KUALA LUMPUR: A new Perodua SUV with DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) technologies and a turbocharged engine can be expected this year, after heavy hints dropped by the national automaker at a press briefing today.
It is likely the new Perodua SUV will be based on the Daihatsu Rocky (also offered as the Toyota Raize in Japan), which is the second DNGA car after the Daihatsu Tanto.
The Rocky is also the first model to join Toyota's line-up as a DNGA product.
Perodua president and CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad dropped heavy hints about Perodua's upcoming new model in 2020.
"I cannot say anything, but there are good reasons why we showed you those slides about market trends."
Zainal was referring to presentation slides where he spoke about the strong and growing SUV segment in the global automotive market, and the trend towards smaller yet powerful, turbocharged and fuel-efficient engines.
"Downsizing is right-sizing," he said.
Zainal also confirmed that Perodua's next new model would be using DNGA technologies.
He also said Perodua targets to launch a facelifted model and a full model change this year.
It should be noted that the Perodua Bezza facelift was launched recently in January.
This means a new Perodua car (likely to be the SUV) will be coming very soon.
The new five-seater Rocky was launched in Japan last November, and has a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine mated to a CVT which produces 98hp and 140Nm of torque.
It measures 3,995mm (length); 1,695mm (width) and 1,620mm (height) which means it is 440mm shorter and 120mm lower than the seven-seater Perodua Aruz SUV.
The Rocky has a 369-litre rear luggage area which is designed with a moveable deck board that covers an 80-litre under-trunk compartment (to store a tyre repair kit and tools).
Meanwhile, Zainal also emphasised that going forward, the strategic direction for Perodua's research and development (R&D) is to become an Asean development hub working on joint development projects with Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd (DMC).
He noted that Perodua would continue to cultivate local engineering capabilities to develop Malaysian global cars that can compete on cost, quality and design.
Currently, Perodua had achieved full upper body development capabilties with DMC support.
Meanwhile, Perodua will also upgrade its 2.5km vehicle test track in Rawang to a 5km facility by end-2020.
