Chery Automobile has entered the body-on-frame off-road vehicle segment and unveiled the mid-size pickup Chery KP31 in Australia. The model will go on sale at the end of the year and is aimed at export markets.
The Chery KP31 is built on a steel ladder-type frame chassis. The vehicle is 5.61 m long, with a stated payload capacity of one tonne. The front suspension is independent with springs, while the rear is dependent with leaf springs. The drivetrain is four-wheel drive with a front axle connected via a clutch. The maximum towing capacity is 3.5 tonnes.
The design is executed in a pseudo-utilitarian style with references to SUVs and pickups of the 1970s and 1980s. In body shape, the model is close to the body-on-frame SUV Jetour Zongheng G700, produced since last year.
The main feature of the Chery KP31 is its hybrid powertrain. It combines a 2.5-liter turbodiesel and an electric motor, with the ability to recharge the traction battery from an external power source. The pickup can move either using the diesel engine or on electric power. A large battery weighing at least 200-300 kg is expected to be installed.
Versions without the hybrid system are also possible, by analogy with the Chery Himla, which is equipped with a 2.3-liter turbodiesel or a 2.4-liter gasoline engine combined with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Among the priority markets named for the Chery KP31 are Australia, South America, Africa, and, in the future, Europe.