The 4x4 Galloper are resurrected with Spanish capital and Chinese mechanics

BarcelonaGalloper was a Korean brand the result of an agreement between Hyundai and Mitsubishi specializing in old-school all-terrain vehicles (with chassis on beams, reduction gear, and differential lock) that was present in the European market between 1998 and 2005. The original Gallopers took advantage of the technical and mechanical base of the Mitsubishi Pajero (called Montero in our market), which offered authentic robust 4x4s at a very competitive price and were highly appreciated in rural areas.

An agreement with Spanish businessmen led by entrepreneur Carlos Lobato has allowed the commercial name Galloper (but not the original brand) to be revived in the Spanish market. Galloper will land in October with 35 dealerships and points of sale and two initial models, provisionally named S15 and P15.

The first model, the S15, will be a five-door 4x4, while the P15 will be a truck or pickup with reduction gear and all-wheel drive. The final names are yet to be confirmed. The initial idea is to name them after emblematic peaks and summits in Spanish geography.

Vehicles benefit from Galloper's agreement with the Chinese manufacturer Anhui Coronet, the same one that has already reached an agreement with Santana. Galloper, however, has not yet confirmed that it will assemble models in Spain. In principle, the cars will come assembled from China. The forecast is that assembly will advance more and more and demand will eventually allow a production line to be opened at the Santana-owned plant in Linares, while maintaining a warehouse for original spare parts and components in Barcelona that will guarantee the supply of parts.

The first two models will use a Mitsubishi-origin gasoline engine with 220 HP of power, associated with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission (a gearbox manufactured in Germany). In the future, the brand expects to add mild hybrid and LPG versions to obtain the eco label, while ruling out the use of diesel engines due to their emissions and homologation costs.

The original Chinese manufacturer, Anhui Coronet, is a joint venture that produces models such as the Dongfeng Rich 6, which will be the basis for Galloper's pickup truck and which uses the platform of the previous generation of the Nissan Navara, which was curiously manufactured in the Zona Franca of Barcelona between 2005 and 2014. Therefore, it is a veteran and proven platform and mechanics, which are not at the global forefront of the automotive industry, but which allow production costs to be kept below its rivals, with sale prices around 35,000 euros.