The Paris Motor Show is primarily a car show, and with the 2016 event taking place just a week after this year’s IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, we weren’t expecting too much from the LCV manufacturers in attendance.
But as it turned out, pickup truck makers in particular were out in force, including the European debut of the updated Isuzu D-Max and a new concept from SsangYong. We even heard that Mitsubishi UK is considering importing a new Shogun Sport SUV, based on the L200 pickup.
2017’s hottest new cars revealed at the 2017 Paris Motor Show
Full round-up of the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show
European debut for 2017 Isuzu D-Max
Paris 2016 was the European debut for the revised Isuzu D-Max, which receives a mild facelift and – more significantly – a new 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine. Though this is considerably downsized from the 2.5-litre motor it replaces, Isuzu is still promising a 3.5-tonne towing capacity, plus improved fuel economy.
For the full story on the updated Isuzu D-Max click here; it’s due to arrive in the UK in February 2017.
Read the Parkers review of the Isuzu D-Max
SsangYong LIV-2 concept previews new large pickup
Now, this LIV-2 concept may look like a preview for a big SUV rather than a commercial vehicle – because it is. But we’ve been told that the forthcoming production version, which is likely to be the new SsangYong Rexton, will also spawn a new large pickup, complete with choice of loadbed lengths and substantial towing power.
We understand it’s a body-on-frame design, too, rather than a new-fangled monocoque construction – which should be good news for off-road performance (if not on-road refinement). Expect to see the final result late in 2017. In the meantime, we will be driving the new SsangYong Musso pickup in October 2016, so look out for a full review towards the middle of next month.
First official pictures of the SsangYong Musso pickup
Read a SsangYong LCV review on Parkers
Renault Alaskan pulls in the crowds
The 2016 Paris Motor Show represented the first chance for many mainstream automotive journalists – not to mention the public – to get a close look at the Renault Alaskan pickup. And it must have been gratifying to Renault to see that in amongst some rather exciting concept cars and other debuts from the brand, the Alaskan was attracting plenty of attention.
That’s a tribute to the stylists, we reckon, who have done a brilliant job of re-nosing the Nissan Navara to give the Alaskan its own unique Renault identity. The Alaskan was also the star of Renault’s stand at the 2016 IAA show – and you can read all about that by clicking here.
Full details of the new Renault Alaskan on Parkers
Read Renault van reviews on Parkers
Mitsubishi considering L200-based SUV?
In contrast to SsangYong, which is planning a pickup off of a forthcoming SUV, Mitsubishi UK is considering whether it might sell an SUV based on the latest L200. This is actually on sale in Australia (which is also a right-hand drive market) already as the Pajero Sport (pictured), but would likely come to the UK as a new Shogun Sport.
It not only features revised bodywork – including a restyled front as well as the absence of a load bed – but also a new rear axle and suspension arrangement for improved on-road driving behaviour.
Read the Parkers full review of the Mitsubishi L200
Review of the previous Mitsubishi Shogun Sport in the Parkers car section
For full details of the stars of the 2016 IAA van show in Hanover click here.
