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2023 Author: Charles Youmans | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-20 18:41
The Kremenchug Automobile Plant has been producing large trucks and specialized equipment for several decades (since the 1960s). But with the collapse of the USSR, the situation at the enterprise began to change dramatically, and not for the better. The KrAZ company continued to produce large equipment, but sales and production volumes were gradually decreasing. And in recent years, the enterprise has found itself on the verge of ruin.
A change in activity can lead KrAZ out of this situation. Moreover, as was the case with KamAZ, the enterprise should probably start producing cars designed for a wide audience. Such a car could be a compact pickup, rendered images of which were published by an independent designer. This model with a two-seater cab and a small cargo platform is intended primarily for urban use. By the way, Ford and Hyundai have already presented similar new products - Maverick and Santa Cruz, respectively. But the Ukrainian KrAZ-260 pickup truck 2021-2022, due to the "poorer" equipment and the absence of the second row of seats, will be cheaper than the Korean and American models.
The presented Ukrainian pickup truck, if it enters the market, can become one of the bestsellers in its class. This assumption is largely due to the low price. But no less important is the fact that this model stands out for its non-standard body. Also on the published renders, the high ground clearance is noteworthy, which will provide the car with good cross-country ability.
At the same time, it is still difficult to judge what technical part such a pickup can get. The fact is that KrAZ has never produced cars of this class. In this regard, it is quite logical for a company to turn to third-party manufacturers for help. And Renault is the most likely option. The choice in favor of the French company is due to two reasons. Firstly, Renault is systematically “advancing” on the Ukrainian market, establishing its own production here and increasing the number of presented models. Secondly, the French company makes really cheap cars. Accordingly, if KrAZ borrows the platform and engines from Renault, then the price of the new pickup will be able to keep at the level of up to a million rubles. That is, in comparison with the Ford Maverick, the Ukrainian model will be about 500 thousand rubles cheaper.
Design
Despite the fact that the KrAZ-260 2021-2022 pickup truck is one of the vehicles used mainly for the transportation of goods, it will not get lost in the city traffic. The fact is that the KrAZ pickup is designed in a sporty style. The body of the Ukrainian model is distinguished by smooth shapes and slow transitions. This configuration not only improves the appearance, but also has a positive effect on the redistribution of air masses, which increases fuel efficiency. At the same time, like many other pickups, the presented novelty received voluminous fenders. But they, like the latest RAV4, are square in shape and are complemented by a relatively thin plastic body kit that stretches along the bottom of the side doors.
The KrAZ pickup truck is presented with a two-door cab. Judging by the renderings, there are only 2 chairs installed in its cabin. The absence of a second row of seats is indicated by the compact dimensions of the rear glazing. At the same time, the front one turned out to be quite large, largely due to the heavily piled up struts, which also emphasize the sporty style of the car.
One of the remarkable exterior details of the presented novelty is the hood. A high oval projection runs along its lateral edges. This not only makes the front end appear taller, but also makes the hood appear to bend into the engine compartment. This design feature, combined with some other solutions, has led to another interesting consequence. The front part of the body of the new KrAZ pickup has a ladder structure.
This shape is given by a two-piece radiator grille with a relatively coarse mesh. Its upper part is set at a noticeable angle. Moreover, a decorative insert with a corporate badge is located above it, which further enhances the declared effect. The front optics of the Ukrainian novelty are supplemented with a kind of "eyebrow". Headlights with two sections of LED lights on top are also covered with a decorative insert.
The front bumper is visually divided into several segments. On its sides there are deep ventilation holes with a fine mesh, which, due to decorative protrusions, visually connect to the radiator grille. Underneath the front bumper, there is a long but thin air intake integrated into the plastic body kit.
Specifications
It is difficult to predict what technical part the first KrAZ-260 pickup 2021-2022 can get. As shown earlier, the most likely option for the Ukrainian model will be its transfer to the CMF-B platform, owned by Renault. This "cart" is just designed for compact cars and is already used in the production of a similar Dacia Duster pickup truck.
In this case, the Ukrainian model can borrow from the Romanian a plug-in all-wheel drive system that supports 3 driving modes, including those with a rigidly locked rear axle. Under the hood of the KrAZ pickup truck there will be a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine developing no more than 150 hp. power. Together with it, they can offer a continuously variable variator or a 6-range automatic transmission.
Time to market
The likelihood of the appearance of both the presented and any other KrAZ pickup truck is extremely small. This is explained by the fact that the Kremenchug Automobile Plant may cease to exist in the coming years.