Top auto news of the week: Chery Omoda 5, Tiggo 8 Pro Q2 2023 launch confirmed. Ducati DesertX arrived, and more

The Malaysian auto market received the official timeline of Chery’s grand comeback in the country this week along with the confirmation of its local assembly. It was followed by the launch of Ducati’s ultimate rally bike, the DesertX, and the price drop of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life. As for the international market, a few big reveals and major announcements kept the show running. Let’s check out a weekly recap of all the important happenings of the automotive world.

Chery cars’ launch timeline confirmed: The Chinese automaker Chery has announced its grand return to Malaysia. It will relaunch the brand in mid-2023 with local assembly of vehicles and the opening of more than 30 showrooms. The first two Chery CKD models to be introduced in the second quarter of 2023 are the Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro. The former is a 5-seater SUV that will rival the likes of the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V, while the latter is a 7-seater model or we can say a competitor of the Mazda CX-8 and Hyundai Santa Fe.

Also read: Upcoming Chery cars in Malaysia

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life price slashed: The official distributor of Volkswagen cars in Malaysia, VPCM, has reduced the retail price for the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life. The SUV is now offered at RM 160,590 (on-the-road, without insurance), which makes it RM 13,000 cheaper than the introductory price. However, no changes have been made in terms of specifications. 

Suzuki Jimny accessories launched: Suzuki Malaysia has launched three accessory packages for its 4x4 Jimny. Included in the list are - Urban Package (RM 5,820), Protection Package (RM 4,000), and Professional Package (RM 1,500). The urban package comprises a front bumper and side garnish, a new grille cover, and rain visors while the Professional pack adds chrome finishing to the mirror caps and door handles. Mud flaps and differential guard come with the protection package.

New BMW 4S centre opens up: BMW Group Malaysia together with its authroised dealer Wheelcorp Premium has opened a new dealership outlet in Bukit Tinggi with an intent to serve customers in the Klang. The facility comprises a big showroom area, a full-blown service centre with 20 bays, a spare parts centre, and the NEXTGen Luxury space. The latter offers kitchen equipment from De Dietrich, an Ogawa Relaxation Zone, as well as Starbucks coffee to visitors.

Ducati DesertX launched: Ducati has launched the all-new DesertX adventure bike in Malaysia. Priced at RM 112,900, this ultimate rally model comes with an exclusive off-road chassis, several advanced electronic aids, and a lightweight mill specifically tuned for off-road use. The latter is a 937-cc Desmodromic 11° Testastretta water-cooled mill, which produces 110 hp of maximum power and 92 Nm of peak torque. It comes with six riding modes - Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro, and Rally. 

Yamaha Ego Avantiz new colour palette: Yamaha Malaysia has introduced three new colours for the 2023 Ego Avantiz. The scooter is now offered in Grey, Cyan, and Red featuring stripes in contrasting colours. Priced at RM 5,998, the scooter continues to take power from the same 125-cc BlueCore air-cooled single-cylinder generating 9.4 hp of power at 8,000 rpm and 9.6 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm. 

First-ever Ford Inner Circle event held: SDAC-Ford has recently held a first-of-its-kind Ford Inner Circle event at the Sime Darby Motors City in Ara Damansara. The event brought together the next-generation Ranger customers and their families where they enjoyed several Christmas-themed activities. Also part of the event was a familiarisation workshop led by expert instructors offering customers a deep understanding of the next-gen pickup.

BYD Atto 3 bookings clocked the 1000 mark: The BYD Atto 3 bookings reached the 1000 mark in just 10 days after launch. The company celebrated the SUV’s success at its TREC Kuala Lumpur showroom. The BYD cars are officially distributed by Sime Darby Motors in Malaysia.

International updates 

2024 Hyundai Kona revealed: The all-new second-gen Hyundai Kona made its official debut in the US this week. The upgraded model is bigger and bolder than the predecessor and boasts a striking design. Among the key highlights are a full-width light bar, Pixelated Seamless Horizon Lamps (exclusive for the Kona EV), and two 12.3-inch advanced displays. Set to launch next year, the new Kona will be available in four trims - pure ICE, hybrid, pure-electric, and an N Line.

Mini Convertible Seaside Edition revealed: Marking the 30th anniversary of the popular Mini Convertible is an exclusive Seaside Edition. The special open-top hatch comes in two exclusive colours - Caribbean Aqua and Nanuq White. It also features unique styling cues inside and out along with several ‘Seaside’ badges. The Convertible Seaside Edition will be launched in the selected markets next year at a starting price of £34,500 (RM 185,320).

Kia Stinger Tribute Edition unveiled: Kia has introduced a ‘Tribute Edition’ of its premium saloon, the Stinger. As the name suggests, this special edition model bids farewell to the Kia Stinger introduced back in 2017. Limited to just 1,000 units, the ‘Tribute Edition’ is based on the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 GT trim and features several aesthetic enhancements, marking its unique identity.

Porsche begins e-fuel production: Porsche is one of the automakers that are exploring alternatives to battery-electric cars. And recently, it has started the production of synthetic fuel (aka efuel) in Chile with an initial target of producing 130,000 litres of fuel annually. Porsche’s new fuel is made up of water and carbon dioxide using renewable energy obtained from wind turbines.

That’s all for the week. For further updates on the local and international auto industry, stay tuned with us.

Also read: Top five MPVs under RM 100,000