Not content with dominating the high-horsepower full-size prime mover and rigid truck market, Scania is introducing a pick-up truck (known as a ‘ute’ or ‘bakkie’ in some markets).
The same famous 770 hp 16.4-litre V8 engine, the sole on-road V8 truck engine available today, will power the pick-up, which is available for a limited time only. It will be mated to a 14-speed Scania Opticruise automated gearbox and drive through all four wheels.
“While we have 36-m prime movers that can cross continents hauling three trailers and have wrapped up last mile deliveries with our rigids for palletised freight, we saw a niche demand for driveway deliveries for couriers who have a truckload of small items from Temu to deliver on a tight deadline,” says Scania Truck Product Line Director, Sven Zitdue.
“Following recent badge engineering shared model programmes in the pick-up market, adding a Scania version seemed like a logical move,” says Scania’s Marketing Manager for Utes, Ike Keer. “The spacious load-bed will take all manner of flat-packed cardboard wrapped furniture, for example, and can be loaded by a forklift. This will finally lay to rest concerns about the Scania bed not being large enough.”
“The Ute comes with a full suite of safety features including a blue singlet, high viz jacket and reflective thongs,” says Crash Test Chief, Tommi Fil-Higer.
“Scania has engineered some specific Advanced Driver Assistance Systems into the new ute, pertinent to the needs of drivers, such as Traffic Light Ignoring Mode, Park Where You Like Assistant, and Monster Mode, which we think will be particularly popular especially for clearing a path for urgent deliveries,” Tommi says. “We have further developed drift mode into snow drift mode,” he adds proudly.
Whether you are heading to the back of Bjork, or the back of Broadmeadows, the Scania ute provides an unforgettable experience, with braking enhanced via the traditional Scania Retarder.
“In testing we have seen many loads self-extracting when utilising the Retarder to the fullest extent,” says Scania Ute chassis engineer, Axel Trampp. “This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of on-the-job injury moving the boxes around. By softening the front springs, the nose can dip far enough to pivot the load over the cab and into the driveway with the same finesse, care and accuracy provided by a typical newspaper delivery operative.”
“We have tested the Scania Ute in all manner of terrain for Australian customers, from glaciers to frozen lakes and across lava-strewn city streets, as well as into the mountains of Holland and deserts of Ireland, across man-made roads and rural avenues, and we have devised the perfect combination of kerb-crawling low range and one-handed steering that is sensitive to pot-hole avoidance, especially required in Victoria,” says ride and handling expert, Hilda Scent.
“Scania will offer a full range of accessories and customisation packages in line with our standard offer for full-size trucks, from bull bars to stone guards, oversized V8 decals and cab mounted light bars, but we believe the most popular will be our twin meatballs on a chain to replace the swinging D-shackles most utes have affixed to their towbars,” explains aftermarket expert, Knut Zak.
The Scania ute is available for ordering now for a limited time only.
