Walk The Talk

Walkinshaw Performance Has Turned Its Attention To Ldv’s T60 Dual-cab 4x4. the Result Is The Trailrider.

- Fraser Stronach

THE Trailrider is a take on LDV’s T60 ute created by Walkinshaw Performance, better known for its expertise in vehicles a good deal faster. Walkinshaw Performance runs V8 Supercar race teams, owns HSV and produces high-performance kits including a diesel engine upgrade for the HSV SportsCat.

Walkinshaw Performance’s work with the T60 runs to a local suspension tune – wheel and tyre package included – and locally engineered accessories including side-steps, nudge bar, sports bar and roller tonneau cover. The suspension retune will also apparently be applied to the bread-and-butter T60s for future production, which is possibly the best part of this whole story.

The introduction of the Trailrider, which comes in both manual and automatic transmissions, brings the T60 model line-up to six vehicles, given the base-spec Pro and the up-spec Luxe are also both available in manual and automatic. Based on the Luxe model, the Trailrider is a notably big ute and, among its mainstream dual-cab competitors, only the Ranger and BT-50 have a longer wheelbase and only the Amarok has a wider track.

POWERTRAIN AND PERFORMANCE

THE Trailrider enhancements don’t extend to the engine, which is standard T60. That means the 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel is built under licence from Italian engine specialist VM Motori. It’s from the same engine ‘family’ as the 2.8 diesel in Holden’s Colorado and Trailblazer and previously found in Jeep’s Wrangler, but in a lower state of tune.

It meets the latest Euro 5 emission regulations thanks to its diesel particulate filter and modern variable-geometry turbo and common-rail injection technology (among other things), but it’s far from cutting edge in terms of power and torque, claiming a modest 110kW and 360Nm.