MG Extender launched in Thailand, will we get it too?

MANILA: Following the teaser of its first-ever pickup truck, MG has, at last, launched the Extender in Thailand. The MG Extender is based on its sibling, the Maxus T70 pickup. Moreover, the Maxus T70 itself is a refreshed version of the Maxus T60. Maxus launched the T70 at Auto Shanghai in May, earlier this year. The SAIC Group from China owns both MG and Maxus, and that is how the Extender ended up using the T70 as its foundation.

On the outside, the MG Extender sports trendy features like LED headlamps with LED DRLs, large grille with chrome surrounds, fog lamps in a sporty bumper, skid plates, chrome door handles, bold wheel arches, and roof rails. Moving inside the first-ever MG pickup truck, we find an automatic climate control system that comes with rear air-con vents, push-button engine start/stop system, and leather upholstery. Much like other modern pickup trucks, the MG Extender also flaunts a ten-inch touchscreen infotainment system with as many as six speakers.

It's under the hood of the MG Extender where stuff gets the most interesting. The Extender offers an array of 2.0-litre common rail direct injection diesel engines developed by SAIC. Thanks to a single-turbo setup, even the least powerful unit makes 161 hp of maximum power and a peak torque of 375 Nm.

Furthermore, with a dual-turbo, the same 2.0-litre motor generates a maximum power output of 214 hp and 480 Nm of peak torque. Customers have the liberty of choosing either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox. There is also a four-wheel-drive setup with a locking rear differential. On the safety front, the MG Extender gets the likes of six SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start assist, tyre pressure monitoring, hill descent assist, stability control system, and a rear-view camera.

The dual-cab version of the MG Extender is priced in Thailand from 759,000 Baht (Php 1,287,715) to 1,029,000 Baht (Php 1,745,795). We have both MG and Maxus doing business in the Philippines. So, would like to have an MG Extender or a Maxus T70 make its way to the Philippine roads?

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