Australia's new most powerful four-cylinder dual-cab ute! 2022 LDV T60 to hammer Toyota HiLux and rattle Ford Ranger with harder-hitting twin-turbo engine

LDV Australia is about to reset the four-cylinder benchmark for dual-cab utes, with the facelifted T60 set to launch in the coming months with a new twin-turbo engine that will outpower the best-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

As reported, the T60’s facelift was previewed in March by the Chinese-market Maxus T90, but now it’s been revealed in New Zealand with the appropriate badging and some key details.

Across the ditch, the facelifted T60 is headlined by a new 160kW/480Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder engine, which puts it ahead of the most potent HiLux (150kW/500Nm) and Ranger (157kW/500Nm) units on power but not torque.

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That said, it’s worth noting the Australian government’s Road Vehicle Certification System (RVCS) lists the locally homologated version as instead producing 158.5kW of power at 4000pm, while its torque is unlisted.

Either way, the T60 is about to become Australia’s most powerful four-cylinder dual-cab ute, with the overall segment honour still going to the Volkswagen Amarok and its 200kW/580Nm 3.0-litre single-turbo diesel V6.

The facelifted T60 will be identified by its new steering wheel, gear selector and centre stack.

The T60’s new engine is mated to a standard four-wheel-drive (4x4) system and one of two transmission options: a six-speed manual or a ZF-sourced eight-speed torque-converter automatic.

For reference, the pre-facelift T60 4x4 is currently offered with a 110kW/360Nm 2.8-litre and 120kW/375Nm 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel four-cylinder engines with six-speed transmission options. The latter is expected to return in more affordable variants.

According to the RVCS, regular and Mega Tub versions of the T60’s facelift will be available, with the former measuring 5365mm long (with a 3155mm wheelbase), while the latter is 315mm longer, partially thanks to a 215mm increase in wheelbase length.

A heavy-duty variant of the regular model will also be offered, with it giving buyers a 150kg increase in Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), at 3050kg, over other versions. Either way, braked towing capacity will be 3000kg.

The facelifted T60 will be identified by its heavily redesigned front fascia and prominent tailgate decal as well as its new steering wheel, gear selector and centre stack, with the latter including widescreen touchscreen and capacitive climate controls.