2027 LDV T60 nears Australia with tougher styling, more powerful engine

The updated, more powerful LDV T60 ute that debuted at the Beijing motor show in April is one step closer to a local launch.

The refreshed T60 – or Maxus T70, as it’s known in China – features revised styling inside and out, plus a larger and more powerful turbo-diesel engine, and has now appeared in Australian Government certification documents.

While the updated T60’s appearance in these documents doesn’t confirm it’s coming, should it indeed be released in Australia it could arrive here late in 2026 or early in 2027.

LDV Australia has been contacted for comment.

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The documents list two short-wheelbase variants plus a long-wheelbase variant, all of which are powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine borrowed from the larger Terron 9.

This produces 163.5kW of power and, while a torque figure isn’t listed, the Chinese-market T70 produces 520Nm – the latter up 20Nm on the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel four in the current T60.

An eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive remain standard, and there continues to be a choice of leaf-spring or multi-link rear suspension.

The braked towing capacity remains at 3500kg, while payload ranges from 1073kg to 1093kg.

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain confirmed at Beijing doesn’t appear in these documents, though LDV Australia has previously said a PHEV ute would be “a great addition to our portfolio of vehicles” if it “were to become available for the Australian market and it suited local capability requirements”.

In addition to the T70 PHEV, LDV/Maxus also confirmed a PHEV version of the larger Terron 9 in Beijing.

The brand has yet to release any specifications for the upcoming T70 PHEV. However, at a presentation at the Beijing motor show, it said it had developed a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a mechanical four-wheel drive system and total system outputs of 330kW and 800Nm.

While the T60 is now 10 years old, it has been updated during its run and LDV Australia has previously indicated it wants to continue a two-prong strategy in the ute market.

“The ute 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 general manager Dinesh Chinnappa said in February 2025.

Externally, the T70 has received a nose job but not much else. There are more squared-off lighting elements up front, plus a taller grille and what appears to be a more sculpted bonnet.

There’s been a more comprehensive update inside. Instead of a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen or dual 12.3-inch displays 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 centre console designs of the current T60 in favour of a more conventional, flat setup which incorporates the airplane-like gear shifter from the MG U9, which is related to the Terron 9. A wireless phone charging pad sits at the base of the minimalist centre stack.

The interior can be had in black or with orange upholstery for the seating surfaces and dash.

The T60 was launched here in 2017 and its last facelift was released in Australia late in 2021, bringing not only new front-end styling but also a revised interior and a more powerful engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

A new dashboard design arrived in 2024 alongside more safety equipment and multi-link rear suspension for some variants, while 2025 brought an upgrade to the T60’s braked towing capacity.

The T60 is LDV’s biggest seller in Australia, with 4320 examples reaching local customers in 2025. That included just 19 examples of the slow-selling electric eT60. Midway through last year, LDV introduced the Terron 9 as a new, larger dual-cab to slot in above the T60.

MORE: Explore the LDV T60 showroom