Peugeot’s CEO says the new Landtrek bakkie “must be unstoppable” to do well in markets such as Africa and South America.

Speaking to Automotive News Europe late in 2019 ahead of the recent reveal of the Landtrek, Jean-Philippe Imparato confirmed the bakkie had been subjected to two million kilometres of testing on varied terrain and in wide-ranging weather conditions.

“It must be unstoppable,” Imparato told the publication.

“I won’t launch it until the global ecosystem, such as spare parts, is ready, because it must be able to be maintained everywhere in the world,” Imparato said at the time.

“I want to put the focus on the fact that everywhere in Africa you can get this car repaired,” he added.

Peugeot South Africa has confirmed to CARmag.co.za it plans to introduce the new Landtrek locally in 2021, with the firm saying it is "working on" securing both single- and double-cab variants (and thus not chassis-cab derivatives).

From what we can tell, the newcomer shares much with the Changan Kaicheng F70, a bakkie sold in China (Peugeot and Changan have a joint venture in that country). Imparato confirmed the Landtrek would indeed be built in China and, at a later stage, in South America.

Powerplant options will include a 1,9-litre turbodiesel offering 110 kW and 350 N.m, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox from Getrag, and a turbocharged 2,4-litre petrol unit generating 155 kW and 320 N.m. The latter will be offered in both manual and six-speed automatic guise. Both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations will be available, with the latter boasting low range.

The Landtrek (not to be confused with the Peugeot Pick Up revealed back in 2017) measures 5 330 mm long in double-cab form (and 5 390 mm in single-cab guise), with a width of 1 920 mm and a wheelbase of 3 180 mm. The company claims the Landtrek boasts the “most accommodating” load bay in its segment.

Peugeot says the payload is as high as 1,2 tonnes on some versions, while certain derivatives can tow up to a claimed 3,5 tonnes. Ground clearance ranges from 214 mm to 235 mm. Inside, you’ll find a two-spoke steering wheel similar to that of the Peugeot 3008 and a 10-inch screen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality) atop the facia “inspired” by the item in the 508.

Original article from Car