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China Is Home to the Cheapest Pickup in the Automotive Industry. Meet the Calorie, a Cheap Pickup That Costs Less Than R$ 50,000 (Direct Conversion Without Taxes Applied).
Year after year, Chinese companies have been raising their standards in the automotive industry. In contrast to the Brazilian automotive market, where it is rare to find mid-sized pickups for less than R$ 200,000, the scenario in China presents a much more affordable reality in terms of costs. An emblematic example of this difference is the BAW Calorie, considered the cheapest mid-sized pickup in the world, launched in China in 2022. Surprisingly, it is priced much lower than the Renault Kwid.
BAW’s Cheap Pickup Delivers 144 Horsepower
Since the idea is to be affordable, BAW’s pickup in the automotive industry is not extremely equipped, powerful, or has much cargo capacity. In fact, its 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine delivers only 144 horsepower and 20.4 kgfm of torque. It’s the same torque that the 1.0 TSI engine from Volkswagen delivers in the Nivus and T-Cross.
The payload capacity varies depending on the version. In the 5.27-meter long variant, the model carries 495 kg. In the extended version measuring 5.52 meters in length, the capacity rises to 795 kg.
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The Toyota Hilux is R$ 75.5 thousand cheaper and bets on the 2.8 turbodiesel engine with up to 204 hp and 50.9 kgfm to catch up with the VW Saveiro, which leads with 4,472 sales.
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The new Renault Koleos has a screen exclusively for the passenger that is invisible to the driver, heated rear seats, and 29 assistance systems, but its Chinese competitors cost R$ 40,000 less and deliver more power.
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The car stored for 38 years: when opening the barn door, what appears is breathtaking and looks like a scene from a movie!
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Fiat works miracles in the Brazilian market, lowers the price of its 0 km hatch to R$ 69,990, reestablishes the model as the cheapest car in the country, and reignites the battle against Kwid and C3.
It is worth mentioning that in the Brazilian automotive industry, all pickups support at least 1 ton in the bed due to the law regarding the use of diesel engines. The other dimensions are 1.90 meters in width and 1.86 meters in height for the standard configuration and 1.99 meters and 1.86 meters for the extended configuration.
When compared to the famous Toyota Hilux, the best-selling mid-sized pickup in the Brazilian market, BAW’s cheap pickup has a very similar size, but the long version is actually 10 cm longer than the Japanese one.
How Much Does BAW’s Cheap Pickup Cost?
The design of the model is relatively simple, without major flourishes or boldness, and aligns with the pickup’s low-cost proposition. Depending on consumer choice, it is possible to add customization elements such as side stickers, a roll bar, and alloy wheels. In the base versions, however, simplicity is evident in the steel wheels and unpainted door handles.
Inside the cabin, the cheap pickup’s dashboard features a bold design and draws attention with a fully digital instrument cluster positioned next to the multimedia center. Each screen is 10.25 inches. The overall aspect is modern, especially with its leather trim and seemingly efficient ergonomics.
Since BAW does not operate in the Brazilian automotive industry, enthusiasts cannot expect to see this pickup here. In the Chinese market, it costs on average around 69,000 yuan and 76,800 yuan, which places it in the range of R$ 49,200 to R$ 52,200 in direct conversion. It is worth noting that in Brazil, the Fiat Mobi and Renault Kwid, the cheapest we have, cost exactly R$ 68,000.
What Is the Cheapest Pickup in Brazil?
The cheapest pickup in the Brazilian automotive market is the Volkswagen Saveiro Robust CS, which costs R$ 97,690. It is equipped with a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated flex engine with 116 horsepower and 16.1 kgfm with ethanol and 106 hp and 15.4 kgfm with gasoline. The model’s fuel consumption is 8.5 km/l with the first fuel and 12.2 km/l with the second. Its transmission, however, is a manual five-speed.
Its dimensions are 4.47 meters in length and a wheelbase of 2.75 meters. The bed volume is 469 liters, with a capacity to deliver up to 712 kg of payload.
The list of standard features includes air conditioning, power steering, hill-start assist, disc brakes on all four wheels, bed lighting, power door locks and windows, and a rear parking sensor.
Pode deixar os l*** da china,na própria china…