An updated version of the Renault Oroch baby bakkie has been revealed in South America, complete with the option of a turbocharged petrol engine. Here’s what we know…

Renault has unwrapped a refreshed version of its Oroch in Brazil, handing its Duster-based bakkie – which has long been in the planning for a South African introduction – updated exterior styling, more interior technology and the option of a turbocharged engine.

As before, the baby double-cab bakkie is unibody in construction, featuring MacPherson struts up front and a multilink suspension arrangement at the rear. The wheelbase is unchanged at 2 829 mm, while the load bay measures 1 175 mm wide and 1 350 mm deep. The Oroch’s load capacity is 680 kg.

The 89 kW/159 Nm naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol is carried over to the base and mid-tier models, though gains a new six-speed manual transmission which Renault claims improves acceleration.

The refreshed Oroch drops the Duster moniker from its name.

The flagship derivative, meanwhile, upgrades to a turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine, here generating 125 kW and 270 Nm (the latter between 1 600 and 3 750 rpm). This Spanish-built powerplant is, of course, the unit developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in partnership with Daimler and here drives the front axle through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Thanks to forced induction, the top-spec version of the updated Oroch is able to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 9.8 seconds before running out of puff at 189 km/h.

Renault describes the cabin as “completely new”, featuring a redesigned dashboard (boasting “greater perceived quality”) and upgraded seat finishes. The instrument panel gains a centrally sited digital speedometer, while the steering wheel is also new, with a brushed finish and backlit buttons.

Mid- and top-spec versions furthermore upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen system with wireless connectivity to smartphones through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. They also receive electrically adjustable side mirrors and rear parking sensors.

Will the Renault Oroch bakkie come to South Africa?

The double-cab Oroch is based on the original Duster rather than the latest generation of the SUV.

Renault South Africa has been endeavouring to bring theDuster Orochbakkie to local shores since at least 2016. According to Renault SA, the latest information is that the Oroch is still “in the planning” for a local introduction in the first quarter of 2023.

While that’s by no means a confirmation – and it’s a line we’ve heard anumber of timesover the past few years – it at least suggests the company remains committed to the Oroch despite having earlier thrown in the towel on the larger (Navara-based)Alaskan.

When pushed for a little more detail, Renault SA toldCars.co.zait was aiming to bring in the double-cab version. The four-doorDuster Orochhas been in production since 2015. In 2020, the single-cabDacia Duster Pick-Up 4×4was launched in Romania, based on the current-generation Duster.

By contrast, the double-cab Oroch offered in South American nations such as Brazil is based on the first-generationDuster. Of course, the main stumbling block to the Duster-based bakkie’s arrival on local shores is the distinct lack of global demand for a right-hand-drive version. Other than South Africa, the only Renault division to make any sort of public appeal for right-hand-drive development is the Boulogne-Billancourt-based automaker’s distributor in Australia.

Should the Oroch finally make its way onto South African roads (be it with four doors or two), it would provide a desperately needed alternative to theNissan NP200, which has had the small-bakkie segment all to itself since the local demise of the likes of theChevrolet Utility,Fiat StradaandFord Bantam. We can only hope 2023 will be the year Renault SA finally gets its way…