Wednesday 18 April 2012

Road - 14 Grand Pickup


Getting its first public airing in the UK next week is the latest arrival from Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor Company, the Steed pickup. 

Prices start from £13,998 (+VAT) for the generously equipped Steed S which has a 2 litre, 16 valve turbocharged diesel engine with an ‘on-demand’ four wheel drivetrain.

With a payload capacity of over a tonne (1050 kg) it’s classed as a commercial vehicle so business users will be able to get the VAT back. The loadbed behind the crew cab is just over a metre long (1,380 mm) and towing capability is 2,000 kg. 

Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloys, daytime running lights, remote central locking, a Thatcham-approved Category 1 alarm, electric windows, Alpine CD/radio with USB/MP3 and Bluetooth, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, air-conditioning, heated fronted seats and a full leather interior.

The more luxurious Steed SE costs £2,000 more (£15,998 +VAT), and adds body-coloured hard-top canopy, body-coloured spoiler, chrome trim to the daytime running lights, chrome side bars, black roof rails, load bay liner, and rear parking sensors.

The pickups also come with a comprehensive three-year / 60,000-mile mechanical warranty.

Great Wall might not be too well known over here, but it is China’s largest SUV producer with an annual production capacity of 800,000 vehicles, with plans to increase to 1.5 million by 2015.

It has also manufactured the best-selling pick-up in China every year since 1998, and the Steed now being introduced over here accounts for around 100,000 sales in its domestic market each year.

The Steed will make its UK show debut at next week’s Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC. But doesn’t it look just like an Isuzu Rodeo?

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