Chinese automaker Foton had promised us two Auto China premieres, but only showed one car in the end. Meet the Foton General, an author’s rendition of the Ford F-150, minus the license.
The car is technically just a version of the marque’s Tunland pickup and goes by the name “Foton Tunland G9” in the documents. The “General” moniker is apparently there for advertisement purposes only. As such, it shares the principal equipment and tech with the Tunland F9 model from last year. Similarities extend as far as the body, the powertrains and the cabin (minus the center tunnel). Paid options include infotainment, leather cabin, power seats and all-around view cameras. The parking brake is now a button, rather than a switch, but the rest stays unchanged.
The Tunland F9 shipped with a gasoline turbo-four unit capable of 238 hp (177 kW) and a turbo diesel worth 163 hp (121 kW). The G9 inherits these two and gains a third option: a 2.5-liter diesel with so far undisclosed specs, which should be available with manual and ZF eight-speed auto transmission.
Customers may opt for a special edition called Sport for suspension reinforcements, higher ground clearance, and larger wheels.
Sales in China will begin in November starting from the equivalent of U.S. $19,000, making the General/Tunland G9 the marque’s most expensive model to date. Having said that, the company is currently working on a larger pickup truck based on a new platform and a six-cylinder engine. This one likely won’t premiere until at least 2021.