Chinese ‘Interstellar’ electric ute brand to launch in weeks, previewed by hard-core 746kW dual-cab EV
Australia’s first electric ute, the LDV eT60, was widely criticised for its half-baked execution and lofty $93K price tag, but the Chinese brand is set to make amends with an entirely new, high-performance EV ute set to wear Interstellar badges.
According to at least one Chinese media report, the new Interstellar pick-up truck brand will be officially launched by Maxus (as LDV is known in its domestic market) on July 3, when it could reveal the successor for the LDV eT60 – as previewed by the wild 1000hp, RAM 1500 TRX-slaying Maxus GST concept at this year’s Shanghai motor show.
CarNewsChina.com reports that Interstellar will launch a mass-production version of the GST ute concept in 2024, followed by another high-end pure-electric pick-up.
Documents filed to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) have confirmed the new Interstellar branding, along with an image of the interior – which looks a lot like that of the GST concept’s – and the existence of two different models, measuring a very long 5365mm and 5680mm overall.
That could mean one model will target the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, as is the case with the current LDV T60 ute, and the second will be a full-size pick-up to rival the likes of the RAM 1500, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra.
The crowning glory of the new Interstellar pick-up brand is expected be an all-new dedicated electric ute, but it’s not clear whether it will have the same 1000km-plus range and 1000Nm-plus torque output of the Maxus GST concept, courtesy of a semi-solid-state battery and four electric motors respectively.
However, the brand launch aligns with intel revealed by LDV Australia general manager Dinesh Chinnappa in late 2022.
“A completely new [LDV] pick-up range is not that far off and I’m confident that they are developing two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions of that vehicle,” he said, all but confirming the new LDV ute will be an EV.
“Maybe the next-generation ute is more about EV capability than it is about ICE capability,” said the LDV Australia boss, adding that he’d “rather see them make advances in that [EV] space”.
“My preference would be that they get that part of the equation right and focus on it,” he said.
The local LDV chief clarified that the next-generation utes will have better towing, off-roading and range capabilities, remedying the limitations of the LDV’s existing rear-drive eT60 dual-cab ute.
“I think the next-generation utes will address largely some of those core issues,” he said.
The giant state-owned Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation’s new Interstellar ute brand could be likened to Radar, the new electric ute marque recently launched by Volvo’s parent company Geely.
If the first Interstellar ute is inspired by the Maxus GST dual-cab ute concept revealed at the Shanghai show in April, it will be a Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV-like juggernaut.
Powered by four e-motors generating a RAM 1500 TRX-slaying 746kW and 1120Nm of torque, the Maxus GST is capable of accelerating to 100km/h in around three seconds.
It can also execute a 360-degree on-the-spot spin – or ‘tank turn’ – and will feature vehicle-to-load (V2L) powerpoints to run major electrical appliances or charge other EVs.
There are several other innovative features that could make the transition to production.
The panel between the ute’s tub and the cabin can be opened, for example, allowing the rear seats to slide towards the tailgate and then rotated 180-degrees for fishing. It would also make a great camera truck from which to shoot carsales YouTube videos.
The front passenger seat can swivel 180-degrees too, and the electric ute concept incorporated a yoke instead of a steering wheel – not unlike what Tesla offers in some vehicles overseas – plus a huge amount of LCD screen real estate, advanced smartphone connectivity and barn-style side doors to improve access to the cabin.
Given the Chinese showroom arrival for the next-gen ute is reportedly set for 2024, the new Interstellar electric ute is expected to arrive in Australia about a year later, but it could land here much sooner given LDV Australia’s input into the new pick-up.
“A year and a half ago they [SAIC] came to us and they said ‘tell us what your dream next-gen ute looks like, what do Australians want?’. We spent a month prepping a paper for them,” said Chinnappa.
At this stage it’s unclear whether the new utes will wear LDV or Interstellar badges in Australia, but stay tuned for more details.
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Keyword: Next-gen LDV eT60 ute reveal imminent