A fresh report out of Australia claims the next-generation Nissan Navara bakkie is “all but guaranteed” to be offered with a hybrid powertrain.

According to motoring.com.au, the next-generation bakkie is scheduled to arrive in 2025 (a facelift of the current model, though, is on the cards for later in 2020).

The new Navara, which is expected to share much with the next-gen Mitsubishi Triton, is tipped to go the hybrid route, although the publication says it’s not yet clear whether the powertrain will be based around a petrol or a diesel engine.

Nissan Australia CEO Stephen Lester confirmed to motoring.com.au there was indeed an “opportunity” to electrify the Japanese firm’s bakkies.

“The exciting thing about electrification is that at the moment it’s only bound by the imagination in terms of what it can do.

“That’s where in concepts such as utes and pick-ups there is an opportunity there, for sure, that is not limited by the technology or what the powertrain can do or deliver, that doesn’t suit the vehicle,” he said.

Late in 2019, a Toyota executive hinted the Japanese firm could turn to diesel-hybrid powertrains for use in light commercial vehicles such as the Hilux and Land Cruiser 70 Series.

Original article from Car