Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
Exactly nine months after its corporate introduction and the launch of the G10 multipurpose vehicle and the V80 van in the country, Maxus Philippines unveiled the T60 4×2 Pro and 4×4 Elite pickups in Arcovia City along Eulogio Rodriguez Avenue in Pasig City. The T60 4×2 Pro and 4×4 Elite are the latest additions to the growing line-up of Maxus Philippines’ commercial vehicles.
Automobile Central Enterprise, Inc. President Felipe Estrella said during the program, ”On June 5, 2019, AC Motors, the automotive distribution and retail group of Ayala subsidiary AC Industrials, introduced locally the Maxus brand. From then on, the Filipino motorists got to know and experience Maxus’ 124 years of British heritage, British expertise and British excellence in the global commercial vehicle category. Moreover, the T60 pickup is produced by SAIC Motor which ranked among the top 10 automakers globally selling more than 7 million units in 2018. This is a testament to the global scale and acceptance of SAIC.”
The T60 is classified as a midsize pickup, and is the longest and widest in its class allowing varied requirements of cargo and passenger transport. The T60 is powered by a 2.8-liter diesel engine with Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Drive Mode Select that is mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission generating maximum power of 150Ps at 3,400rpm and maximum torque of 360Nm at 1,600-2,800rpm— sufficient push and pull for a pickup.
Standard features of the T60 include an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Mirrorlink, rear camera and rear sensors, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, rear air conditioning vents plus a wading depth of 800mm. The 4×4 Elite comes with the following additional features: LED headlamps and DRLs, Electronic Stabilisation Program, power driver seat adjustments, push-start ignition, a larger 10-inch monitor for its infotainment system and automatic air conditioning.
In terms of safety, the T60 comes standard with a tire pressure monitoring system, front airbags, ISOFIX seats and immobilizer.
The T60 is one of the few models in the pick-up segment with a 5-year warranty (or 100,000 kms, whichever comes first). Moreover, the aftersales services are set to the “maximum” with a periodic maintenance service (PMS) interval schedule of the first 5,000 kms and every succeeding 15,000 kms or once a year, whichever comes first. This is more convenient and more cost-efficient compared to the industry-standard 5,000-km PMS interval. Maxus Philippines also offers a 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, a pick-up and delivery service for customers, and on-site servicing for corporate fleet accounts.
The Maxus T60 4×2 Pro MT, 4×2 Pro AT, and 4×4 Elite AT are offered at special introductory prices of P948,000, P1,028,000, and P1,278,000, respectively. Available colors are Agate Red, Lava Gray, and Blanc White for the T60 4×2 Pro, and Olive Green and Aurora Silver for the T60 4×4 Elite. Obsidian Black is available for both variants.
Maxus Philippines’ general manager Reginald See highlighted, “The addition of the T60 pickup to our growing model lineup strengthens our market foothold on the Light Commercial Vehicles’ category in the country as we now have virtually the entire range of models for business and lifestyle requirements—transporting people, cargo, or a combination of both in any road condition. More importantly, the T60 is packed with features at an entry-level price. The pricing for the T60 highlights Maxus Philippines’ efforts to make a world-class, feature-packed and safe pickup be affordable for our customers.”
Guests were able to test drive and experience the power, comfort, and overall performance of the T60 4×2 Pro and 4×4 Elite on several on- and off-road challenges set up in the venue just for the occasion.
For the on-road courses, there were specific driving exercises such as Steering and Balance (obstacle course to test the precise steering and easy-to-control balance); Suspension (superb suspension articulation that can be useful in light trails and terrain); Braking (ample stopping power); Acceleration (stretched portion of the course showing the acceleration pull); Backing (ease of doing reverse maneuvers despite its long and wide body); Towing (hitched to a trailer, highlighting the pulling power); and, Hauling (loaded with cargo and made to run around a slalom course).
For the off-road/4×4 exercises, these tests were experienced: Hilltop (10-foot climb to a flat-top surface exhibited the climbing power); Mud Pit (4-foot deep pit filled with mud showed the brute strength and water-wading capabilities); Right- and Left-Hand Articulation (right and left sides of the T60 were alternately lifted and rolled to a 35-degree angle, showing the articulation capabilities on both sides); Elephant Holes (series of blocks, exhibiting its axle articulation and extreme wheel well gaps); and, V-Canal (two consecutive V-shaped lifts, exhibiting the extreme articulation capabilities).
