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An MG-badged version of the SAIC Motor Maxus Interstellar – to be sold locally as the LDV Terron 9 – has been spotted in China, seemingly giving us a first look at the incoming MG ute.
Pictured on the back of a tow truck by CarNewsChina, the MG bears all the hallmarks of the tough-as-nails LDV version, with its boxy design, large proportions and stretched tailgate light bar.
Though it’s the first time we’ve seen it with a metallic blue colour scheme or multi-spoke black rims, let alone an MG badge.
At this stage its unclear how an MG ute will take shape for Australia, but we do know one is coming after MG’s local boss Peter Ciao confirmed the news to CarsGuide last month with a straightforward “yes” answer.
It will invariably share similarities to the LDV given both models sit under the umbrella of SAIC Motor. LDV’s current ute on sale, the T60, is already sold in some markets as an MG Extender.
But whether that means MG adopts an identical powertrain to the LDV Terron 9 is unclear for now, particularly after Ciao confirmed an MG ute would be tailored to its customer base.
“LDV and MG both belong to SAIC Motors, 100 per cent…we will share lots of product resources. But MG Ute will focus on how to fit the MG type of customer,” Ciao said.
MG has ambitions to climb the sales charts and become a top three brand in Australia, while LDV tends to focus on fleet sales. This divide is likely to see MG punch upmarket at the Volkswagen Amarok Aventura and Ford Ranger Platinum. Expect hybrid and electric power to feature more prominently on MG's product, too.
On the topic of a potential ute powertrain, Ciao told CarsGuide, "SAIC Motors, the whole group, we have all the tech solutions…we can do everything, we can do everything already.”
CarsGuide has contacted MG for further clarification on what that means for an MG ute. This story will be updated if MG responds.
For now, though, we know that the LDV Terron 9 will arrive next year with the choice of both diesel and electric powertrains, with the electric version to be known as the eTerron 9.
The diesel-powered version will carry a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine, good for 163kW of power, with power being sent to either two or four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Two payloads have been confirmed by LDV, 3200kg and 3500kg, with the latter all but confirmed for the four-wheel drive.
The electric version's battery pack is yet to be officially confirmed by LDV, though it's likely to adopt the 102kWh unit sold in China, which is a step up from the 88kWh battery pack sold on the brand’s first electric ute, the eT60.
It will run a dual-motor, four-wheel drive set up, good for 325kW and 430km WLTP-rated driving range.
Homologation filings have also revealed payloads for electric and diesel guises will range from an impressive 979kg to 1329kg, though nothing has been publicly confirmed yet.
Pricing is expected closer to the ute's official release in the first half of 2025.
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