Renault’s first ute revealed

Renault has revealed the production version of a hotly anticipated dual cab ute – though this one won't be coming to Australia.

The oddly named Renault Duster Oroch is a joint project based on the Renault/Dacia Duster crossover. It features a dual cab body, seating for five passengers and a 500kg payload capacity, with a design that hails from Renault's Latin America-based studio.

Unlike Renault's full-sized utility, which will share underpinnings with the new Nissan Navara and an unnamed Mercedes-Benz equivalent and is expected to reach Australian showrooms, the Oroch will be exclusive to the South American market, it has been confirmed.

The new model falls a size below the regular dual cab ute segment - ala the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger - and therefore wasn't pursued by Renault Australia stakeholders.

"We didn't express interest in the Oroch but we have expressed strong interest in the one-tonne ute," Renault Australia spokeswoman Emily Fadeyev said.

Revealed at the Buenos Aires motor show overnight, the Oroch is set to be available with a choice of 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre engines. It features a boxy design which could dictate the styling of the upcoming one-tonne version bound for Australia.

"This new model, Renault's first pickup, is the next step in Renault's globalisation strategy," said Ashwani Gupta, Renault's head of light commercial vehicles.

"With Renault Duster Oroch, the brand is launching its offensive in the competitive pickup segment."

If it comes to fruition for the Australian market, the full-sized Renault ute would still be some time away, according to Fadeyev. Early predictions suggest the new model should land around 2017.

"We're still a little way off the development, we're still waiting for it to be revealed and then launched internationally, so there is no timeline as such," she said.

"The business case is looking very positive for that product."

The full-size Renault ute will be styled, and pitched, differently to the Nissan Navara, but will maintain its heavy-duty characteristics. Going against the grain, the all-new Navara is slightly smaller and less powerful than its predecessor, but is lighter and more efficient than before. It is powered by a 2.3-litre turbo diesel four cylinder that, in top-grade twin turbo form, produces 140kW/450Nm and, in single-turbo form, generates 118kW/430. Both models feature a selectable four-wheel drive system with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic and have a 3500kg towing capacity.