The Maxus GST quad-motor concept from LDV parent company SAIC Motor is reaching production, and will lead a new brand or sub-brand called Interstellar.
According to reports from Chinese stores such as China Car NewsProduction GST will be rolled out in 2024 as a global model.
The brand itself will be officially launched on 3 July 2023 and in typical confusing Chinese car fashion, will be applied to existing LDV/Maxus ute models.
Unveiled at this year’s Shanghai motor show, the Maxus GST features body-on-frame construction and a four-wheel-drive powertrain with a power output of 746kW (1000hp) and a claimed peak torque output of 14,000Nm, good for a 0-100km/h time of around three moment.
According to the company’s translated press release, its semi-solid state battery – which features a cell-to-chassis construction – provides a concept range of 1000km.
The V2L 11kW function allows you to turn on small appliances.
It also has a tank roll function, as well as air suspension, a claimed 400mm of suspension travel, 12 terrain modes and what Maxus calls an all-terrain automatic escape function.
The latter, according to a press release, uses sensors to scan the terrain and establish a distance of 50m in front of the vehicle.
It is not clear whether the less powerful variants with less range will join the GST range in the future.
The GST features a new design language for the brand, which the company calls the “new electric shield”.
Chinese automakers have of late adopted a chatty, boxy design language – BYD’s Yangwang U8 and Fang Cheng Bao SUVs and Chery’s Jetour Traveler are examples – while also launching more utes as the format gains acceptance and is allowed to drive across the country. country
Inside, there are more design elements that are proving popular with the Chinese brand at the moment, including the steering yoke and pillar-to-pillar screen assembly.
The coach doors and lack of B-pillars are more like a concept car, but so is the presence of front passenger seats that can be turned to face the rear passengers. These elements seem most likely to be lost in the translation to the production vehicle.
The barrier separating the tub and cabin can also be opened, and the rear seat can rotate 180 degrees and slide all the way to the rear door – perfect for fishing, says Maxus.
The company already offers an electric ute, the eT60, which last year became Australia’s first electric ute from the well-known automaker.
However, the eT60 is simply an electric version of an existing combustion-powered model rather than a clean vehicle like the GMC Hummer EV or a revamped ICE model like the Ford F-150 Lightning.