Ahead of its confirmed market relaunch in November, JMC importer Salvador Caetano Auto South Africa has revealed the first details, including pricing, of the reimagined Vigus bakkie.

Workhorse first
The Citizen reports that part of an eventual two-model range topped by the Grand Avenue next year, the Vigus’ return will initially be in single cab form only, followed by the double cab in 2026.

Modelled on the Yuhu 9, on sale in China since 2019, the Vigus single cab will be powered by a 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine sourced from alliance partner Ford, whose Territory is the result of a joint venture with the firm.

Seemingly the same Puma unit that once powered the Land Rover Defender, the engine has been retuned to produce 103kW/310Nm versus the 90kW/360Nm of the former.

At the same time, the Defender’s six-speed manual gearbox has been replaced with a five-speed unit. Although unspecified, drive is likely to be rear-wheel only.

No further details regarding payload, dimensions or specifications were released.

Stay tuned
Claimed to ‘outperform’ its direct rivals while also offering ‘solid towing capability’ and ‘maintaining fuel efficiency and mechanical simplicity’, the Vigus single cab has a starting price of R300 000, making it the fifth cheapest bakkie in South Africa after three Mahindra Pik Up variants and the Mahindra Bolero.

“Partnering with JMC aligns perfectly with our vision of bringing trusted, high-performance mobility solutions to the South African market,” Salvador Caetano South Africa managing director Leslie Ramsoomar said in a statement.

“We’re proud to represent a brand that shares our commitment to reliability, innovation, and customer-focused service.”

At present, no other details are known, though exact specifications are expected once sales commence in two months.

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