Once a prominent name in van manufacturing before bankrupcy hit in 2009, LDV has been brought back from the dead. A $2.2bn global investment from Chinese firm SAIC Maxus will see four new LDV van models launched in the UK and Ireland soon.
SAIC Maxus already builds over 6 million vehicles per year, mainly in China. It bought the rights to use the LDV name when administrators were selling off assets and has drawn up ambitious that will see an SUV, pick-up and a new compact van called the G10 launched by 2020.
Irish automotive distributors The Harris Group will sell the LDV commercial vehicles over here, beginning with the V80 van in four bodystyles. It's an updated version of the LDV Maxus, and can be ordered in short, medium and long wheelbase with three roof heights, or as a chassis cab.
The LDV V80 gets a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with up to 136bhp and 330Nm of torque. It powers the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, and standard kit includes parking sensors, aircon, keyless entry, Bluetooth and electric heated mirrors.
The load volume is 6.4m3 in the short wheelbase model, 10.4m3 in the medium wheelbase and 11.6m3 in the high roof long-wheelbase car. Prices have yet to be released, but we do know each V80 will come with an impressive 200,000-mile, five-year warranty.
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