Perodua’s next big launch on the horizon; first teaser out

KUALA LUMPUR: Just after introducing its first-ever electric car, the QV-E, Perodua is prepping up for its next big launch. That’s right! Malaysia’s largest automotive brand has dropped the first official teaser of the upcoming model on its social media handles.

Perodua’s upcoming model: What to expect 

Could be called Traz or Nexis

While the teaser fails to reveal the model’s name or any other details, it is widely speculated to be called the Traz or Nexis, as per the trademark filed by Perodua a few years back. 

Positioned in the B-segment category

The upcoming Perodua model is said to be a B-segment crossover based on the Toyota Yaris Cross, codenamed as the D66B. The ASEAN Yaris Cross measures 4,310 mm in length, 1,770 mm in width, and 1,615 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,620 mm. 

As per this, the upcoming Perodua SUV will be positioned between the smaller Perodua Ativa and the larger Perodua Aruz. And, it will go head-to-head against the popular B-segment SUVs, such as the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V.

May get a 1.5L NA or 1.5L hybrid powertrain

As the upcoming Perodua SUV is expected to be based on the Toyota Yaris Cross, it could share the same engine as the Toyota model. The latter comes in different engine options in different ASEAN countries - 

• In Indonesia, the Yaris Cross comes powered by a 1.5-litre NA four-cylinder petrol engine tuned to deliver a maximum power of 106 PS and a peak torque of 138 Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual or a CVT transmission.
• In Thailand, the SUV features a hybrid setup comprising a 91 PS/121 Nm 1.5-litre NA four-cylinder mill and an 80 PS/141 Nm electric motor, which churns out a combined output of 111 PS.

Well, these are just speculations for now, and we will have to wait for the official details to know what the model will be called and whether it is actually based on the Toyota Yaris Cross.

Also read: Perodua QV-E’s Battery-as-a-Service explained: What it is, How it works, and its key benefits