Renault celebrated 70 years of the Cordoba plant of Santa Isabel but he has his eyes on the near future, which for the Argentine subsidiary of the Rombo brand is a pickup with half -ton loading capacity known so far only by the name of his prototype: Niagara.
Within the framework of the celebrations, the French company presented this concept Car in the facilities of the historic factory, along with other almost 30 vehicles that came out of that assembly line throughout history.
Last year Renault confirmed an investment of 350 million dollars to manufacture this new model from next year. It is also a vehicle that It is part of the range renewal that is taking place in the region, which began with Kardian, will continue with a medium SUV and will continue with this pickup.
So far, what was known about the truck that will be manufactured in Córdoba was not much, but Clarion He could chat with Daniel NozakiDirector of the Renault Latin America Design Center, to learn about some details of the future vehicle.
Among some data, he confirmed its size, what positioning will have regarding the competition, some of its mechanics and advanced what its interior will be.
Nozaki was one of Renault Argentina’s special guests to celebrate the 70 years of Santa Isabel. But it did not come alone, but the prototype was brought that anticipates the future pickup that will be manufactured in that plant.
But as almost every prototype, the Niagara is overloaded with elements and past of dimensions. But Nozaki clarifies that “we are trying to bring the production model as much as possible to the concept“.
-Then, how much of this prototype will the final truck have?
-With sure the prototype is something very extreme, exaggerated. The dream of every designer do something that has no limitations. But in a production vehicle there are technical limitations. But I can guarantee that the final vehicle is very beautiful and is very close to this design.
-Will it be as great as the concept? How long will it measure long?
-I am allowed to say it precisely but it will be almost five meters.
-Will elements shared with the Kardian be seen inside?
-No. This model points to a completely different segment. It will be at another level. It will be something never seen before in Renault. I cannot advance images, but I can say that the endings, the fabrics, all the materials will be very very premiumbecause the idea is now transfer for a higher level, more statutory.
-From the style of Fiat Toro or Ram Rampage?
-I think even better.
-You have a premium and statutory, how does that materialize by vehicle that is ultimately work?
-Normally when we talk about a pickup, in principle we think only of work. For this truck it was very different, because it is like a multi -purpose vehicle, versatile. You can use it in the city, on the beach or for work. For example, the load box will be huge. And we design a series of special accessories for the box.
-It is speculated that it will have an electrified propuplsion system.
-We are working so that at some point, probably not in the first stage, there is a hybrid version, electrified, but not 100% electric. We will also have 4×4.
-How do you see that today all brands design more SUVs and pickups, less efficient vehicles in aerdinamic matters, than sports or silk that always preferred to draw designers?
-I think designers of the past, in my opinion, liked sports and ultra sports vehicles. Imagine that we are in the opposite world because now there are SUV vehicles. I think that for this generation of designers in Latin America the situation was always difficult. We cannot afford to do what we want. I think we managed to find forms, design concepts that look good.