Maxus has debuted the UK’s first all-wheel-drive fully electric pickup at this year’s IAA Transportation in Hanover.
The new eTerron 9 spearheads a comprehensive model offensive for Maxus, part of China’s SAIC Group, and “provides a foretaste”.
The successor to the rear-wheel-drive only T90 pickup, the AWD eTerron 9 will mix high versatility with electric drive and up to 267 miles (430km) of range.
The dual-motor set-up combines a 170hp motor at the front and a 272hp at the rear axle, giving a combined 442hp of power along with claimed strong off-road performance.
The 102kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery has been designed to minimise space requirements and increase capacity and safety. It’s able to charge at up 115kW DC, giving a 20 to 80% recharge in around 40 minutes.
The eTerron 9 also comes with vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality as standard, transforming it into a rolling ‘power bank’ for external devices. In addition to several 2.2kW sockets in the front trunk and on the pickup bed, there is also an external 6.6kW connection.
The eTerron 9 is 5.5m long in total. If longer objects need to be transported, the rear wall of the driver’s cab can be lowered at the touch of a button. This creates a loading area up to 2.4m in length. Payload stands at 620kg, meaning it’s treated as a car rather than a commercial vehicle for tax purposes, although Maxus has said it’s working on this, and it’s able to tow up to 3,500kg.
A 236-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet provides space for luggage and can be used as a two-seat space when camping. The two front seats can also be reclined quickly to create an almost flat sleeping area that’s 170cm long, further supporting the vehicle’s case as “the perfect companion for commercial customers and private individuals with an active lifestyle”.
Maxus also promises car-like levels of comfort and equipment that include leather upholstery and an eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with ventilation and a massage function. The cabin is also equipped with 20 different storage compartments and the bonnet hood and tailgate can be opened electrically.
The semi-monocoque body combines the advantages of unibody construction and a ladder frame for “exceptional driving stability and a high level of comfort”. The eTerron 9 also features multi-link rear suspension with air suspension that automatically adjusts the vehicle height to suit conditions. In Easy Load mode, the loading area can be lowered by 60mm.
The All-Terrain System (ATS) spans six preset driving modes, ranging from Normal to Mud and Sand, and customers can adapt steering, engine power and stability control, as well as the energy recovery and the height of the standard air suspension, to personal preferences. More than 400 different combinations are possible.
UK orders open in October and deliveries are expected in January 2025. Prices and full specifications are yet to be announced.
