Towing

The LDV D90 large off-road SUV has been on sale in Australia since 2017 and this week, a pair of new-look models wearing D90 badges were spotted by CarsGuide at local importer Ateco's Sydney headquarters, adding fuel to the fire that a new model is on the way.In China, the D90's replacement is known as the Maxus Territory – which, naturally, wouldn’t fly here – and was released back in 2022. It gives us an indication of what to expect from a new D90. An Ateco spokesperson declined to comment on whether there is a new model on the way. There have also been no updates for the LDV D90 registered in local compliance documents, either. However, the fact that three of the same model were parked together wearing full NSW registration suggests there is an update coming for the affordable Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Ford Everest and Toyota Prado competitor. Compared to the current model, the new Maxus Territory has a larger, squared-off grille with individual black blocks – the brand refers to as ‘Warframe aesthetics’ on the related Interstellar ute – a jutting lower valance and chunkier wheel arches.There’s a lot more interesting detail with the graphics, certainly on some trims, and a black top section of the tailgate. The vehicles we spotted looked just like the Maxus, though had been 'LDV-ified' with the MAXUS and Territory badges replaced with LDV and D90 items for our market.Many of the oily bits appear to be unchanged for the new model including the eight-speed automatic. Like the current vehicle, it uses a 2.0-litre twin turbo-diesel four-cylinder producing 160kW, though it is paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system in China and torque is quoted at 500Nm – up 20Nm. A part-time 4WD system is available and the vehicles we saw were badged '4WD'. In China, the Territory/D90 is available with front, rear and centre locking differentials and a roof-mounted ‘snorkel’ air intake in certain trims. A 2500kg tow rating is quoted – down 600kg on the current Executive model. The new model Maxus Territory measures 39mm longer and a little wider yet stands at almost the same height and rides on an unchanged 2950mm wheelbase from the existing D90. Inside, the LDV D90 was already quite a way ahead of many rivals with big touchscreens and lots of tech. The new Maxus model gets a new 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, digital driver’s display, navigation and an ‘intelligent car system’.Further details, including Australian confirmation, arrival timing and pricing are yet to be confirmed by LDV’s importer Ateco.

The current Toyota HiLux has been on sale for close to 10 years and is nearing the end of its life.

Isuzu has revealed its much-anticipated facelifted MU-X off-road SUV in its defacto home market of Thailand.

Toyota is preparing to muster its big Tundra pick-up truck for sale in Australia.The company has been running a small trial with customers who’ve opted in to a $2500 a month “all costs covered” loan of the full-size ute that will go head-to-head with the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 and Ram 1500The Tundra is imported in left-hand drive and converted to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw, which used to apply their craft to fast Holdens, in Melbourne.Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley, said he is very optimistic the local arm will get approval to launch the car officially to the public soon.“We haven’t done all this not to launch it,” said Hanley.“We still have a way to go and a trial is a trial. It’s a trial not a PR stunt. We are correcting, finding . We want this Tundra to be as close to OE spec for our customers as we can get based on the local conversion.”Hanley indicated the trial had helped iron out any issues with the conversion process and quality problems with the vehicle before it goes on sale to the public.The famously conservative Japanese company may be on to something. Ford and its remanufacturing partner RMA Automotive have run into a mass of quality issues since it launched the F-150 late last year. This includes multiple stop sale orders to correct compliance issues and several recalls.Ford was even forced to dip into its own pocket to placate customers by giving a complimentary five year/75,000km service program to all affected F-150 customers.Toyota should have no such issues according to Hanley.“We are in contact with 189 customers pretty regularly,” said Hanley“Quality issues have been low. We’ve had a couple of things, some of them from donor vehicles and some relate back to warranty stuff, but nothing major.”“We’ve had a few little things in the conversion, again nothing major.“It’s proving to be a really good exercise for us because we are able to get these things fixed at Walkinshaw and re-evaluate what we are doing. “It is incredibly encouraging for us and looking more and more positive that we’ll get approval to launch this car in the near future,” he said.He wouldn’t confirm when the Tundra would be given the green light but Hanley suggested the company would have some news towards the end of the year.When it does arrive potential customers can expect some pretty impressive performance from the Tundra.It uses a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 hybrid set-up to make a combined 326kW and 790Nm. Those are big boy numbers.It can tow 4500kg in Australia. This was reduced from 5500kg in the US because Aussies would need a truck licence to drive it with that capability.Hanley said part of the trial was to educate people on what the car is capable of, and not.“One of the things we don’t want to portray is that the Tundra is a LandCruiser 70 Series off-road vehicle. It’s not, it’s not that truck,” he said.

Those holding out to order a new V8-power Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series are out of luck.Orders of the V8-powered version of the legendary tough truck have been paused for about two years and the chances of them opening are slim, according to Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley.“At this stage I have no clear vision of that order bank opening again anytime soon. We’ve still got a way to go to clear what we’ve got,” said Hanley.“So I don’t foresee that order bank for V8 LandCruiser 70 Series opening any time soon.”The good news, for those with an existing order, is the company is now starting to fill that large order bank.“We are filling the orders as we speak, which is good for customers that have been waiting and we expect to be able to fill those orders,” said Hanley.The Federal Government's impending New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which will come into effect next year, had put a shadow of doubt over these long-standing orders being filled.Under the NVES, carmakers will be fined for every vehicle they sell that produces CO2 over a certain level. This level gets lower and lower every year and an old V8 diesel motor will not meet this new standard.Toyota has brought in a new four-cylinder version to help prolong the life of the rugged four-wheel drive.This four-cylinder version uses the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel motor found in the HiLux and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.Hanley said at the time of the four-cylinder’s launch it would broaden its appeal even further, making it more accessible to a wider cross-section of customers than ever before.Now it appears customers will have no choice but to take the four-cylinder.Hanley indicated customers haven’t warmed to the smaller-engined 70 Series but he said the take-up rate for the four-cylinder was improving by the day.

The BYD Shark ute, which is expected to be released here by the end of this year, may not be the only dual-cab pick-up the company is preparing.

The influx of full-size utes from the USA has been a controversial development, with WWII American GI-style sentiment along the lines of ‘over-sized, over-priced and over-here’ summing up the negative commentary.

When I am towing my caravan, particularly using cruise control, in my 2015 Nissan X-Trail 1.6 DCI CVT, the gearbox changes down and sometimes the engine revs really high. I have to stop accelerating, at which point the engine goes back to normal. It’s almost like clutch slip if it were a manual.

I recently bought a caravan to tow behind my 2021 Isuzu MU-X. The weight of the van is 2150kg. The car kept changing down gears. It was so annoying having it do this. I wasn’t sure if I’d damage the car. I drove 400km with the car doing this. Is there something that can be done to my car to make it run better when towing?

The LS-M is the entry point to the 2024 MU-X range, sitting below the LS-M and LS-T models, and it’s now available with a smaller 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine, which lowers both your fuel use and towing capability.