Bigger and brawnier than the T60, the Terron T9 could well cost more too - it’s landing in diesel, but interest in the electric is sought.

AN LDV dual cab utility that sits solidly above the make’s current T60 offering has been signed up for introduction, but just in diesel for now.

Pricing and specification detail for the Terron 9 has yet to be shared, but the Auckland-based national distributor says it will launch with the 163kW/520Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel.

The new ute being physically larger and more advanced than the T60 one-tonne ute lends every chance that it will cost more than that aged product, which sites from $34,990 to $67,990, the latter for a special edition Traverse.

Terron 9 is built in rear-drive and all-wheel-drive formats; so far only the latter has been mentioned.

Announcement today about an example being set to debut at the Mystery Creek Fieldays on June 11-14 came with images of a version in what appears to be the flagship dual cab trim.

But the brand provided generic press images so what is seen here is potentially not the actual example that will be shown on the stand.

In response to questions today, Inchcape NZ general manager Kym Mellow said pricing detail will be shared from the Fieldays stand on June 11. He asserted: ‘The Terron 9 stands larger than many of the market’s best-known utes and joins LDV’s popular T60 line-up, giving tradies, tourers and tow-happy drivers more choice than ever.”

LDV NZ first acknowledged its interest in Terron 9 last year and has been trialling a diesel since. It confirmed the type’s 2025 introduction at an event in December, dedicated to showing off the T60 Max Plus.

Inchcape New Zealand says it is still considering the fully electric Terron (above), and is encouraging anyone interested in taking the type in its battery format to get in touch.

The electric model is markedly more advanced than the eT60, which has fluctuated wildly in price, dropping to $49,900 on clearance (so, $30k below original RRP); with superior performance and range, four-wheel-drive as an option to the rear-drive the eT60 delivers with and proper towing credibility.

Like the diesel it will haul 3.5-tonnes. The eT60 is limited to a piddling 1500kg. Terron 9 also sports a much greater payload (one tonne, against 750kg).

However it formats, Terron 9 is set to ultimately face competition here from a doppelgänger. Sister brand MG has determined to bring in, before year-end, the same product behind its own badge, as the U9.

The single motor Terron 9 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 0-100kmh 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.

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 in 2023 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 sets it up to be 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 T60, but also 130mm longer overall, 79mm wider and 30mm longer in wheelbase than a Ford Ranger Sport, albeit 26mm lower.

Air suspension – with a multi-link rear suspension design – is availed to the top-end Terron in China, 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.