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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