PHEV ute at Fieldays
The wait is over – JAC has officially launched its T9 PHEV at Fieldays, kicking things off with a tradie breakfast pie.
The marque turned heads at last year’s event with an orange prototype and invited Kiwis to share their feedback, which went to engineers at its factory.
Twelve months on, as vehicle sponsor of Fieldays, the covers are off. Full specifications and the launch price have been announced on the event’s opening day and pre-sales open at a limited-time price of $59,990 plus on-road costs – “the sharpest in the PHEV ute segment”.
Sticking to the “tested by Kiwis, for Kiwis” philosophy, JAC’s team has put the T9 PHEV through its paces by “doing ute stuff” in New Zealand. And the vehicle still comes with a built-in pie warmer.
It boasts 360kW of power and up to 1,005km of combined range and 100km of pure EV range on NEDC figures. There’s 3,500kg of braked towing capacity, a 915kg payload and five ANCAP stars “with a score that places it as New Zealand’s safest hybrid ute”.
Dual electric motors underpin the drivetrain, paired with a four-speed transmission that keeps the two-litre petrol engine “in its sweet spot and delivering consistent, predictable power that ute drivers expect whether they’re towing, hauling or heading off-road”.
There are front, rear and centre differential locks, dedicated off-road and crawl drive modes, and easy off-road quick-access buttons to make switching between tarmac and tough terrain “as straightforward as it should be”.
The T9 PHEV’s on-board technology includes a 360-degree camera and a full suite of safety and driver-assist features. Inside, there’s premium interior trim, materials and advanced infotainment.
Andrew Craw, general manager of JAC NZ, says today is a moment the whole team has been building towards. “When we rocked up to Fieldays last year with that orange prototype, people were pretty clear about what they wanted – a PHEV that works like a proper ute and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
“The T9 PHEV ticks every box and for a limited time at $59,990 you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve made a pricing mistake. See us at Fieldays, grab a pie and see it for yourself.” Stock is estimated to arrive in late July to early August.
