LDV T60 safety claims "misleading"

When the new LDV T60 ute launches in Australia in September, it will offer six airbags, stability control, lane departure warning a high-strength steel passenger safety cell.

And, despite the fact it's yet to be crash-tested by any independent safety body including the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), promotional material obtained by motoring.com.au also claims the Chinese-built dual-cab ute will come with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The brochure is misleading says ANCAP, which recently warned consumers to be wary of manufacturer safety claims before vehicles are assessed and this week announced a below-average two-star safety rating for Great Wall's new Steed ute, despite being spruiked as a very safe vehicle.

"The LDV T60 ute hasn't been tested by ANCAP yet," said ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin, who told motoring.com.au the LDV brochure was "misleading for consumers".

The Chinese company clearly assumed it was OK to publicise an ANCAP safety rating before it was evaluated, but ANCAP told motoring.com.au that LDV, which is known in China as Maxus, was not given clearance to do so.

Goodwin said he was surprised to see the official logo and five-star rating in the promotional brochure and motoring.com.au understands ANCAP has been in contact with LDV regarding the claim.

"They need to be aware they cannot make claims like these," added Goodwin, who confirmed the T60 ute will be tested by ANCAP later in 2017.

Australian LDV importer Ateco Automotive says SAIC, China's largest car-maker and parent company of LDV/Maxus and MG, is targeting a five-star safety rating for the T60.

Presumably it will do the same for the T60 ute's sister model, the D90 SUV, which made its world debut at the Shanghai motor show last week and also goes on sale in Australia by the end of this year.

LDV used the Shanghai show to reveal hard-core concept versions of both vehicles, including the "Outback-ready" T60 Off Road Concept (pictured) and an Antarctic-ready D90 show car complete with all-terrain track system.

Full Australian details including pricing are yet to be revealed for either model, but the seven-seat D90 wagon will launch here with a turbo-petrol engine, six-speed automatic transmission, two equipment grades and "a full range of advanced safety and communications features", with an all-new turbo-diesel to join the range within 12 months.

The new models will join Australia's LDV range which opens with the G10 one-tonne van and people-mover, which is now available with petrol and diesel power. Manual and automatic transmissions are also offered and are priced from $25,990 drive-away, and the V80 van and people-mover from $30,490 drive-away.