Newshot Volkswagen rebadges the Maxus V90 van as the Tempest for Brazil, secures over 1,000 local orders
IT Home, November 14 — On the 13th local time, foreign media outlet Carscoops reported that Volkswagen has launched the all-new Tempest van in Brazil, which is in fact a rebadged version of the Maxus V90. Since 2019, the vehicle has also been sold in different markets under names such as the Maxus Deliver 9 and LDV Deliver 9.
The Tempest is supplied by SAIC Motor and is part of a 300 million Brazilian real (IT Home note: roughly 54 million US dollars, or 361 million yuan at current exchange rates) investment plan by Volkswagen's truck and bus division. The two sides also plan to launch an electrified Amarok pickup in South America in 2027, likewise built on a SAIC platform and produced in Argentina.
In terms of exterior design, the Tempest largely carries over the body design of the prototype, with changes made only to the front fascia. The new vehicle gets a narrower black grille with the Volkswagen logo in the center, retains the original LED headlights on both sides, and adds cooling air intakes to the front bumper. The interior is also largely unchanged, retaining the 12-inch central touchscreen and multiple storage spaces.
The Tempest is offered in four body styles — panel van, windowed van, minibus and chassis cab — as well as two body heights. Although it is highly similar to the Maxus V90, Volkswagen still emphasizes that the new vehicle underwent more than 250 technical improvements and over 50 manufacturing process adjustments during development, and completed a cumulative 1.5 million kilometers of testing.
In terms of powertrain, the Tempest is equipped with a SAIC-supplied 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine producing a maximum of 176 hp and peak torque of 400 N·m. Performance tuning for the Brazilian market gives it higher power output than the LDV prototype. The transmission is offered only with a 6-speed manual gearbox, with rear-wheel drive.
The Tempest's cargo volume ranges from 9.7 to 12.3 m³ depending on the version, compared with 9.3 to 18.4 m³ for the global Volkswagen Crafter.
The Tempest was only recently unveiled and its specific pricing has not been announced, yet Brazilian customers have already placed more than 1,000 pre-orders. The new vehicle is also planned to enter the Argentine market in early 2027, with production handled by SAIC's Chinese factories.
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