THERE won’t be a lot of difference between the new Nissan Navara NP300 and forthcoming Navara-based production version of the Renault Alaskan while the Mercedes version of Navara will be “more upmarket” was the biggest hint Business Vans got from director of Nissan LCV Ponz Pandikuthira at his double cab’s launch in Majorca.

Ponz refused to be directly quoted, but was keen to point out that the new Navara would sell on its reputation, built up since the early noughties. The Renault, in his view, was very much a case of filling a gap in their LCV range.

I went on to ask, if the models were so similar, was he concerned about losing sales to Renault, to which he replied that he very much believed a buyer of the new Renault pick up wouldn’t be interested in buying a Nissan and vice versa.

The Nissan will also form the basis of Mercedes-Benz’s new GLT pick-up – could that cause sales problems for the Navara? Well, according to Ponz, it shouldn’t. In his words “the Mercedes will be more upmarket and expensive.”

Business Vans looks forward to seeing the production versions of the Alaskan and GLT, in what will be an exciting year for pick-ups.

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