Renault reveals new ute...

Renault recently staged the world debut of its all-new Oroch dual-cab ute at the seventh annual Buenos Aires International Motor Show.

Previewed by a teaser sketch last week and bearing only subtle differences to the concept car shown at last year's Sao Paulo show in Brazil, the production Oroch will be sold exclusively in South American markets with both Renault and Dacia badges.

But while the Oroch is based on the same C-segment platform as the Dacia Duster SUV, the French car-maker is planning a larger, one-tonne four-door ute based on the same platform as sister brand's new NP300 Navara by around 2017.

Unlike the Oroch, Renault's more serious dual-cab will be sold in Australia, where it will rival stalwart utes like the popular Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and, by 2020, another unnamed ute also based on the Navara from Mercedes-Benz.

Renault Australia's first ute is a key part of its plan to hit 40,000 annual sales, and it could even offer a full-size seven-seat SUV based on the upcoming wagon version of the Navara, which will fill the void vacated by Nissan's previous-generation Pathfinder.

For the record, the five-seat Oroch was designed at Renault's Latin America-based studio, has a 500kg payload and will be available in Brazil and Argentina with 1.6- and 2.0-litre engines.

"This new model, Renault's first pick-up, is the next step in Renault's globalisation strategy," said Ashwani Gupta, Renault's head of light commercial vehicles.

"With Renault Duster Oroch, the brand is launching its offensive in the competitive pickup segment."

Like the Navara, Renault's big ladder-frame dual-cab should come with a 2.3-litre turbo-diesel four that delivers up to 140kW/450Nm and can tow up to 3500kg.

The unnamed Renault and Mercedes-Benz one-tonners will join a booming Australian ute market, in which Hyundai is the only top-10 brand that remains absent.

That's expected to change soon, but Hyundai's first ute appears more likely to be a compact car-based dual-cab like the Oroch, based on the Santa Cruz 'lifestyle' ute concept.