Santana 400 Pick-Up Truck Spearheads Brand Revival
The Santana 400 pick-up truck has received its world premiere as the model that will lead a revival of the previously mothballed brand.
The Spanish marque had operated for almost 60 years building heavy-duty off-road vehicles in collaboration with Land Rover and Suzuki, but financial difficulties forced it to close its doors in 2011.
Now, 15 years later, Santana is reborn under fresh financial investment and on the cusp of launching its first new model, the Santana 400D and 400 PHEV pick-up truck.
While Santana will rely on Chinese-manufacturing for the 400 series, the models will be shipped to Spain and assembled at its base in Linares.
The Santana 400D and PHEV is heavily based on the Dongfeng Zhengzhou Z9 pick-up truck, which also known as the Nissan Frontier Pro in the United States.
However, Santana will have the European market to itself for the model, which boasts a handsome and relatively understated design compared to muscular models like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
Under the bonnet comes a choice of two power options – a 2.3-litre turbodiesel generating 190bhp and 500Nm of torque and a plug-in hybrid that mates a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 32kWh electric motor for up to 75-miles of electric range.
For now there is no confirmation that the Santana 400 will be converted to right-hand drive for UK sales, but it is set to form the first of a larger line-up of badge engineered models originating from China.
