By the time you’re reading this, Changan Philippines has just introduced the CS15 subcompact crossover. We’ve taken a look around it and reckon it’s a promising product in the highly competitive segment.
However, it seems that the brand is cooking up something right after the CS15. Going along Ortigas Avenue Extension, we spotted a Changan Hunter pickup.
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So, does this mean Changan Philippines is launching it officially soon? It’s difficult to tell for now. It’s possible that it’s an evaluation unit to see if it’s suited for our market. Nothing wrong with exploring possibilities, right?
The Changan Hunter might be familiar to some readers. We previously reported about the series hybrid version that was shown in China. The one we spotted didn’t appear to be that variant. It looked more like the standard model that’s powered by a fuel-fed engine.
It’s tough to say what engine powered the model we spotted. In various markets, the Hunter is available with a 2.4-liter turbo petrol engine, a 1.9-liter turbodiesel, and a 2.5-liter turbodiesel. We’re leaning towards the oil-burning options.
We weren’t quick enough to snap a photo of the front end, but it comes with a large grille at the front flanked by upswept headlights. The external bed tie downs are an interesting touch that not a lot of pickups have these days. Ground clearance appears to be high, and we also spotted rear disc brakes.
The Changan Hunter is also known as the Kaicene F70 in its home market and the Peugeot Landtrek in other parts of the world. The Hunter was also co-developed with Peugeot in a bid to make a mark in the tough midsize pickup segment.
For now, only time will tell if Changan Philippines will launch the pickup in the country soon. Given how lucrative trucks are these days, we wouldn’t be too surprised if it makes an official reveal soon.
