First seen as a concept at the Chengdu
auto show, the SAIC Maxus Bull Demon King is finally ready for production. Despite
being based on the Maxus T90, the Bull Demon King shares little exterior
features with its predecessor. An aggressive front end with a blacked-out
grille and logo gives the vehicle great road presence; well-executed split
headlights, roof light bar, and an off-road bumper complete the
look.
Flared wheel arches with rugged plastic
cladding surround the chunky tires; Adjustable A-arms and Nitrogen suspensions
connect the wheels to the chassis. Again, still no chrome from the side, just rugged
lines and exposed bolts- very cool.
From the back, tinted rear lights,
off-road rear bumper, and an optional tow bar fit into the design language
perfectly. Rugged tie-down points and a roll-bar sit upon the bed, while a
full-sized spare wheel sits within. On the interior though, the design is very
car-like; leather, big screen, and swooping lines. Missed opportunity really,
as it doesn’t really match the exterior of the vehicle.
Under the hood beats a SAIC π Bi-turbo
diesel engine, producing 21 8hp and 500 Nm of torque! Paired with the ZF 8 speed
auto, the truck will pull an impressive 3.5 tons. It’s refreshing to
see a genuinely cool-looking, original truck design come out of China. Pricing
is expected to be near the 250,000 RMB (US$ 39,000) mark.
