Refreshed Peugeot Landtrek spied, tipped to get bigger diesel

Although set to reveal the first of its two Ram 1200/Dakota models in Brazil within the next few months, Stellantis’ bakkie equivalent from sister brand Peugeot, the Landtrek, is reportedly in-line for a more powerful engine as part of a looming mid-life facelift.

Spied testing

Fiat-made punch

Already three years old after making its world debut in February 2020, the Landtrek is the result of Peugeot’s partnership with Chinese automaker Changan, who sells the equivalent derivative as the F70 under its Kaicene brand for the domestic market.

Powered by either a 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine or a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol for global markets, as well as a bigger 2.5-litre oil-burner in China based off an old Isuzu design, the latest claim from Brazil centres around the former being either dropped or supplemented by a unit destined for the South American Ram 1200.

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According to motor1.com Brazil, the engine in question is the Fiat-made 2.2-litre Multijet turbodiesel that once powered the now discontinued Jeep Cherokee in Europe.

While already used in the Fiat Ducato van in Brazil, the report states that the unit will be revised to produce as much as 147kW/440Nm, the exact same figure touted for the Ram 1200, which will also offer a new variant of the 2.0-litre Tigershark turbo-petrol.

Unlike the Ram, which will ride on the unibody Small Wide 4×4 platform that underpins the Fiat 500X and Toro, the Jeep Renegade, Compass, Commander and also the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the updated Landtrek will remain a body-on-frame bakkie and once on-sale in Brazil, take up station as the carmaker’s most expensive model and sole pick-up.

Interior changes likely

At the same time, the uprated engine is expected to result in a handful of exterior and interior revisions, though at present, exact details pertaining to the latter remains a mystery.

Based on spy images uploaded by the publication, the adaptions appear small and will most likely comprise a new grille, redesigned bumpers, a revised tailgate and post also new alloy wheel designs.

What about the “new Fullback?”

In addition, the updates could also provide a hint of Fiat’s returning one-ton bakkie spun-off of the Landtrek that has faded into obscurity since being teased in December last year.

The replacement for the Mitsubishi Triton-based Fullback that ended production three years ago, the unnamed step-up model from the Toro has, however, been kept under wraps since then, as no further details or spy images have emerged.

Debut still unknown

For now, it remains unknown as to when Peugeot will fully debut the refreshed Landtrek, but as the spy images indicate, the comparatively minor disguise points to an imminent date of reveal.

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