Foton Tunland ute back on track
Foton has found a new Australian distributor for its Tunland LCVAs we reported in mid 2011, Foton is planning to launch its first vehicle in the Australia market, the Tunland ute. However there's been a slight change to the original plan, with Sydney-based WMC relinquishing the official importation contract, which has been picked up by Gold Coast-based FAA.
WMC decided against importing the Foton ute, citing "irreconcilable quality issues that stood in the way of local market acceptance."
Nevertheless, FAA has decided there will be demand for the Foton ute and it will be arriving in the second quarter of 2012, priced from $29,995.
Standard powertrain spec will be a 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine made by Cummins, with an output of up to 120kW/360Nm. Towing capacity is expected to be rated at 3000kg.
Looking at the price point, FAA is not positioning the Foton as a budget model and will not be vying for cheap and cheerful honors with Great Wall Motors, which undercuts most of its rivals on price, starting with the $17,990 V220 ute.
Instead the Foton Tunland will be taking on the big players such as Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Toyota and so on. FAA released a press statement that said the Foton Tunland ute was "Designed to take on the leaders in the high-end segment of the [ute] market."
No details on standard equipment levels have been released, but FAA Chairman Peter Llewellyn said the new model will have a focus on quality.
"Foton's emphasis on producing a quality vehicle highly spec-d for the Australia market at a competitive price will ensure its success. But in the end the real winner will be the Australian car buying public.
"I assure, the wait for this vehicle will be worthwhile," added Llewellyn.
"Planning for the first shipment is well underway and will include both 4x4 and 4x2 dual cab, turbodiesel manual transmission options, with both petrol and automatic options expected down the track."
FAA has also secured the rights to distribute the entire Foton range of passenger vehicles, which are expected to begin arriving in Australia by 2015. It is currently looking for expressions of interest from new car dealers "looking to build a profitable business".
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