Back in July, we reported that Geely’s Radar RD6 electric pick-up truck is heading to Thailand as part of a move to go global, and that the EV truck will use the name Riddara RD6 due to a trademark issue with ‘Radar’. It looks like things are going according to schedule for a November 2024 debut in the Land of Smiles.
The Riddara RD6 is now open for pre-booking in Thailand, and early birds will get a low interest rate and free home charger. Also, the model’s ‘Eco sticker’ – a standardised Thai sticker which lists down the car’s details and features – was shared by Headlightmag, showing the RD6’s range (455 km) and price (1.349 million baht, or RM171,757), among other details.
There are design cues to suggest that the RD6 is based on the Proton X90 (the SUV’s cockpit is used here too), but it actually rides on a new Multiplex Attached Platform (MAP), which is a derivative of Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). It’s a unibody truck powered by a single rear motor with 272 PS (200 kW) and 384 Nm. If it sounds familiar, those are smart #1 figures.
With a choice of either a 63 or 86 kWh battery, the domestic RD6 has a range of between 385 and 517 km in China’s lenient CLTC cycle. DC fast charging from 30 to 80% (120 kW max) takes 30 minutes for the 63 kWh battery and 32 minutes for the 86 kWh unit; a 7 kW AC source will top them up from 20 to 100% in 7.9 and 11 hours respectively. It has a 6 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) function.
By the way, the RD6 is around the same size as a typical one-tonne diesel pick-up, measuring 5,260 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,830 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,120 mm. By comparison, the Toyota Hilux is 5,325 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,815 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,085 mm. Payload is a usable 775 kg (755 kg with the 86 kWh battery) and cargo space is rated at 1,200 litres, excluding a 70-litre frunk.
While truck-loving Thailand is an obvious destination for Geely’s RD6, it remains to be seen if the first fully-electric pick-up truck in the market will be well received there. The EV’s target market won’t be hardcore truck and 4WD fans, or those looking for a workhorse, but will urban folks or the hipster camping crowd consider it? While there’s no shortage of options, the RD6 is a rather unique proposition.
GALLERY: Riddara RD6
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fake vitara…become riddara