LDV

Chinese car makers continue to defy the downward trend in Australia’s new-car market, with latest figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries showing a 36 per cent increase in the first five months of this year versus the same period in 2019. That’s bucking the current trend where new car sales have taken a hammering thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting recession.

Chinese carmaker LDV has introduced a twin-turbocharged diesel engine option for its seven-seater D90 large SUV, claiming the flagship position for the model. The new powertrain option will be offered on D90 Executive trim with a price tag of $47,990 drive-away – a $4000 premium over the D90 Executive 4WD petrol’s $43,990 drive-away asking price. The new diesel unit marks the Chinese manufacturer's first in-house-designed engine.

The budget-priced LDV T60 ute will soon be available with a long-wheelbase option that will give it one of the biggest trays in the class. Unlike the recently announced Volkswagen Amarok local conversion kit – available in XL and XXL sizes – the LDV T60 long wheelbase is made on the Chinese production line and arrives in Australian showrooms ready to roll.

China’s LDV, which has been making some progress in Australia with the T60 dual-cab ute, budget G10 van and (less so) D90 SUV under independent distributor Ateco, is poised for major expansion into various vehicle segments and every variety of electrification. The infant (11-year old) company, part of the sprawling government-owned SAIC Motor group of Shanghai, also has startlingly ambitious plans to grow annual sales from 84,000 to 4 million, albeit over a rather elusive timeline.

LDV has announced a limited-edition, higher-grade 'Executive' trim for its G10 people-mover, priced from $36,990 drive away. Power in the Executive comes from the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine as the regular G10, making 165kW and 330Nm. You also get the same six-speed ZF automatic transmission as before too, putting power to the front wheels.