New mini-bakkies soon in SA

The strongest of the three mini-bakkies, Tata's Ace, is being homologated with a one-ton payload and a 1.4-engine that generates 52kW and 135Nm and emits Euro2 level exhausts gases.

The Ace has long been proven as a last-mile delivery vehicle in India, where its drivers regularly dwarf the small bakkie with huge loads. Tata plans to launch the Ace mini-bakkie in the second quarter of 2009, with prices to be announced closer to the date.

The pick-up from First Automotive Works (FAW), imported by Amalgamated Motor Holdings, will be a surprise new contender among mini-bakkies. The FAW is the first Chinese vehicle in AMH's stable, which also sells Renault, SsangYong, Tata and Daihatsu.

Pedro Pereira, marketing manager for the FAW bakkies and Ssang?Yong Motors, said they looked at several Chinese suppliers before deciding on FAW.

Tommy Blake, national sales manager for FAW Truck and Buses in SA, welcomed the arrival of the new mini-bakkies, but stressed that these light commercials will be sold separately from the long-established truck and bus business.

The FAW mini-bakkies use a Euro 2, 1000cc, overhead cam engine that generates a little more power than the Chana's 1000cc: a tested 38.5kw and 83Nm from the FAW compared to Chana's 39kW and 78Nm.

A five-speed, manual gearbox drives the FAW's rear wheels, with the importer claiming 15 kilometers from every liter of petrol with a full load.
This excellent consumption was achieved with a load of 500kg on the double-cab, while the 600kg and 700kg payloads of FAW's single cab and panelvan respectively reduce this claimed figure considerably.

Pereira said the FAW mini-bakkies would be sold at prices that will be slightly lower than that of Chana's bakkies.

"We also plan to launch the FAW sedan and hatchback late in 2009. More information can be had on our site, which is fawauto.co.za,” said Pereira.

The smallest mini-bakkie yet known in South Africa is the Big Boy Scooter which sells from R82 950 as a quad bike with two seats, a steering wheel and a tipper box that can carry 350 kg. The TNS-UV650 4x4 uses a 650cc motorbike engine and is road-legal in Namibia, where farmers snap up available models.
Big Boy Scooters now hopes to homologate the small 4x4 mini-bakkie for South African roads, with a stronger 1000cc Chinese engine to drive what will be South Africa's smallest mini-bakkie.

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