2017 Renault Alaskan Concept, Diesel

French carmaker Renault, after tying up with Nissan is on a spree to expand its portfolio in various segments of the automobile industry. With the new 2017 Alaska, Renault will set to make a foray into pickup truck sector. The model is going to be released nearly a year after Renault showing the Alaskan Concept. However, there is no denying, the new 2017 Renault Alaskan is based on sibling Nissan Navara pickup. The company is advertising Alaskan as a light-duty pickup with a payload coming close to that of Ford F150 and beating Chevy Colorado. Company sources says that it will be manufactured in Argentina and Spain.

2017 Renault Alaskan front

2017 Renault Alaskan – Sleek Design

As far as design goes, the 2017 Renault Alaskan is the rebadged Nissan Navara, beyond any doubt. However, it is not exactly a carbon copy of its Japanese sibling. The bold grille up front with horizontal inserts and a big Renault badge is attention grabbing. The Intricate headlights, front bumper, also chrome treatment gives the vehicle a stylish and rugged look. The side steps are there to ensure user can reach roof a rack easily. The rear bed is equipped with many cargo management tools derived from Nisan vehicles. It will be sold in single-cab, chassis-cab and double-cab setups. It will have LED daytime running lights as well. The C-shaped chrome trim wrapping the fog lights looks stylish.

The interior of 2017 Renault Alaskan also bears stamp of design elements taken from Nissan Navara.  The truck will have a 5 seater cabin replete with plush materials. There is a driver information screen. A storage bin is there on the center stack. It also houses a 12-volt power outlet. The car lacks all-round visibility partly for its raised bonnet. However, the cabin is absolutely roomy. The cabin has dual zone climate control and reversing camera.

2017 Renault Alaskan interior

2017 Renault Alaskan – Drivetrain Configuration:

The various engine choices are ready for the new 2017 Renault Alaskan. However, the main engine that will give the power to this new pickup is a twin-turbocharged 2.3-liter unit. This engine will have a two variants, one with 158 and another with 187 hp output. A 2.5-liter naturally aspirated diesel engine will also be available with same hp output as the gasoline unit. The engines comes mated with a seven-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. You can chose between AWD and 2WD version.

The Alaskan has a max tow rating of 7,716 pounds, also rated maximum payload is 1050 kg. The five-link rear suspension and fully boxed steel frame aid the truck tow the load with aplomb.

Safety Features:

The 2017 Renault Alaskan comes equipped with enough passive and also active safety features. The safety features are Electronic Brake Distribution, front airbags, Electronic Stability Control, and 360-degree Around view monitor. It will have several trim choices, however we don’t have more details.

The amenities include a smartphone-compatible audio system, Bluetooth, sat nav with 8-inch display, keyless entry etc.

2017 Renault Alaskan rear

2017 Renault Alaskan – Expected Date of Arrival and Price:

The exact price of Renault Alaskan 2017 is not yet known. However, looking at the competition guessing the price is not hard. The truck may be priced at $30,000 upwards. It will be made available in 2017, but the South American markets will witness the unveiling first and then it will be sold in other markets. On the European markets it will probably be launched late in 2017.

Conclusion:

Beyond doubt, the first and most formidable rival waiting to lock horns with the Renault Alaskan is the Ford Ranger. It is quite stylish and offers solid value for money. The revamped Toyota Tacoma is another worthy rival with a low entry level price. However, there is no denying the 2017 Renault Alaskan is a decent mid range pickup truck aimed more at leisure loving buyers than hardcore business users. It is fortified with Nissan’s proven technologies and it comes with pretty impressive features. The powertrain is solid and you get a refined diesel engine option too. With right pricing it can spoil the party of Ford and Ram and fulfill Renault’s dream of taking its LCV range of models to global market.

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