The first Renault Oroch concept car was presented at the 2014 São Paulo Motor Show and was later released officially at the 2015 Buenos Aires Motor Show and has been on sale since September 2015 in South America. But now, it seems like we could be finally receiving the long-awaited bakkie for our own roads!
The Oroch bakkie, which is based on the popular Duster crossover, was confirmed for the South African Market in 2021 and was delayed, or rather rescheduled for the end of 2022. It has not hit our shores as of yet but when it does it could be available in its single-cab guise. The 89 kW and 159 N.m naturally aspirated 1,6-litre petrol engine is carried over to the base and mid-tier models but they will now be paired to a new six-speed manual transmission which Renault claims improves acceleration. The flagship derivative upgrades to a turbocharged 1,3-litre petrol engine, that is capable of producing 125 kW of power and 270 N.m of torque. Thanks to forced induction, the top-spec version of the updated Oroch can complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 9,8 seconds with a top speed of 189 km/h.
The unibody bakkie is currently built in Brazil and is based on the first-generation Duster SUV but has a Multilink rear suspension that comes with a longer wheelbase in relation to the Duster, which Renault claims to offer better handling. The cabin has room for five occupants and Renault claims it can hold a payload of 680 kg.
Inside, the first-generation Duster interior has been reworked to include new air-conditioning controls, orange accents on the dashboard and a new freestanding eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The entry-level derivative will receive an old-school Bluetooth-capable radio system. The seats are covered in “attractive upholstery” and feature automatic door locking, drive mode settings, and a multifunction steering wheel that also forms part of the standard equipment.
The Renault Duster Oroch is overdue for South Africa and there is a very high chance that we will receive it this year, but there is little information on exactly when it will arrive. The South African market is most likely to receive the single-cab Oroch as it stands, which targets the entry-level light commercial vehicle market. Its main competition will come from the Nissan NP200, which has a sub-R200 000 starting price and an 800 kg maximum payload capacity. For the Renault Oroch, the entry-level price could be anywhere around R329 590.
