The updated Maxus T70 unveiled at this year’s Beijing Motor Show could be a preview of a second facelift for the LDV T60.
The updated version is more than just a cosmetic treat, it also features a new turbo-diesel engine, and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant is on the way.
LDV Australia declined to comment on the chances of the updated rate for our market.
It’s unclear whether the PHEV will be offered in Australia, where it will go up against models like the BYD Shark 6 and the upcoming GWM Cannon Hi4-T, but the diesel T60/T70 could be another 12 to 18 months away if earlier local launch times are any indication.
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Although the T60 is now 10 years old, it has been updated throughout its service and LDV Australia has previously stated its intention to continue offering an affordable ute range.
“The automotive market is highly competitive in Australia and we remain committed to offering customers a range of vehicles at the value end of the segment,” LDV Australia Managing Director Dinesh Chinnappa said in February 2025.
The updated T70 is an upgrade to the larger Terron 9’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, producing 165 kW of power and 520 Nm of torque, and is mated to a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.
That power is 5 kW and 20 Nm higher than the 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine in the existing T60, which is offered exclusively in Australia with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Maxus, as LDV is known in China, has not yet released specifications for the upcoming T70 PHEV. However, during a presentation at the Beijing Motor Show, it said it had developed a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a mechanical all-wheel drive system and a total system power of 330 kW and 800 Nm.
Externally, the T70 has received a nose job, but not much else. There are more squared-off lighting elements up front, plus a larger grille and a slightly more sculpted hood.
There is a more extensive update. Instead of a 10.25-inch touchscreen or dual 12.3-inch screens as in the current Australian market T60, there’s a larger, free-standing 12.8-inch touchscreen with a row of physical switchgear underneath, as well as a smaller free-standing digital instrument cluster.
The T70 also ditches the two different center console designs of the current T60 in favor of a more conventional, flush arrangement that incorporates the aircraft-style gear selector from the MG U9. A wireless charging pad sits at the base of the minimalist center console.
The interior is available in black or with orange upholstery for the seats and dashboard.
The T60 was launched here in 2017 and the latest facelift was released in Australia in late 2021, bringing not only new front-end styling but also a revised interior and a more powerful engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Since then, the budget has continued to be upgraded.
A new dashboard design arrived in 2024, along with more safety equipment and multi-link rear suspension for some variants, while in 2025 the T60’s braked towing capacity was upgraded.
The T60 is LDV’s biggest seller in Australia, with 4320 units reaching Australian customers in 2025. That includes just 19 units of the slow-selling electric eT60.
Midway through last year, LDV introduced the Terron 9 as a new, larger double cab positioned above the T60.
So far this year the T60 is outselling its new big brother, with 1071 units sold through the end of April, compared to 470 Terron 9s in the same period.
Just like the T60/T70, a preview of the Terron 9 was also shown in China with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
MORE: Explore the LDV T60 showroom
