3 days ago
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Hybrid ute is on Deepal Australia’s radar as it looks to bulk out its portfolio with models with specific local appeal.
Deepal Australia could bring in a genuine Ford Ranger competitor after it launches the quirky E07 SUV-ute crossover later this year, but has stopped short of an official confirmation.
Speaking to Drive at the 2025 Melbourne Motor Show, Deepal Australia General Manager Cormac Cafolla said the Chinese brand is always on the hunt to fill out its line-up with products that will resonate with customers.
“We always look at opportunity,” Cafolla said.
“The strength of the Changan and Deepal brands is that they’ve got a multitude of product that could suit the Australian market.
“If we feel that the product proposition is right for Australia, of course we’ll be in conversation with them to bring it.”
A mid-size ute like the Hunter K50 could be that “product proposition” that is “right for Australia”, given the one-tonne ute market accounts for about 20 per cent of all new car sold locally.
Overseas, the Hunter ute has been revealed as a range-extender electric vehicle, combining a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with two electric motors.
It's also rated for an all-electric driving range of 131km, but with the diesel engine coming into play, the combined range rating expands to 900km.
Regardless of name, if the Deepal Hunter K50 were to arrive in local showrooms, it would be the first range-extender electric ute in Australia, but not the only hybrid pick-up.
The GWM Cannon Alpha and BYD Shark 6 were local pioneers of the closed-loop hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems for utes, respectively.
Ford will also launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger later this year, and it is also expected the Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara will offer up similar powertrain options soon.
Deepal launched in Australia last year with the S07 large SUV, which will be followed by the E07 SUV-ute crossover and smaller S05 later this year.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
