The Northern Rivers Times
January 11, 2024!!!
40 MOTORING NEWS
Renault’s Vision for the Niagara Ute Unfolds By Jeff Gibbs Will the introduction of an appealing dual-cab ute from the French brand finally make its way to Australia? In late 2023, Renault unveiled its all-new dual-cab ute, the Renault Niagara concept, sparking considerable interest and curiosity. Initially, the concept presentation featured ostentatious accessories, vibrant accents, and an overwhelming body wrap, obscuring the fundamental design of the vehicle. However, a recent reinterpretation by Brazilian graphic artist K Design has stripped away these visual distractions, offering fresh perspectives on the potential appearance of the Renault hay hauler before its anticipated global market debut by 2027. The reimagined version
boasts a more utilitarian design, showcasing the Niagara pick-up truck’s robust aesthetics while retaining elements like the multi-faceted LED headlight clusters and concealed rear door handles seen in the concept. The redesigned rear sports bar maintains the concept’s full-width tail light LEDs but with a more conventional
approach. With its muscular wheel arches, rugged all-terrain tires, and substantial ground clearance, this rendition of the Renault Niagara appears to position itself as a flagship tough truck, potentially competing head-to-head with models like the Toyota HiLux GR Sport and Ford Ranger Wildtrak X.
However, the Renault Niagara seems to take a slightly different approach compared to the most popular dual-cab utes in Australia, such as the Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger. Unlike the Renault Alaskan, which was based on the Nissan Navara and considered for the Australian market, the Niagara pick-
up truck utilizes one of Renault’s new modular platform architectures, suggesting a smaller lifestyle-focused ute more akin to SUV-based models like the Hyundai Santa Cruz rather than a heavy-duty workhorse like the HiLux. Given its dimensions, notably shorter than some competitors, it may adopt a car-like
monocoque or unibody frame, potentially impacting its towing capacity compared to traditional dieselpowered utes in Australia. Despite this, the Renault Niagara features an all-wheeldrive system, employing a hybrid setup where an electric motor powers the front wheels while the combustion engine drives the rear wheels. As Renault aims to extend its presence beyond Europe, the Niagara Ute stands among eight new models scheduled for global release before 2027. While it remains uncertain if it will arrive in Australia, the success of similar vehicles like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Fe Down Under could significantly influence the possibility of an Australian launch.
2023 Saw Record-Breaking Sales from Tesla, BYD, and Lexus By Jeff Gibbs Emerging automotive brands like BYD, MG, and Tesla have achieved remarkable sales milestones in Australia, but established players such as Lexus, Isuzu Ute, and Volvo have also made significant strides in 2023. The automotive market witnessed an unprecedented surge in new vehicle sales, yet as more brands enter the local market, achieving record-breaking sales figures has become increasingly challenging for car manufacturers. The Isuzu D-Max
secured a notable position as the third most popular ute, trailing behind the Ford Ranger, which claimed the top-selling spot for the first time, and the perennial favorite Toyota HiLux. Isuzu’s sales performance soared to 45,341 units, securing the tenth position overall, a mere 1000 units shy of the eighth-placed Tesla. MG emerged as the leading Chinese carmaker in 2023, with its ZS small SUV as the top-selling model. With a remarkable 58,346 sales, MG surpassed its 2022 figure of 49,582, claiming the seventh spot overall, just behind Mitsubishi’s
63,511 units. The Chinese automotive industry showcased its prowess with GWM and LDV, joining MG among the top 15 carmakers. GWM achieved 36,397 sales, marking a 45.3% increase, securing the 12th position overall, while LDV claimed the 15th spot with a 30.9% surge in sales, totalling 21,398 units. BYD, though a newcomer to the Australian market, experienced exponential growth by substantially expanding its all-electric line-up in 2023. Sales soared from 2113 in 2022 to an impressive
12,438 units, with bold aspirations to challenge Toyota’s longstanding market leadership. While finishing in 20th place overall, BYD’s staggering 488% yearon-year growth signals its burgeoning success. The brand aims to expand aggressively in 2024, planning to open over 30 new retail outlets and introducing new models like the Seal U SUV and an upcoming plug-in hybrid ute. Tesla, despite its late entry into official reporting via VFACTS in 2022, achieved a commendable figure of 46,116 units, trailing MG
but surpassing Subaru by a mere two sales. Other notable achievements include Polestar’s impressive 61.6% sales increase, recording 2463 units sold with its single offering, the Polestar 2. Cupra, owned by Volkswagen, marked a substantial 238.9% growth with 3765 units sold. SsangYong reached a new annual record with 5966 sales, a 51.3% increase from its 2022 result of 3943. At the premium end, Genesis nearly doubled its 2022 sales with 1916 units, predominantly driven by the GV70 mid-size SUV.
Lexus achieved a historic milestone with 15,192 sales, surpassing its previous record of 9612 set in 2019. Volvo maintained its momentum, exceeding 10,000 sales for the second consecutive year, reaching a new high of 11,128 units, led by the XC40 small SUV. Porsche rounded off the achievements by selling 6052 units, surpassing its 2022 record, with the Macan, set for replacement in 2024, as its most popular model.
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