Read more
Fiat returning to bakkie segment with rebadged Peugeot Landtrek
The rival for the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max no longer relies on the Mitsubishi Triton as was the case with the Fullback.
Fiat’s still unnamed replacement for the Fullback has an all too familiar look and profile.
In a surprise announcement, Stellantis has released the first official teaser image of the replacement for the discontinued Fiat Fullback in South America.
Fiat from Peugeot
A model, still to be named, that will sit above the Toro in the automaker’s line-up, the successor to the Mitsubishi Triton-based Fullback that quietly bowed-out two years ago will again be a rebadged model, albeit this time modelled on the Peugeot Landtrek.
Based on the single teaser obtained by motor1.com Brazil, the newcomer is set to undergo comparatively minimal exterior changes with the most prominent being the Peugeot lion badge bowing out in favour of a Fiat emblem.
Dimensionally, the Fiat is also unlikely to be different from the Landtrek, which itself is spun-off of the Kaicheng F70 made by Chinese automaker Changan that once sold vehicles under the Chana banner in South Africa some two decades ago.
ALSO READ: Peugeot bakkie too slow to threaten Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger
What to expect
This means the new Fiat will be 5 330 mm in overall length, have a wheelbase of 3 180 mm, height of 1 897 mm and width of 1 963 mm.
Depending on the bodystyle, expect an identical payload to the Landtrek from as little as 1 015 kg to 1 200 kg, a wading depth of 600 mm and towing capacity of up to 3 500 kg.
As with the Triton-based Fullback, the new Fiat bakkie will be offered as either a single cab or the portrayed double cab with an interior lightly altered from that of the Peugeot.
Despite Stellantis not revealing any aspect of the cabin, chances are it will have a similar design and layout, though according to the motor1.com report, the tiny Peugeot steering wheel could be dropped from the same item used in the Toro.
The rest will be identical though and, depending on the trim level, will include specification items such as the 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, cooled glovebox, faux leather seats, auto on/off LED headlights and rain sense wipers.
Notable safety and driver assistance tech set to be offered is six airbags, a 360-degree camera system, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist, tyre pressure monitor, Electronic Stability Control and parking sensors at the front and rear.
The biggest change from the Fullback though will be the engines no longer sourced from Mitsubishi, but from the Landtrek and in two configurations; the 1.9-litre turbodiesel that produces 110kW/350Nm and a Changan-made 2.4-litre turbo-petrol delivering 155kW/320Nm.
A variation of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel used in the Toro, as well as in the Jeep Commander/Meridian is, reportedly, being developed for South America with outputs of 132kW/400Nm.
Compared to the Fullback, whose 2.4-litre petrol engine lacked forced assistance, both diesel options are less powerful than the Mitsubishi unit that made 133kW/430Nm in latter 2.4 DI-D guise.
On the transmission front, a six-speed manual will be available alongside a six-speed automatic with drive going to rear wheels as standard, or optionally to all four with an electronic rear diff-lock included.
When?
Poised to become a reality early next year with more details to be revealed soon, including its name, a return to South Africa is still to be announced, though speculation points to a likely no-no as the newcomer could clash with Landtrek on pricing.
However, this is unconfirmed and could well be proven wrong should Stellantis South Africa give the go-ahead.
