LDV’s first electric ute in Australia hasn’t been a sales success, but the brand’s second attempt could bring greater fortune.
The Maxus eTerron 9 will go on sale in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2024, and it’s expected to come to Australia as an LDV, with both brands owned by Chinese giant SAIC.
“We’re tremendously excited about the future product roadmap for LDV here in Australia,” a spokesperson for the brand’s local importer told CarExpert.
“We look forward to sharing more information in due course with regard to our next generation of electric utes.”
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The eTerron 9 appears to be a much more serious attempt by the brand at an electric ute than the current eT60, with looks based on the bold Maxus GST concept.
Dual electric motors provide up to 325kW of power to all four wheels, significantly more than the 130kW rear-wheel drive eT60, with Maxus claiming the eTerron 9 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds.
The electric motor is fed by a 102kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which can provide up to 430km of claimed driving range based on the WLTP test cycle.
By comparison, the eT60 is fed by a 88.5kWh lithium-ion battery, achieving 330km of driving range in lab tests.
The eTerron 9’s battery can be charged at up to 115kW, and the electric ute also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. That allows owners to power external appliances and tools, with several 2.2kW sockets throughout the vehicle plus an external 6.6kW connection.
Maxus says the eTerron 9’s “semi-monocoque body” and “submarine-grade ultra-high-strength” steel construction ensure it meets Euro NCAP’s safety certification standards for a five-star rating, however it’s yet to be tested by ANCAP’s sister authority.
The eTerron 9 features multi-link rear suspension. Standard air suspension allows you to lower the loading area by 60mm in Easy Load mode.
There are six changeable driving modes. There’s also a custom mode that allows drivers to pick their preferred air suspension height, and steering, energy recuperation, stability control and powertrain settings.
While payload capacity has dropped from the eT60’s 1000kg to 620kg, the eTerron 9 can tow up to 3500kg braked, well up from its predecessor’s 1000kg limit.
The eTerron 9 measures 5.5m long, with previous Chinese government filings revealing it’ll measure 2005mm wide, 1860mm tall and ride on a 3300mm wheelbase.
The ute features a number of handy additions for extra practicality, such as a 236L ‘frunk’ and an electric ‘tailgate’ which splits the cabin from the tub. The latter creates a loading area up to 2.4m long, allowing owners to haul longer items.
Both the bonnet and tailgate feature power assistance.
Inside, the eTerron 9 features leather seats, with the eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat featuring ventilation and massage, and both front seats foldable to create an “almost flat sleeping area” that’s 170cm long.
LDV is yet to officially confirm the eTerron 9 for Australia.
If it does come here, it’ll replace the eT60, which has notched up fewer than 100 sales since arriving in showrooms two years ago, controversially at more than double the price of its turbo-diesel T60 sibling despite having lacklustre driving range and limited technology.
The new electric ute could also be snapped up by MG, which currently sells a rebadged T60 in Thailand.
Maxus Star X
MG has been open about wanting a ute to take a slice of the popular segment’s pie in Australia, though it’s not yet said what overseas model could suit.
While the eTerron 9 features electric power, a Chinese government filing has revealed there’ll be a combustion-powered version, too.
The Star X, as it’ll be known in China, features a 165kW 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, with a payload figure of 940kg.
MORE: Everything LDV
MORE: Is this LDV’s next electric ute for Australia?
MORE: Next-generation LDV electric ute locked in for Australia
