different worlds: business and leisure use as well as everyday motoring. The truck is based heavily on the new Nissan NP300 Navara pick-up that will make its official European debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

It also claims best-in-class fuel efficiency, plus impressive power output and acceleration performance.

The cabin can accommodate five people and a payload in excess of a tonne can be carried in the load bed, which also has recesses to help fix cargo or equipment and storage bins. Last but not least, cameras are fitted into the door mirrors; not for any form of blind spot monitoring, but – get this – “to permit the filming of passing landscapes”. Renault has been the top seller of LCVs in Europe for the past 17 years.