Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
The South African market for quad bikes has a new major player with the Taiwan-made TGB Blade range of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) being launched recently.
The distributors for Southern Africa, Indian owned Export Trading Logistics Group (ETGL), unveiled the TGB Blade 600 SE.X EPS 4x4 aimed at recreational applications and the TGB Blade 600 AR EPS 4x4 aimed at the agricultural and mining industries at Gerotek recently.
According to Rajeeva Saxena, CEO of ETGL, the TGB Blade 600 series is expected to find quick market acceptance given the generous standard specifications level and price point.
“The current ETGL dealership network consists of ten dealers nationwide, and we are looking for more dealerships to partner with to enable us to expand to 30 dealers by March next year,” Saxena said during the unveiling ceremony.
The TGB Blade 600 SE.X EPS 4x4 is a two-seater sports-style ATV offering many applications as a day-to-day work horse or for leisure and recreational use. Boasting standard rear-view mirrors to assist with those difficult reversing tasks while keeping an eye on the passenger, LED front lights as well as LED strip indicators were also added. Weighing in at 450kg wet weight, the TGB Blade 600 SE.X EPS 4x4 achieves a top speed of just over 80km/h with a fuel consumption of 9 litres/100km.
According to Pavan Nair, Business Head of ETGL, the TGB Blade 600 AR EPS 4x4 model is designed to withstand the rigours of everyday use required on a working farm or on a mining site and features a tipper, drop-side configuration load tray that can take up to 200kg of equipment, while achieving a top speed of 70km/h at 11km/litre.
For both models the drive shaft is connected to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) allowing for full rider control and safe handling in all conditions while it is powered by a single cylinder, 561cc, 4-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection (EFI) that produces 33.4kW of power at 6,500 r/min and 46.5Nm of usable torque at 5,500 r/min. The TGB Blade 600 offers selectable 2wd and 4wd traction, while an electrically activated front differential lock provides additional surefootedness in tough conditions.
To steer these beasts, an innovative adjustable Electric Power Steering (EPS) is adopted, with riders able to select their required level of assistance – from minimum for trail riding, to maximum assist for low-speed riding in rough or muddy terrain, providing precise steering, easy handling and a high degree of stability.
Utility features include a 1360kg capacity winch mounted in the front, with a towing hitch (830kg towing capacity) as standard equipment. It also includes sporty 12-inch, 8-spoke matt black aluminium rims, all-terrain 6-ply tyres, hand guards, rear view mirrors, robust front protective frame/bumper and an engine protector plate, modern composite luggage racks, a comfortable rider and pillion seat with backrest, modern full-LED lighting and a 12-volt auxiliary power socket.
The TGB Blade 600 SE.X EPS is equipped with composite load-carrying racks with capacities of 30kg front and 50kg rear for travelling with camping gear, tools or anything in between.
“The TGB Blade series heads up the next generation of ATV technology with unrivalled levels of specification and delivers outstanding value for money. It is for this reason, that TGB has won the coveted title of European ATV of the Year on numerous occasions,” Nair told Dealerfloor. “We are looking forward to buyers who will appreciate both the workability and fun elements of these vehicles.”
The TGB Blade 600 series is covered by a 24-month, unlimited mileage warranty.
Pricing (inclusive of Value Added Tax – VAT) is as follows:
TGB Blade 600 SE.X EPS 4x4: R 183,500
TGB Blade 600 AR EPS 4x4: R 195,500
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
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