LDV T60 ute here in October

AFTER being revealed at the 2016 Guangzhou motor show, LDV has announced an October arrival date for its T60 pick-up, which will join the increasingly popular and crowded Australian ute market with a range of different trim, transmissions and body styles.

LDV will also be expanding its dealer network into rural areas to accommodate for the regional clientele that the Chinese brand expects to make up a significant portion of T60 sales, while also bolstering its urban dealerships.

LDV Australia general manager Dinesh Chinnappa said the T60 will become LDV’s best-selling model and that a dealer expansion would be necessary to facilitate such sales.

“Sales of (the G10 and V80 vans) are primarily in metro areas, so that is where we have concentrated our dealers and our business,” he said.

“But the T60 will have a much broader appeal across the whole country. The ute market is much bigger than the van market and it is booming.

“In preparation for the arrival of the T60 we are opening new dealers in country areas and enlarging our urban representation. There is little doubt that from day one, the T60 will be LDV’s best-selling model in Australia.”

LDV owners Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) have high hopes for the T60, which they anticipate will help lift sales of the brand from 1542 in 2016 to more than 5000 once the full range is available.

LDV will offer the T60 with a choice of single- or dual-cab body styles, manual or automatic transmissions and two- or four-wheel-drive drivetrains.

The range, at launch, will include a four-wheel-drive dual-cab version with automatic and manual transmissions, as well as two- and four-wheel-drive cab-chassis versions mated to manual transmissions.

Under the bonnet is a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine that makes 110kW and an unspecified amount of torque. Four-wheel-drive variants will also get a low-range gearbox for added off-road ability.

If LDV’s van range is any indication, transmissions will likely be a six-speed manual or a six-speed ZF automatic transmission.

There will be two levels of trim available to cater for the more bare-bones tradie and farm vehicle market as well as for those who want a recreational weekender vehicle.

The range will also be bolstered by further variants down the track, including the possibility of a petrol-powered engine.

The T60’s dimensions stand at 5.3 metres long and 1.9 metres wide, placing it firmly in the one-tonne ute segment populated by perennial best-sellers such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

Pricing for the T60 has not yet been released, however it will be marketed as a value-for-money low-cost offering, as is the case for the LDV brand.

“We are determined that it will build upon the value for money proposition of the LDV van range,” said Mr Chinnappa.

“The T60 will provide Australia ute buyers with a highly competitive new choice, whether they are looking for a working ute or a recreational family vehicle.”

Visually, the higher-grade T60 will get chrome grille, side steps, alloy wheels, roof rails, tow hooks and a sports bar.

Built on the same all-new platform as the T60, a large SUV based on the D90 concept is expected to join the ute in Australia by next year.