Chinese language-owned carmaker MG appears to be like to be nearer to formally unveiling a brand new ute, and its upcoming dual-cab could possibly be the one which lastly involves Australia.
CarNewsChina shared a photograph of what’s badged because the MG P9 on the again of a tow truck in China, lacking its rear bumper however in any other case being a whole car.
If it appears to be like acquainted, that’s as a result of it’s a rebadged model of the Maxus Star X, which has already been confirmed to be bought in Australia because the LDV Terron 9.
Whereas MG and LDV are each owned by the identical father or mother firm, SAIC Motor, they function individually in Australia. MG distributes its personal automobiles, whereas LDV is distributed by Ateco.
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MG Motor Australia has been vocal about its ambitions to have a ute on sale in Australia, suggesting it’s vital in its plans to be one of many best-selling manufacturers.
“In Australia, with no ute, you’ll by no means get an opportunity to face on the highest three,” MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao informed CarExpert final month.
The corporate’s chief industrial officer Giles Belcher added: “Our plan is to be prime 5 by the top of 2027 and prime three by the top of 2030. You may’t do it with no ute, so join the dots”.
Whereas MG already has a ute on sale in Thailand, the Extender, this can be a rebadged LDV T60, and has been dominated out from Australia.
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LDV Terron 9 and eTerron 9
MG is not any stranger to promoting rebadging SAIC Motor merchandise accessible globally on the market in Australia, nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not it will be pleased promoting a car which is already on sale with one other badge regionally.
“We assess many, many components. Our father or mother firm is large, completely different manufacturers, large product vary,” mentioned Mr Belcher in November.
“We assess every part by itself deserves and if we expect it fits the Australian market, then we are going to do our greatest to get that product.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a selected section we rule out, it’s only a matter of what merchandise our father or mother firm is creating or has, after which we’ll assess that product for Australia by itself deserves.”
A rebadged Maxus Star X/LDV Terron 9 may mount a powerful case for MG in Australia.
Authorities approval paperwork have proven the Terron 9 can be supplied in Australia with a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine producing 164kW of energy.
CarNewsChina studies this engine can produce as much as 520Nm and drive both the rear or all 4 wheels by way of an eight-speed computerized transmission.
The Terron 9 measures 5500mm lengthy, 1997mm extensive and 1860mm tall on a 3300mm wheelbase, with 220mm of working clearance.
It’s additionally accessible as an electrical car (EV), badged because the eTerron 9, which incorporates a barely revised entrance design.
Each single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor four-wheel drive layouts have been accepted on the market in Australia, creating 200kW and 325kW respectively,
The eTerron 9’s electrical motors are fed by a 102kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which may present as much as 430km of claimed driving vary primarily based on the WLTP check cycle within the dual-motor variant.
If MG was to deliver the P9 to Australia, it will be part of one of the crucial aggressive and high-volume segments within the new car market.
Between January and November 2024, utes accounted for nearly 19 per cent of all new car gross sales, break up between 11 manufacturers.
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