JAC Motors has revealed more details about its new T9 Hunter bakkie coming to South Africa in 2023 and 2024.

The double cab was recently featured at the 2023 Shanghai Automotive Show, where more information was given regarding its specifications and engine line-up.

The motor company plans to offer the bakkie with multiple internal combustion engines (ICE), as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric (BEV) powertrain.

If all goes to plan, this will make the T9 South Africa’s first hybrid and electric bakkie introduction, with the ICE models expected to launch in the country in the second semester of 2023, while the electrified units are expected to make an appearance in 2024.

Features

While the full list of features will only be revealed closer to its launch date, JAC Motors said the T9 would come with leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, electronically-adjustable heated front seats, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.4-inch infotainment screen.

It will also feature adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and seven airbags.

Performance

The new T9 Hunter range will launch with four models, including 4×4 and 4×2 derivatives, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a choice of either a 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel or petrol drivetrain.

The diesel unit produces 125kW and 410Nm, while the petrol plant makes 168kW and 380Nm. The T9 4×4 derivatives feature a part-time 4×4 system with a low-range transfer case and a rear diff-lock. It offers a towing mass of 3 500 kg (braked).

The PHEV, meanwhile, combines the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain with a 26.8kWh battery, resulting in an average fuel consumption of 3.3l/100km, according to the manufacturer.

The 4×4 BEV will then feature an 88kWh lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor, giving the bakkie a range of over 400km on a single charge.

Furthermore, the T9 has received a five-star safety rating from five different global safety rating agencies. In South Africa, it will be sold with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and a 5-year/100,000km service and roadside assistance plan, with pricing to be announced closer to the launch.

“We are thrilled to introduce the exciting new T9 as the range-topper of our T-Series bakkies,” said Karl-Heinz Göbel, the CEO of JAC Motors South Africa.

“The T9 will lead our charge in the double-cab market, with our versatile T8 and economical T6 line-ups focusing on specific target markets within this market segment,” he added.

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