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Chinese brand Chery is working on a unique solution for its first Australia-bound ute, and – if successful – it could form a blueprint for the future of models like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.
We've now seen the Chery Himla, revealed recently at the Shanghai auto show. But that is not the ute planned for Australia. Instead, we will get a yet-to-be-revealed dual-cab due to touch down here next year – one of two new utes Chery has planned for us.
And among the potential power options is a configuration that could act as a stay of execution for the diesel engine – a plug-in hybrid diesel setup that would be among the world's first.
Better yet, the ready-for-work dual-cab could be joined by a second "recreational" ute built off a monocoque chassis."
But the big news is that Chery is working on a plug-in hybrid solution that could extend the lifespan of diesel utes well into the NVES era. The idea would be to preserve the capability and driving characteristics of the diesel engine, but also reducing fuel use and adding EV-only range.
"I think towards the end of next year we'll have two different options. One is going to be more of a recreational style, you know, that sort of 600 or 700 kilo payload. So that'll be really interesting," Chery Australia Chief Operating Officer, Lucas Harris, told CarsGuide.
"But before that, we will also have a one-tonne payload, proper ladder-frame chassis ute. We're just in the process of the moment of bringing the development team out to Australia.
"The powertrain's not yet confirmed. There are a few options. There's obviously petrol plug-in. One of the things that's been talked about, but not confirmed, is a diesel plug-in – I personally would think that that was a really exciting proposition, because it is so different. Then of course there are petrol ICE powertrains and those sorts of things.
"(Diesel plug-in) would be my personal choice. If it were up to me, and they said here are all the options, that would be at the top of my list," he said.
Mr Harris suggested Chery in Australia, as well as in other ute-mad markets New Zealand and South Africa, would be critical to the new ute's development, suggesting six engineers from the dual-cab program were on their way to Australia to study our conditions and usage cases.
"It was only three weeks ago that our global chairman was in Sydney, and we really strongly advocated for how important it was for us to help, and give information. We don't want to tell anyone what to do, but we want to share as much information as we can about what we think would make that vehicle successful.
"A week after we left we got a request to arrange travel for six engineers on the ute program. That's the sort of speed and commitment from out global boss - if that doesn't give us a bit of confidence, nothing will."
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