Auto Expo 2020: Haima 8S compact SUV displayed

KUALA LUMPUR: The Auto Expo 2020 in India is off to a great start. Among the many significant showcases and debuts, Haima, a Chinese automaker, has displayed the 8S, a compact SUV. The Haima 8S itself is a new model and was launched in the home country in the summer of 2019.

The Haima 8S compact SUV that has been displayed appears to be very attractive in its design and red colour paint job. It flaunts 18-inch alloy wheels and has a dark chrome front grille in a hexagonal design. The car has a floating roof design since the B, C and D pillars are all blacked out. The rear end has a sleek taillight design with an LED bar across the tailgate. The roof spoiler further adds a lot of elegance.

The Haima 8S that was launched in China last year is powered by a 1.6-litre, turbocharged petrol engine that is capable of churning out a maximum power of 195 PS along with a peak torque of 293 Nm. These power figures make it a very sporty SUV for the Indian market and it could easily rival the likes of Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson, Tata Harrier and the MG Hector.

The displayed compact SUV is 4,565 mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2,700. There are small roof rails integrated on the sloping roofline. Other interesting features in the SUV are a 360-degree camera, a digital instruments cluster, and a panoramic sunroof.

Though FAW Haima has showcased the 8S in India at the Auto Expo, there is no official news about the company entering the automobile circuit in the country. It might just be an initial step to analyse the prospective customers' interest before making a debut.

As for the Malaysian market, we aren’t sure if at all it would be brought here. However, if it is launched in India, it might find its way to the Malaysian shore. It would compete against the likes of Jeep Cherokee, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota C-HR. Pricing could be anywhere between RM 150,000 and RM 200,000.

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