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LDV shakes things up with four new cars arriving in 2025
LDV is one of the quieter Chinese manufacturers in South Africa. It's been around for more than a year, and unlike many familiar Chinese brands, its sole offering has been a bakkie. We received an invitation to reacquaint ourselves with the T60 through a trip to the Drakensberg, only that wasn't the only item on the agenda. Despite LDV's slower entry into the market, they are about to make some noise with the arrival of four new and rather impressive offerings towards the end of 2025 and two further models that are due in 2026.
Last year, we took the T60 Max to Botswana, where we discovered that this brand makes use of some pretty punchy engines, which are made by the Italian engine builder VM Motori. We were impressed by its strong acceleration from a standstill and ability to pick up speed for highway overtaking, and we quickly realised it was a force to be reckoned with if we ignored its older quirks. This time around, the power remained its big bargaining chip on the open road, and it was rather exciting through the corners too, but the less refined steering feel and older interior left some room to be desired.
Ahead of our mountainous excursion, I was concerned that this bakkie is too old to be presented to the media, as it's a model that many of our industry colleagues are already familiar with. But my fears were quashed when we sat down to look at the real topic at hand. What's to come from LDV in the next year? On paper, it's looking pretty good.
The long-awaited D90 SUV is almost here, but we don't have a launch date yet. It offers a similar powertrain to the T60 Max with 160kW and 500Nm, four-wheel drive, and an automatic transmission. It will also have three locking differentials and a strong off-road focus, while the interior will be more modern and tech-savvy than what we saw in the T60, which was my main complaint, so there is hope that these new models will fix the unrefined steering feel and dated interior gremlins.
Additionally, LDV intends to introduce two panel vans to the market. They're called the Deliver 9 and Deliver G10+, and both are designed for high load capacities in the secure confines of a body. The Deliver 9 is the larger van, which will compete with the likes of the Mercedes Sprinter and VW Transporter. Its large dimensions offer impressive load capacity, but its power figures are a touch on the low side. Producing 108kW and 375Nm from its turbodiesel engine, it may struggle to keep up on the open road, but it will likely offer more frugal consumption and brilliant short-distance or around-town capability.
The Deliver G10+ is similar in size to the Ford Transit Custom and offers a more potent diesel-powered 118kW and 375Nm compared to the Transit Custom's 100kW and 360Nm. LDV will offer an automatic and manual transmission in the G10+ and is positioning it towards emergency response companies in need of new ambulances and delivery companies. The brand further claimed that these models will be priced aggressively and will undercut most of their closest competitors.
With the BYD Shark making a heck of a noise on social media at the moment, LDV's last model to arrive in 2025 is the Terron 9, which is the most exciting upcoming model. It’s a lifestyle-forward bakkie with a greater emphasis on ride quality and a premium cabin experience. It comes with two power options: a 2.5-litre turbodiesel configuration that produces 164kW, while it will also be offered as a full EV model that produces 325kW and 700Nm of torque. Those are numbers that will take the fight to the BYD Shark and the Ford Raptor, so it has our interest piqued.
The brand also revealed what is in the works for 2026, which includes two new models with a city-focused angle. The first is called the D60 and is a midsize SUV with less of an off-road focus than other models in its portfolio. The second is an MPV called the Mifa. Right now, there is no further information on the brand’s 2026 products, but it is good to see that it's diversifying its offerings.
LDV isn’t a brand-new name in the South African market, but it isn’t an overly recognisable brand either, at least for now. At this time, LDV only sells its T60 in its Elite, Pro, and Max specs, and it does feel a little old. However, the brand has mentioned that there is a facelift that will be coming soon, so we are expecting a higher level of tech and luxury in these upcoming models.
As far as Chinese manufacturers go, LDV approaches our market with a more diverse selection of vehicles, from bakkies to vans and SUVs. It's a nice change of pace from the SUV-focused Chinese offerings, and if marketed well, it may have the more established Chinese brands in its sights in the very near future.
