Things are about to get a lot more interesting in ute world with the arrival of the first ”full-sized’ utility from China.
Foton (remember them?) is getting ready to launch its Tunland V7 and V9 pickups here in the first half of 2025.
Ironically, V7 is the larger of the two with a length of 5797mm and wheelbase of 3505mm, the latter the distance between axles.
To give this a bit of context, the Ram 1500 (the smallest of Ram’s pickups), is 5929mm and has a wheelbase of 3686mm.
While the popular Ford Ranger is a bit smaller, at 5403mm and 3270mm.
The smaller V9, meanwhile, is 5617mm long and has a wheelbase of 3355mm.
Although the two utilities are styled differently, they are in fact the same under the skin.
Game on.
Foton you may remember was here once before and sold around 3000 of its Tunland 4×2 and 4×4 utes between 2014 and 2018, at the beginning of the Chinese offensive.
Founded in 1996, it is China’s largest automotive manufacturer, with over 300,000 employees.
It is known for light and heavy-duty trucks, agricultural tractors and various other machinery.
In short, it’s a force to be reckoned with.
Tunland is a budget, compact pickup that has been sold in China since 2011 as well as in Australia, Colombia and emerging markets.
Launched last year the latest Tunland V7 and V9 Utes will offer Australian customers a full-size pick-up design with a rugged and contemporary exterior built to conquer challenging adventures, says importer Inchcape.
Tunland’s interior features an intelligent cockpit, plush seating, and luxurious finishes that prioritise occupant’s comfort on every journey, it says.
Inchcape is also the importer of Subaru, Peugeot, Citroen, and the Chinese Deepal.
In China, the Tunland utes are also marketed as the Mars 7 and 9, which in retrospect might have been a better name, avoiding any baggage from the previous Tunland (we know a bloke who owns one).
The ute is expected to be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel together with a 48V mild hybrid that produces 120kW of power and 450Nm of torque, together with an 8-speed ZF auto.
No word on prices yet.
Tunland V7
Tunland V9
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