since 1976
since 1976
By Lee Pang Seng
TO SPARE you the confusion that we too had earlier, let’s enlighten you as to why there are two apparently different car brands from China selling a vehicle with the same name – Omoda. Firstly, Chery and JAECOO are ‘related’ and this status is somewhat similar to that of Toyota and Lexus.
Like the Japanese brands, Chery is the principal company and JAECOO was established under the group to sell the premium range. Why the name Omoda is being retained for the premium JAECOO model was not clearly explained but there you have it. The Omoda C9 would only be sold through the JAECOO dealership network and serviced at JAECOO’s service centres.
The media was given a preview of the Omoda C9 off-road SUV and it promises to live up to its premium standing with many upmarket features. Set to be launched in December as a locally assembled model, JAECOO Malaysia wants to build up the ‘excitement’ towards this five-seater SUV. Its launch here is said to be the first in Southeast Asia.
It would be available in two variants; two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD). In body dimensions, the C9 looks the part of a flagship model measuring 4775mm in length, 1,671mm in height, 1,920mm in width and has a wheelbase of 2800mm. The ground clearance of 165mm might be good for fording of lightly flooded roads (up to a maximum of 450mm) but it would be wise not to push it!
In body styling, the C9 features a distinct diamond matrix air intake grille and daytime running lights that emulates the sigma design and are supported by ‘intelligent adaptive control’ LED (light emitting diode) headlamps. The front windscreen is said to be an acoustic glass unit that reduces noise levels for a quiet ride. Flush door handles and a keyless door entry with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology alongside a walkaway locking system are standard fare.
The C9 runs on R20 multi-blade alloy rims and 245/50 high performance Michelin tyres that are said to complement the all-round adaptive suspension, supported by MacPherson struts in front and a multilink rear. The exclusive note is the Continuous Damping Control (CDC) that has individual sensors all round to adapt ride in real time and milliseconds to road conditions for a premium ride comfort.
Powering the C9 is a turbocharged 2.0 TGDI inline four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 189kW (257hp) and 400Nm of torque. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic; the 2WD has three drive modes while the 4WD, which is actually an AWD or All Wheel Drive, has seven drive modes to choose from.
Stepping inside, one couldn’t miss the 24.6-inch single display panel, somewhat similar to that we have seen in some Mercedes-Benz models. That in the C9 looks somewhat less cumbersome and slimmer in profile, parallelling the design themes in some EV (electric vehicle) models. Wireless charging comes standard and JAECOO says the three-zone air-conditioning system is embedded with a fragrance and air quality system to elevate comfort and luxury within the cabin.
To maintain that luxury feel is the leather wrapped dashboard and steering wheel. A head-up display (our favourite) makes driving easier and safer. There is also a driver monitoring system and the front seats, electrically adjustable eight ways for the driver, are ventilated units. Rear passengers are not forgotten as they have an electronic adjustment feature for seatrest incline.
An amazing feature is the C9’s built-in digital video recorder (DVR) that is said to enable the driver to gain a clearer view of obstacles and blind spots using the 540-degree around view monitor. Does that mean an overlap of images, which might be confusing rather than being practical? Well, we would have to wait till December to find out.
And for those who love music, the C9 AWD is equipped with 14 surround sound speakers and personalised speakers embedded in the driver’s seat. This unique feature is obviously tailored to offer a driver-centric audio experience.
JAECOO Malaysia says it wanted to keep the Omoda C9 competitively priced below RM200,000. This should be achieved with local assembly and the C9 2WD comes with an estimated price of RM185,000 and the C9 AWD is RM195,000.
If the response to the company’s J7 and J8 SUV models are anything to go by – more than 2000 of these vehicles were already assembled by the Shah Alam facility – the prospects for the Omoda C9 certainly looks promising.
