Great Wall Motors has released more information about its new P Series Pickup, revealing details such as load-bin dimensions and engine specifications.
Running on the new P71 platform, GWM says the Chongqing-built bakkie measures 5 410 mm long, 1 934 mm wide and 1 886 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3 230 mm. Eagle-eyed readers will notice those dimensions are slightly down on the figures originally provided at the bakkie’s reveal in Shanghai in April 2019. The load-bin, meanwhile, measures 1 520 mm by 1 520 mm by 538 mm.
In China, the double-cab bakkie is equipped with a damped tailgate, a retractable step and a ladder slot, while GWM further says it will offer a canopy as an option. The Chinese-spec P Series Pickup is fitted as standard with daytime running lights, LED headlamps and taillamps, and front and rear fog lights.
Other interesting features offered in the bakkie’s domestic market include a nine-inch touchscreen, a voice control function, leather (heated) front seats, a panoramic sunroof and even an in-car fragrance dispenser. Items such as an electronic stability programme, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a lane keeping aid and 360-degree cameras, meanwhile, are listed under available safety features.
The company has also confirmed power will come from a turbocharged 2,0-litre petrol engine, delivering 140 kW (between 4 000 and 5 500 r/min) and 360 N.m (on tap from 1 800 to 3 600 r/min). The ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission, meanwhile, features four driving modes (standard, eco, sport and low range) and directs grunt to all four corners. A centre differential lock and an electronic item at the rear are also included, along with multi-link rear suspension.
And what about buyers keen on diesel power? Well, while GWM makes no mention of an oil-burning option for the standard P Series Pickup, the Chinese firm also took the wraps off a “commercial” variant (bearing a completely different front-end design), positioned as a workhorse and offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, 4×2 and 4×4 configurations, and six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions. It seems likely the turbodiesel engine (also in a 2,0-litre, four-cylinder configuration) will be employed by the standard model in some markets.
GWM earlier told CARmag.co.za the new bakkie range was scheduled to arrive in South Africa before the end of 2020.
