For the love of utes

New Zealanders and Australians are said to be among the most passionate ute owners in the world, extracting as much performance and practicality as possible from their vehicles.

That is the message from engineers and managers from Nissan in Japan, and from the Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Alliance in Paris.

When there is feedback from this part of the world, manufacturers of light commercial vehicles take notice.

In the case of this year’s new Nissan Navara range, the result is suspension and steering set-up changes that have improved the ride and handling of the utes.

A strong performer in the ute sector is vital for mass manufacturers in this part of the world. The Navara was the third best-selling ute here last month, and utes made up the five top-selling vehicles overall during February. TONY VERDON

One in six Nissans sold throughout the world are now light commercial vehicles, and the senior vice-president of Nissan LCV, Paris-based Ashwan Gupta, says Nissan and the Alliance are placing a focus on SUVs and pickups.

Australia and New Zealand were “priority markets” because their ute owners were among the most knowledgeable and passionate in the world. “You really take the best out of the frame in extreme conditions,” he said.

Nissan and the Alliance were planning more models to cater for the rapidly growing light commercial sector. Remember, high-end urban-focused utes are among the motor industry’s hottest products. REGULAR FEATURES THE GOOD OIL ME AND MY TRUCK

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