Mahindra has confirmed plans to reveal a new “global” bakkie concept – conceived to battle the likes of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger – right here in South Africa. Here’s what we know so far…
Mahindra has released a short teaser video confirming it plans to reveal a new “global” bakkie concept right here in South Africa – which it sometimes describes as its “second home outside of India” – on 15 August 2023.
In the 18-second clip released on the Indian automaker’s social media channels, Mahindra refers to the concept at the “Global Pik Up Vision”. The video gives us glimpses of the pre-production double-cab bakkie, including its black alloy wheels, all-terrain tyres, blocky taillamps and chunky side steps.
The covers will officially come off the bakkie concept at Mahindra’s Futurescape event in Cape Town on 15 August, India’s Independence Day.
According to Autocar India , the new bakkie will be based on the Scorpio N platform (though with a lengthened wheelbase) and bear the “Z121” codename. The Indian publication – which earlier reported the Cape Town event would include the unveiling of the 5-door Thar – speculates the production model will hit the market by the start of 2025.
That’s a slightly different timeframe to the one earlier offered to Australian website GoAuto by Veejay Nakra, CEO for Mahindra & Mahindra’s automotive division. In June 2023, Nakra had suggested the bakkie would launch during the Indian automaker’s 2027 financial year, which would put it somewhere between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.
Regardless of its exact market launch, we would expect the new bakkie to share the Scorpio N’s 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which generates 129 kW and 400 Nm in the SUV. Nakra also revealed the new bakkie would take the form of a “a full-scale lifestyle pick-up ”, somewhat unlike its current, more utilitarian Pik Up. That would suggest it will target segment sales leaders such as the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger .
The current Mahindra Pik Up – which is assembled in KwaZulu-Natal – placed 5th on the list of South Africa’s best-selling bakkies for 2022 , with its final tally of 8 046 units proving enough to comfortably beat the likes of the Rosslyn-built Nissan Navara , the imported GWM P-Series and the original Volkswagen Amarok . Over the opening 6 months of 2023 , Mahindra has registered 4 478 units of its Pik Up, which sees it remain in 5th position, year to date.
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