Chinese automaker JAC will be bringing an all-electric version of its Hunter pickup (known as ‘Hantu’ on the domestic market) to the 2024 Auto China show set to commence in Beijing on April 24.
According to Car News China citing its own sources, the company utilized the experience it received while producing Nio EVs upon contract. Among other things, the Hunter EV will be getting a dual-motor AWD version in its home country.
The company said from the start that it designed the Hunter as a workhorse truck for people who valued day-to-day practicality above luxury. Judging by the images posted thus far, the finalized truck (photos 1–5) looks markedly different from its last year’s concept (photos 6–8 and the video). In particular, the fake radiator grille has been replaced with a flat slab and the lights all around have been reworked.
The pickup is sized 5.62 x 1.965 x 1.92 meters large with 1.81 meters of bed length and 205 mm of ground clearance. It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, a rare sight on an affordable truck in China.
Powertrain-wise, the dual-motor version drives the front axle with 95 PS (94 hp / 70 kW) and the rear axle with 218 PS (215 hp / 160 kW). The respective torques are 176 Nm (130 lb-ft) and 342 Nm (252 lb-ft). The numbers are slightly better than those originally announced for the concept.
A LiFePo4 battery pack stores up to 88.02 kWh and is enough for 500 km (310 miles) of driving according to the local CLTC standard. The local media in China are reporting that potential customers have already voiced their skepticism regarding these numbers, saying the truck would never come close to its rated range figures when fully loaded or driven in cold weather.