Terron 9 avails in diesel and full electric - the latter a big step up on current eT60.

AN LDV utility that sits solidly above the make’s current T60 offering is under evaluation for introduction.

Distributor Inchcape New Zealand says it is just trialling the Terron 9 at this point “and we don’t have a timeline to share at this stage.”

Conceivably, introduction of the model, which offers a choice of turbo-diesel or high-output, all-wheel-drive electric power, could be made all the easier now that Australia has signed up.

In some markets the Terron 9 is set to replace the T60 one-tonne tray deck that LDV has fronted with in New Zealand, however they are separate lines, the new model being physically larger and more advanced.

Notwithstanding the parlous state of the electric vehicle sector at present, the electric Terron 9 could stand as the more interesting development for long-term Kiwi use, as it is a big step up from the rear-drive T60 BEV type that has been in NZ for three years, attracting some interest during that stay.

It has superior performance and ranged delivers proper towing credibility - it will haul 3.5-tonne, whereas the eT60 is limited to a piddling 1500kg - and payload (one tonne, against 750kg).

All the more importantly, it is engineered with four wheel-drive, though a rear-drive layout will continue on.

The single motor type has a single 200kW rear electric motor while the four-wheel-drive has, of course, dual motors, 200kW rear and 125kW front, for 325kW combined.

Both types use a 102kWh battery; the eT60 has a 88kWh battery and a 150kW/310Nm motor. Cited range for the electric AWD Terron 9 is 430 kilometres on the WLTP scale - so almost 100km more than from the eT60.

A 0-100 kmh acceleration time of 5.8 seconds is claimed for the dual-motor version, while DC fast charging at up to 115kW is said to enable a 20-80 percent fast charge in 40 minutes.

The diesel type, meantime, comes in rear or all-wheel-drive and offers a new 164kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder.

LDV in Australia has been trialling Terron T9 for some months and, having signed off on its sale in 2025, have released the pictures here today, of the two editions, which patently differ in their front-end treatments.

Whereas the diesel has a large grille and T-shaped daytime-running lights, the EV has a closed-off nose with C-shaped lights.

The model spawns from a Maxus GST concept revealed in China last year and has maintained the same, Hummer-esque bodywork.

Regardless of drivetrain, the model is 5500mm long, 1997mm wide and 1860mm tall, on a 3300mm wheelbase.

That makes it one of the largest utes in the one-tonne arena; not only 105mm longer, 97mm wider, 41mm taller and 125mm longer in wheelbase than the current T60, but also 130mm longer overall, 79mm wider and 30mm longer in wheelbase than a Ford Ranger Sport, albeit 26mm lower.

LDV’s selection for Australia will restrict to a dual-cab pick-up, a format that achieves 65 percent of all ute sales in NZ, and with an eight-speed automatic transmission in diesel.

Air suspension – with a multi-link rear suspension design – is availed, as is power-operated lowerable rear glass that can extend the length of the tray, and a 236-litre front storage area where the diesel engine would place.

The cabin has two large screens, a two-spoke steering wheel and a 'floating' centre console.