The LDV T60 is set to become Australia’s most powerful four-cylinder ute.
A heavily facelifted model is set to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2021, with styling inspired by the T90 revealed earlier this year.
An entry in the Australian Government’s Road Vehicle Certification System reveals the T60 will, as expected, offer a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine.
It’ll produce 158.5kW of power, though RVCS entries don’t list a torque figure.
The same engine in the D90 SUV produces 160kW of power and 480Nm of torque.
These outputs put the T60 ahead of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger 2.0-litre in terms of power (150kW and 157kW) but just behind them in torque (500Nm).
They also push the T60 past rivals like the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50 and twin-turbo Nissan Navara, all of which produce 140kW and 450Nm, and put it well ahead of its Chinese arch-rival, the GWM Ute (120kW/400Nm).
The Volkswagen Amarok remains the most powerful vehicle in this segment, with its turbo-diesel V6 pumping out up to 190kW and 580Nm.
The bi-turbo T60 will be available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is standard.
Braked towing capacity is 3000kg for all bi-turbo models, with an unbraked capacity of 750kg.
Tare mass ranges from 2068kg to 2133kg, with a gross vehicle mass ranging from 2900kg to 3050kg.
The 120kW single-turbo 2.0-litre diesel currently used in the Trailrider 2 will continue, offering a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive and six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, but the entry-level 2.8-litre turbo-diesel won’t be offered.
The RVCS entry for this engine lists an output of 118.5kW.
The T60 will continue to be available in two different lengths: the standard body, measuring 5365mm long on a 3155mm wheelbase, and the Mega Tub, with a 5680mm long body on a 3470mm wheelbase.
The updated T60 will offer a choice of 17-inch or 19-inch wheels, with 16-inch wheels available on the single-turbo model.
It’s already been revealed in New Zealand, with a teaser video released there showing the interior.
There’s a restyled dashboard, though it isn’t as radical as the T90’s and lacks that ute’s digital instrument cluster and larger touchscreen.
Externally, there’s a bold new grille and split-level front lighting, plus a restyled tailgate and tail lights down back.
The Kiwi website, which remains light on for details, doesn’t list autonomous emergency braking among the updated T60’s list of safety equipment.
Pictured: the current T60 
Though the T60’s five-star ANCAP rating from 2017 may carry over, the lack of AEB will put it among a vanishingly small number of utes to still lack the technology in 2021.
The current T60 is within striking distance of the Volkswagen Amarok in the sales race, with 3984 sales to end of July 2021 against 4304 for the Amarok.
It’s also bearing down on the GWM Ute, sitting at 4016 sales.
Relatively stable supply means the LDV T60 was able to increase its sales in 2020 by 58.1 per cent where almost every rival went backwards.
MORE: Everything LDV T60
