- Prototypes of the Maxus/LDV Terron 9 began validation testing in Australia.
- The diesel-powered truck will join the fully electric Maxus/LDV eTerron 9 in 2025.
- The Terron 9 is larger than the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux midsize trucks.
Maxus is gearing up for the debut of the Terron 9 pickup, the diesel version of the fully electric eTerron 9. Prototypes of the Chinese truck have started validation testing in Australia, ahead of the local market launch in mid-2025.
The SAIC-owned brand published photos of lightly camouflaged prototypes, but the final design has already surfaced in China before the official debut.
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The Maxus Terron 9, which is sold under the LDV brand Down Under, features unique styling compared to its EV counterpart. The biggest difference is the redesigned face, sporting unique LED headlights, and a massive grille. The profile appears to be identical to the eTerron 9, but the tail loses the full-width LED strip for a more conventional truck look.
The Terron 9 measures 5,500 mm (216.5 inches) long, 1,997 mm (78.6 inches) wide, and 1,860 mm (73.2 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 3,300 mm (129.9 inches). This makes it bigger than your average midsize truck including the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Hilux, similar to the BYD Shark PHEV.
Compared to the Maxus/LDV T60 stablemate, the Terron 9 is 110 mm (4.3 inches) longer, 97 mm (3.8 inches) wider, and 41 mm (1.6 inches) taller, with an extra 125 mm (4.9 inches) between the axles.
LDV Terron 9
The company didn’t reveal the specifications of the ladder-frame truck at this stage. However, documents from China suggest it will be powered by a 2.5-liter turbodiesel producing 220 hp (164 kW / 223 PS). For comparison, the fully electric eTerron 9 makes 436 hp (325 kW / 442 PS) from a dual-motor AWD setup. The four-cylinder diesel will be mated to an eight-speed automatic, sending power to the rear or all four wheels.
Pricing of the LDV Terron 9 will be announced closer to its Australian market launch, which is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025. Besides the Terron 9 and e-Terron 9, LDV will continue offering the slightly smaller T60 and e-T60 in the same market. Elsewhere, Maxus also offers the larger T90 pickup, which is also available in ICE and EV forms.
The SAIC-owned MG brand recently confirmed plans for a new pickup offering. While high-ranked officials didn’t get into details, the Maxus/LDV Terron 9 sounds like a great candidate for a future MG-branded version that will also be offered in Australia.
LDV Terron 9 and eTerron 9
