LDV T60 Bull Demon King busts out

The Chinese tough-truck movement is accelerating and for proof look no further than the Bull Demon King, based on the LDV T60 Max dual-cab 4x4 ute.

What’s more, the heavily modified off-road pick-up is being seriously considered for Australian release by local importer Ateco Automotive – but don’t expect the Bull Demon King name to make the journey Down Under if it does get the green light.

An LDV Automotive spokesman told carsales the new tough truck, which wears SAIC Maxus T90 badges in China and was launched at the 2021 Guangzhou motor show earlier this month, is being looked at for Australia.

“We’re aware of future products and variants from overseas and we’ll keep a watching brief,” he said, adding that the focus is still on the facelifted T60 Max ute launched earlier this month.

The SAIC Maxus T90 ute sold in China is essentially identical to the Australian-market LDV T60.

The Bull Demon King is powered by the same grunty 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder (160kW/500Nm) as the recently-released LDV T60 Max, paired with a dual-range transfer case including low-range and off-road settings.

Boasting rugged but futuristic visuals, the rough-and-ready LDV T60 Bull Demon King reportedly features nitrogen-filled shock absorbers like the Ford Ranger Raptor, which would deliver more consistent compression and rebound rates than regular dampers.

LDV T60 Max Review

Other features include a wider track accommodated by bolt-on wheel-arch extensions shrouding Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tyres. The redesigned front bumper features a blacked-out grille, new fog lights and built-in winch and recovery hooks.

A beefy bonnet scoop and custom roof racks with in-built LED light bar are also new, along with rock-sliding side steps.

At the rear the top-spec LDV T60 tough truck gets a sailplane-type sports bar complete with Baja-style spare tyre, grab handles along the tray sides and a new-look rear bumper with tow bar.

The cabin design is at odds with the butch exterior, featuring a conservative, high-end luxury-car look and feel, with dual digital screens and acres of red leather.

If the mud-slinging Bull Demon King gets the green light for sale in Australia it would almost certainly adopt the LDV T60 Trailrider name, given that model already has brand equity here.

The LDV T60 ute has proved popular with Aussie buyers, with 5648 examples of the dual-cab 4x4 ute sold in Australia to the end of October 2021 – up more than 46 per cent on last year’s tally in the same period.

Pricing for the LDV T60 ute in Australia starts at $33,990 drive-away, making it one of the most affordable pick-ups in its class.

Chinese media are reporting a price of around 250,000 RMB for the SAIC Maxus T90 Bull Demon King, which equates to around $55,000 in Australia.