Renault has revealed a concept version of one of two promised utes as part of its “International Game Plan 2027” - and it's an intriguing hybrid.
The Niagara concept is a tough, almost Baja-styled pick-up, with new-to-the-brand styling elements at the front, including a pixel-art Renault logo, and its signature light profile adorning the tray.
Renault says the Niagara Concept “Perfectly embodies the modern spirit of the brand for the international markets. It announces the next generation of Renault models that will be launched outside of Europe between now and 2027.”
Interestingly, the Niagara will also debut a new modular platform for the brand, and cars based on it will be built in Latin America, Turkiye, Morocco, and India, lining up with Renault Group CEO Luca De Meo's promise that future utes would be "more than just about Latin America".
The new platform is flexible, allowing a vehicle length between four and five meters, four wheelbase options between 2.6 to three meters, “rear units” (trays or hatches) with three different lengths, and powertrains that include internal combustion, LPG, mild hybrid, and full hybrids, in both front- or all-wheel drive.
Renault specifies that the Niagara ute will be 4WD using a new E-Tech hybrid system, and will debut a new electronic architecture not seen on any Renault product yet which is designed to comply with future regulation requirements.
The new system designed specifically for the Niagara is said to consist of a mild-hybrid 48-volt engine at the front, with an additional electric motor powering the rear axle. As such, the brand says it will be "optimised for off-road performance" whilst also handing "your every day drives in full-electric mode, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions."
Renault says the design of the Niagara “exudes the strongest codes belonging to the pick-up world” and is packed with "extra-high" ground clearance, long-travel suspension, as well as ample front and rear breakover angles.
It is unclear whether the Niagara is intended to be the successor to the Nissan Navara-based Alaskan ute which, despite the brand’s investigations, never made it to Australia. Or if it is the replacement for the primarily-for-Latin America monocoque-based Duster Oroch, but given the Niagara’s sub-five-metre length, it seems likely this will be the smaller of two ute offerings.
Supposedly, Mitsubishi was leading the alliance’s traditional frame-based dual-cab offerings with its new-generation Triton, which debuts a significantly upgraded ladder frame, however all three brands are keeping quiet about the future of this platform within the group, and aside from Mitsubishi, none have any recent news on their dual cabs.
The good news for those seeking more ute competition is that it seems the Niagara will be built in India to satisfy right-hand-drive demand, leaving an avenue open for the new ute to come to Australia.
Speaking to CarsGuide, a Renault Australia representative said of a potential production model that the brand was “definitely interested - anything that’s made available to our market in right-hand drive we’re looking at it, provided the business case adds up.”
As the ute landscape in Australia evolves, an unusual hybrid option is one we’ll be keeping a close eye on.
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