Great Wall Motors has whipped the wraps off a new double-cab bakkie that is expected to replace its Steed and take the fight to the big-selling Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.

Expected to make its debut at the Shanghai motor show, the fresh-faced bakkie from GWM will ride on a ladder-frame chassis set to be shared with the next-generation Haval H9, according to various Australian reports.

The Chinese automaker is set to offer its new, Chongqing-built bakkie in three forms: an “urban” model, the “adventure” derivative pictured here and, rather interestingly, an electric variant (with a claimed range of some 500 km).

As you can see in the accompanying image, the adventure model will feature a squared-off front end, LED headlamps, black wheelarch covers, a sports bar, roof rails and even a snorkel.

Three differential locks plus a seven-mode off-road system will apparently also ship standard, along with an impressive wading depth of 900 mm and a braked towing capacity in excess of 3 000 kg.

While under-bonnet details have yet to be confirmed, Australian reports claim a 2,0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel will be used, churning out around 140 kW and 450 N.m, and mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Original article from Car