Having released select details of its returning Vigus bakkie back in September, returning Chinese automaker, JMC, has now fully detailed the entire line-up, albeit without pricing.
Announced back in July as coming back to South Africa after an almost decade long absence, the now confirmed Vigus range will comprise three models, one single and two double cabs, all leveraging off of JMC’s partnership with Ford on the power front.
Imported by Salvador Caetano Auto South Africa, whose portfolio includes GAC and from next year, its all-electric Aion division, the Vigus is once again based on the Chinese-market Yuhu, but this time, the Yuhu 9 that received its current look in 2019 as part of being an effective update of the Yuhu 7 that entered production in 2017.
Its abbreviated name denoting Jiangling Motors Corporation, the Vigus has an overall length of 5 305 mm, height of 1 835 mm, width of 1 905 mm and wheelbase of 3 085 mm regardless of the bodystyle.
Somewhat surprisingly, no details regarding either models’ payload was revealed, with the official JMC wording only claiming a tow rating of 2 000 kg for the single cab.
Blue Oval motivation
As mentioned, JMC’s partnership with Ford, which has seen the Equator Sport being sold locally as the renamed Territory, has resulted in the Vigus being powered by the Puma range of turbodiesel engines in both 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre displacements.
For the single cab, only the latter, used in later versions of the Land Rover Defender, has been selected with outputs of 103kW/310NM versus the former’s 90kW/360Nm.
Routing drive to the rear wheels only falls to a five-speed manual gearbox as opposed to the six-speed used once used in the Defender.
On the pair of double cabs, the slightly newer 2.0-litre, which has reported links with the current Panther mills used in the Ranger and Everest, outputs 104kW/350Nm.
As standard, the unit is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which sends the amount of twist to the rear or all four wheels.
Aside from the low range transfer case, the four-wheel drive Vigus also has a locking rear differential as standard.
Spec
In terms of spec, all three variants have the following as standard:
- 17-inch alloy wheels;
- LED daytime running lights;
- fog lamps;
- electric windows;
- four-speaker sound system;
- single USB port;
- 3.5-inch instrument cluster display;
- multi-function steering wheel;
- cruise control;
- ABS and EBD;
- rear parking sensors
In addition, the double cab receives standard side-steps, a reverse camera and, in place of the conventional LCD audio system on the single cab, a 9.7-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Somewhat bizarrely, the single cab only offers a driver’s side airbag as standard as JMC’s website lists the passenger’ side item as an optional extra.
This also applies to the mentioned side-steps. Also optional, but only for the double cab, is leather upholstery.
Speculated price
Standard across all variants is a five-year/100 000 warranty, with a three-year/50 000 km service plan included on the double cab but optional on the single cab.
At present, it remains unknown when pricing will be announced, though, JMC did previously allude to a sticker of around R300 000 for the single cab.
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