Foton has confirmed that it will be returning later to Australia with two new super-sized utes after a six-year hiatus, but the local arrival of the brand’s new models has been pushed back into the second half of 2025, after initially being promised a first-half launch.

Both of Foton’s big utes are a dramatic departure from the homely Tunland that preceded them. The two models, which will go by the names Tunland V7 and Tunland V9, will sit across the mid-sized and full-sized pickup utility segments, with the V7 measuring 5617mm long and 2,000mm wide, while the larger Tunland V9 occupies a 5,797mm by 2,090mm footprint, putting it in the same size class as Ford’s F-150.

Both the V7 and V9 will arrive in Australia between July and September, with precise specifications and pricing to be announced closer to their respective launches. However, key specifications have now been confirmed, with both utes to take power from a 120kW/450Nm 2.0L turbo diesel four-cylinder engine, augmented by a 48V mild hybrid system and equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.

Though those power and torque figures are firmly on the low side for such large utes, Foton claims both will still boast a competitive 3,500kg maximum tow rating. The V7 will also be available in a basic 4×2 configuration as well as a 4×4, which suggests it could be an affordable alternative to other established utes when it arrives. The Tunland V9, meanwhile, will only be available as a 4×4 dual-cab and will also ride on a coil-sprung live axle rear suspension rather than the Tunland V7’s more conventional leaf-sprung rear.

Expect more details of Foton’s big new utes – including all-important pricing information – to be confirmed later in the year.