- Geely New Zealand has revealed the Riddara RD6 Pro all-electric ute.
- The reveal took place at an event announcing the formation of NordEast to distribute the brand in NZ.
- The Riddara is a monocoque chassis ute with a payload of more than 1000kg and a tow rating of 3000kg.
Geely New Zealand - part of the newly-formed Giltrap Group off-shoot, NordEast - has officially lifted the covers - and revealed the pricing - of its highly anticipated Riddara RD6 Pro all-electric ute.
The Riddara (otherwise known as the Geely Radar in its home market) is Geely's - and, indeed, New Zealand's - first fully electric ute, built from the ground up on a dedicated EV platform, and will retail in New Zealand for $69,990, the same as the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6.
Designed to "seamlessly blend the comfort and dynamics of an SUV with the robust versatility of a traditional ute", Geely NZ brand manager Jordan Haines says the Riddara RD6 is "poised to redefine expectations in the New Zealand ute market."
The Riddara also marks the return of the traditional ute - a pick up-style vehicle built on a monocoque car platform - that originated in Australia many decades ago and died out with the demise of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes.
Under the hood, or rather, in its electric drivetrain, the Riddara boasts dual electric motors and a substantial 315kW of power and 595Nm of torque, enabling it to blast from 0 to 100 km/h in a swift 4.5 seconds. It is equipped with a 73kWh battery that is good for a range of 360km under the WLTP cycle.
Built on a monocoque chassis with multi-link independent rear suspension, the Riddara RD6 promises ride comfort typically found in an SUV while maintaining its utility credentials.
While all of this sounds very much like Geely is targeting the "lifestyle" ute segment with reduced payloads and towing capabilities, nothing could actually be further from the truth, with the Riddara featuring a 3000kg tow rating and a 1030kg payload in the tray.
By way of comparison, the two plug-in hybrid utes currently on sale in New Zealand - the BYD Shark 6 PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV - offer up 2500kg/730kg and 3500kg/1000kg respectively
Haines says that durability and off-road prowess are also central to the Riddara's design, and as such it incorporates an intelligent electric four-wheel drive system and a wading depth of 815mm. The chassis boasts an impressive torsional stiffness of 30,300Nm and the Riddara has a maximum gradability of 95 percent (43.5 degrees). The Riddara also features seven drive modes, including multiple options specifically designed for off-roading.
Inside, the Riddara's cockpit is more car-like than any ute before, with ventilated front and rear seats and a large 14.6-inch "floating" infotainment touchscreen. A key feature of the big screen is the "540-degree" surround view monitor, which provides a comprehensive view around the vehicle, including a "transparent floor" effect.
Haines says that pre-sales for the Geely Riddara RD6 are currently open, and the vehicle will be officially on sale and available for test drives at dealerships starting September 15th, with first customer deliveries expected at the end of October.
