Paul Tan's Automotive News » Perodua Alza – New Perodua D46T MPV 2009

Perodua Alza M2 Edition: Limited edition with new colour

Danny Tan — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:48:44 +0000

Perodua has released the Alza M2 Edition, which will be limited to 500 units. It will be open for booking at all Perodua sales outlets beginning 1st April with an on the road price of RM69,990, the same price as the Alza Advanced Version, which it’s based on.

First unveiled by former Tun Mahathir Mohamad in January when he visited Perodua’s Rawang facility, the M2 Edition is named after the code name “M2” given to the second national car project, which was later renamed Perodua. For every unit of the M2 sold, Perodua will be donating RM1,000 to the ex-PM’s Perdana Leadership Foundation.

Unique features include an “M2” grade mark and a special “Midnight Blue” colour. Other features include custom leather seat covers and custom carpet mats. Besides those already mentioned, the M2 Edition will have all the equipment that’s standard on the Advanced Version, including the 5-inch touchscreen LCD entertainment system with GPS and bodykit.

The official product photos aren’t out yet, but you can see the new colour from the image above.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua Alza 1.5L Manual Test Drive Review

Danny Tan — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:45:06 +0000

The Perodua Alza is surely one of the most anticipated cars of recent times. In fact, this blog has been spreading the news of the Perodua MPV since early 2008, and we’ve been teased by numerous spy shots and revelations ever since. Well, it’s finally here now and we’ve got a chance to drive it over a weekend, covering 385km over a variety of roads.

Read the rest of the report after the jump.

The model we tested

The Alza we sampled is an SXi, which means it’s the Premium spec manual transmission variant priced at RM60,990 (OTR including insurance). Extra equipment over the Standard models include ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, dual airbags, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, leather wrapped steering with audio controls, driver seat height adjuster, fog lamps, rear spoiler, higher grade seat fabric and silver/chrome trim in the cabin. That’s quite a lot of added kit for an extra RM5,000 – well worth it in our opinion.

Here’s a brief recap of how Perodua’s MPV stands on paper to its immediate rivals. The Alza sits on an elongated Myvi platform and its 2750mm wheelbase compares well with the Toyota Avanza (2655mm), Nissan Grand Livina (2600mm) and Proton Exora (2730mm) even though it’s the second shortest here after the Avanza. The Alza’s footprint is actually much smaller than the Exora’s – the long wheelbase is derived by pushing the rear wheels right to the car’s edges.

Under the bonnet is a cast iron block 3SZ-VE 1.5-litre engine, as used in the Avanza 1.5 and Rush, although it’s mounted longitudinally in the rear-drive Toyotas and transversely in the FWD Alza. Perodua quotes 103bhp (104PS) and 136Nm of torque, which is slightly lower than the Avanza’s 108bhp/141Nm – perhaps a slightly different state of tune. Transmission options are a four-speed auto and our tester’s five-speed manual.

For more detailed technical info and measurements, view our previous post.

Living in the Alza

Using wheelbase length as a measure of spaciousness is more applicable in a passenger car than an MPV because rear overhangs contribute to an MPV’s interior length, so we shouldn’t read much into the Alza’s class leading wheelbase. The Alza feels much smaller than the Exora inside, and should be about the size of a Grand Livina, but with a much higher roofline than the Nissan which contributes to an airy and open feel. Stepping into the Alza is very easy, as doors open wide (typically Perodua) and the ride height is just perfect – no need to “climb” into the car.

Access to the third row is trickier. The Alza lacks a tumble fold system for the second row, which means you’ll need to fold down the seat backs (it doesn’t go fully flat) and pull the base – a two-step operation that’s less convenient than the Exora’s two-way, one-touch lever. Once that’s done, the opening is small and those who are less nimble might have difficulty entering.

Once inside, the high roof gives adequate headroom but legroom fully depends on the kindness of other occupants – it can range from zero (if the second row is pushed fully back) to decent for mid-sized adults if a compromise between second and third row members can be made. Anyhow, the seat base is not much higher than the floor so your knees will point high, but this is not uncommon in a seven seater. There’s also very little space for luggage with all seats up. I also wished that the non-split rear seats can be folded flat with just one operation – at present you’ll need to pull two straps (one on each side) to tumble it.

“Is the air-con strong enough?” is a common concern among Malaysian carbuyers and we’re happy to report that despite not having a separate blower and vents for the rear section, the Alza’s air con provides a strong enough breeze to reach rear occupants. The system also cools very fast. There are also plenty of cupholders – 12 in our car!

From the driver’s seat

From the driver’s seat, the driving position, ergonomics and visbility are all pleasant. For me, the highlight of the dashboard is the integrated stereo system, which is full featured, easy to use with big buttons and looks premium with tight fit buttons flush with the surface. In contrast, the Vios derived “bottle cap” style A/C controls look cheap, and without the auto gear lever sharing this space, the area looks rather empty, as if something is missing.

The centre mounted instrument pack is OK for clarity, but the trip computer didn’t have much info other than Range. The manual variant also lacks the driver seat extension and fold down arm rest since the gear lever and hand brake are in their traditional location – between the seats. What it gets over the auto are a couple more cubbies and cupholders.

On the move, the Alza is a very easy and undemanding car to drive – the steering is light, turning circle is tight and clutch is similarly effortless. But the clutch pedal does not seem to have any biting point – it’s either up or down – and those without the habit of resting their foot on the clutch might crave for a foot rest – at present, the pedal is so near the centre console that Perodua wouldn’t have been able to fit one anyway.

The Alza’s gearchange could also be better. The shallow gates and imprecise rubbery feel means that there’s little satisfaction to be had swapping gears; the process feels quite crude and van-like actually.

Many have doubts whether a 1.5-litre is sufficient for an MPV and this is where the Alza surprised us and our passengers. Acceleration is lively, whether from rest or in gear, and there’s enough low down torque to merge with faster flowing traffic without venturing high up the rev range. You do hear and feel the engine buzz, as you would in other Peroduas, but it’s never annoying.

I ferried the family up to Genting Highlands to see how the Alza would cope with four adults on board, and it managed the task admirably. For the first half of the journey on the Karak highway, the Alza made decent progress in fifth gear; only a few times did I need to downshift to fourth to regain momentum. After exiting the highway to begin the climb, the Alza took care of slower traffic and more powerful but poorly driven cars mostly in second gear, even for the few super sharp slopes on the route. It did struggle a little to be honest, but so does its rivals, so there’s not much of an issue here.

That experiment showed that the Alza is pretty flexible on the move, although there’s an occasional hesitation and pause in the mid range, as noticed in our preview report. The Perodua feels more energetic, responsive and effortless than the 1.6 CPS powered Exora and although we did not do a side-by-side comparison, my money is on the car from Rawang in a performance test.

The Alza rides and handles capably as well. There’s not much body roll to speak of, and the ride comfort is relatively good – it doesn’t buck and bounce around like the Avanza or react so sharply to small bumps and ridges like the Grand Livina so it’s a good effort from Perodua. The 185-section Silverstone tyres aren’t exactly high on grip (ours were barely scrubbed in) but other than a steering that I feel should be tighter in high speeds, there’s very little to complain about. What the Exora does better is isolating the engine from the cabin, general refinement and car-driver communication.

On the matter of fuel consumption, I did 385km in the Alza with the trip computer showing a range of 150km (two bars of petrol) when I returned the car. The Alza’s full tank capacity is 42 litres and I added 10 litres to it, so the rough calculation points to 10.3 km/l, which is pretty decent considering the Genting detour. Perodua’s claim is 15.5 km/l for the manual, but keep in mind that it’s almost never possible to hit official figures.

Conclusion

Alza’s rear resembles the pre-facelift Myvi; here, it’s parked next to the current Myvi

As an MPV, it’s far from perfect. But to its credit, Perodua doesn’t call the Alza a full-sized MPV, preferring the “5+2″ occasional seven seater status. And if viewed as a bigger Myvi with much better legroom, a huge boot and two “emergency seats” the Alza becomes a brilliant proposition. We can see how popular the Myvi is with Malaysians, and if given more of the same with the abovementioned benefits at a small premium, there’s no reason why the Alza won’t be a runaway success. As a bonus, the Alza has adequate performance and is entirely decent to drive.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua Alza Advanced Version – extra equipment

Paul Tan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:56:30 +0000

The highest specification level of the Perodua Alza is actually a model called the Perodua Alza Advanced Version, which is basically based on the Alza 1.5 Automatic Premium and Manual Premium but with a few additional specifications. You can book this now but delivery will only start in March 2010.

You basically get a new bodykit which consists of front, rear and side skirts and a different rear spoiler. On the inside, you get leather seat covers for all the seats, but the leather treatment does not continue onto the door trim. Also provided is a 5 inch touchscreen LCD which has a Windows CE-based GPS navigation system with a SiRF Atlas IV chipset and 500MHz CPU. The LCD also displays a feed from a 150 degree lense reverse camera.

Finally, there is tinted film for all the glass in the Alza which Perodua claims is GPS and SmartTAG friendly. Perodua states the specifications as following: 95% IR rejection, 99% UV rejection, 70% light for the front windscreen and about over 50% light for the rest of the glass. This tint has a 5 year warranty against peeling, oxidisation, cracking, discoloration and fading. I assume that as an OEM option this tint is also JPJ-approved.

The Alza Advanced Version manual goes for RM66,490 for solid and RM66,990 for metallic, while the Alza Advanced Version automatic goes for RM69,490 for solid and RM69,990 for metallic. The S. Metallic option is missing because the Alza Advanced Version only comes in three colours – Ivory White, Ebony Black and Classy Purple, while the only special metallic colour is Pearl White.

I reckon you could probably get a good Garmin nuvi for under RM1,000 and add on a very good set of tint for about RM2,000 to RM3,000 or so maximum. If you don’t want the leather seat covers and bodykit you’re better off adding your own tint and GPS. Not sure about the cost of the reverse camera though.

Look after the jump for more pix of the Alza Advanced Version.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua Alza finally launched: a car or an MPV?

Paul Tan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:57:06 +0000

Here it is – the new Perodua Alza! We’ve been following the development of this MPV ever since we first got news of its existence back in early 2008, where it was reported that Toyota and Daihatsu were going to build a new MPV and produce it in Indonesia. When the Daihatsu Luxio MPV came out we all got a shock – that more of a van so we waited patiently until Christmas last year when the Toyota Passo Sette was finally unveiled in Japan. Nearly a year later, the Perodua-badged model with a new front, rear and interior is here. Read the full details after the jump.

Alot of people that are casually (not urgent) in the market for an MPV will have probably been waiting for the D46T project to be launched for a long time now. After all, the majority of the country can only afford either a Proton or a Perodua, and you really have to wonder why it took them so long to serve this market niche when all of its competitors have been priced out of affordability.

The national MPVs should have come sooner so that consumers who have big families would not have needed to stuff their 5-seaters to the brim whenever they needed to balik kampung.

I have to say that with the Myvi, the Japanese Passo looked better, but with the Alza I feel our own Malaysian design team has trumped the Japanese guys. The Passo Sette had this slightly bulgy-eyed look while the Alza looks far more sleeker. I don’t see any reason why anyone would want to ‘convert’ their Alza back to a Passo Sette but then again design is a subjective personal thing.

As for the name Alza, it actually means ‘to rise’ in Spanish. Probably symbolises Perodua rising up the product segments once again – its cars are getting bigger and bigger.

The Perodua Alza’s headlamps also come with projector lenses for the main beam across the entire line-up. I’m not saying you should be doing this but for those that want to retrofit HID bulbs to the Alza, the projector lenses will result in a relatively cleaner and nicer looking light beam.

On the rear you get LED tail lamps and for the Premium version you also get a spoiler. There is a bee sting antenna located towards the rear of the roof but towards the left rear instead of being positioned smack in the middle. Perodua says this is so that the owner will be able to flip the antenna down when required easily as compared to if it was in the middle. There are a few colours to choose from but personally I’m digging the Classy Purple, which is a new colour.

How much is the new Perodua Alza?

So anyway, here we are finally, the Perodua Alza. The smaller MPV also comes with a smaller price tag, though Proton has worked to introduce the Exora Basic as well. Perodua says the Alza project first started off as the D46T about 3 years ago. The Japanese version was unveiled on Christmas day last year.

It’s cheaper than the Exora though technically it isn’t the cheapest in the market. Changan-Berjaya sells their Chana Era CM8 “van” at prices starting from under RM40k.

Perodua Alza 1.5L Standard M/T Solid – RM55,490 Metallic – RM55,990 S. Metallic – RM56,190	Perodua Alza 1.5L Standard A/T Solid – RM58,490 Metallic – RM58,990 S. Metallic – RM59,190
Perodua Alza 1.5L Premium M/T Solid – RM60,490 Metallic – RM60,990 S. Metallic – RM61,190	Perodua Alza 1.5L Premium A/T Solid – RM63,490 Metallic – RM63,990 S. Metallic – RM64,190

*S. Metallic – Pearl White

Datuk Syed Hafiz revealed that a sportier version with a bodykit, GPS navigation and a reverse camera will be introduced in March 2010, though I think showrooms are already taking bookings for this version now. This model will be premium and auto-only, and will go for RM69,990 which is RM6k on top of the Metallic Premium automatic.

How big is the Perodua Alza?

	Alza	Exora	Livina 1.6	Avanza 1.5	Rondo	Innova
Kerb Weight	1,150kg	1,422kg	1,245kg	1,120kg	1,563kg	1,575kg
Length	4,205	4,592	4,420	4,150	4,545	4,580
Width	1,695	1,809	1,690	1,630	1,800	1,770
Height	1,620	1,691	1,590	1,695	1,650	1,755
Wheelbase	2,750	2,730	2,600	2,655	2,700	2,750
Track (F)	1,475	1,542	1,470	1,415	1,573	1,510
Track (R)	1,465	1,530	1,475	1,425	1,569	1,510
Fuel Tank	42L	55L	52L	45L	55L	55L
Power (hp)	104hp	125hp	104hp	108hp	142hp	134hp
Torque (Nm)	136Nm	150Nm	150Nm	141Nm	189Nm	182Nm
kg/Nm	8.45	9.48	8.3	7.94	8.27	8.65

Above you will find a comparison of various MPVs available in the Malaysian market. The Alza’s power output and weight is actually quite similiar to the Avanza’s, which means performance should be comparable. The Alza and Avanza actually use the same 3SZ-VE engine though the Alza’s is transverse and the Avanza’s is longitudinal for rear wheel drive installation. There is a discrepancy with the power figures quoted above for the Alza and Avanza engine, but I think it’s because Perodua gave DIN numbers while the Toyota numbers are a different kind of measurement.

Is there enough power?

When we drove the Alza under a load of 4 to 5 people it was quite possible to drive in a relaxed manner, though pace was rather hampered. Driving it in a “youthful” manner with hurried progress called for the engine to be revved into the upper boundaries of the rev range most of the time. What made it worse is the fact that the engines did not seem to be run in properly, and most of us in the same car agreed.

Veteran journo Leeps (who went ahead and bought one after the media preview drive) described it as being kinda ‘tight’, while to me the sensation was of an inconsistent torque curve (also reflected in RPM needle progress) that kept dipping randomly. It’s really quite a bummer as when things like this happens it does not reflect the car’s actual performance (just like the Mazda 3 review unit earlier this year), leaving a big blank question mark in my review expectations. So watch out for another review later, as this is pretty much just a preview drive in a circle around the Shangrila Putrajaya, though there was some very nice curves and uphills and downhills.

With regards to the revviness, you really can’t run away from this kind of engine behaviour if you try to drive it like a sports car under heavy loads. The engine has no problems taking the car around gently. I really wouldn’t consider it a significant improvement over the Exora but I found throttle response to be zipper compared to the Campro CPS. Thankfully the sound insulation for the Alza preview drive units (and the Exora) are sufficient to supress any excessive vibrations. The Alza’s engine remained sounding refined up to the redline, despite the inconsistent power delivery issues.

How big is the Alza on the inside?

When I saw the specs list it looked promising as the Alza has got a wheelbase of 2,750mm which is even longer than the Exora’s. But it really depends on how you package the vehicle together so a longer wheelbase may not translate to a longer interior space. Perodua has provided some data on the Alza’s interior dimensions.

Click for enlarged image

The first row is great. The seats can go back as much as I want it to and the ergonomics for the manual transmission gear lever seems better than the Myvi as I didn’t feel it was too far up front. The automatic transmission model’s shift lever is positioned at the dashboard while the handbrake is actually a foot brake. This frees up the space in between the front two seats, but instead of leaving it empty Perodua decided to extend the driver seat leftwards to fill up the space.

But that space cannot really be used as a seat because the part of the dashboard with the air cond panel and the gear lever juts out too much. I also like the armrest that you can fold down – it feels quite soft.

I did not like the fact that the manual model had no arm rests so I suggested to the Perodua engineers that accompanied us during the drive that perhaps they should add a seat-mounted armrest like the Honda CRV’s to the manual model. They took note of it.

The center meter panel is lit up with blue and white illumination with the Premium model while the regular model gets amber illumination, though both are of the self-illuminating Optitron type. There is only manual air conditioning controls available and they look like the same parts used in the Vios.

The second row has the ability to slide back and forth. In a sliding mechanism there is less space freed up for third row passengers to get proper footing on the way out compared to a tumble-fold mechanism so there is a short overslide where you can slide it little extra towards the front to help the third row passengers get out.

Because of the low roof and the generally tight space it’s not easy to get into the back. And while I could sit in the third row of the Exora without my knee touching the second row (albeit a little uncomfortably due to not so optimum leg angles), sitting in the third row of the Alza resulted in my knee pushing against the second row seat back. A good thing the seat back is made of a soft material. But then again I am 181cm so please head on to the showroom to check out the Alza to see if it fits your space requirements. BTW, the third row is a single bench with no split.

And then there is also the issue of an awkward exit for an adult in the second row when you have set the position of the second row to allow for someone to sit comfortably in the third row. Your feet will actually be positioned way in front of the B pillar, so you’ll have to make awkward maneuvers with your leg in order to get out properly.

There’s no issue in exiting the second row when you have the second row pushed far back, but you can’t do that when there are people in the third row waiting for you to get out of the car so they can get out themselves! So there’s really no solution for the awkward 2nd row exit and its an ergonomic flaw.

If I were to buy an Alza I would just great it as a 5 seater and leave the third row permanently down. Then I would slide the second row all the way to the back so that all four to five passengers in the car can get good legroom. To me, this isn’t an Exora competitor but more of a Persona/Waja competitor.

The Alza is best used as wagon substitute for a sedan. The same space as a sedan (perhaps even better) and a more flexible storage area. When you turn it into an MPV, somehow there are just too many compromises to be made, unless you are talking about children only for the third row. In that situation it would probably work great!

If you’re worried about not getting used to the foot brake initially and always leaving it activated while you drive off, according to the specs list there’s supposed to be a little buzzer that warns you about it although I did not try it myself.

How’s the luggage space?

I’ll let the photo speak for itself. The luggage space depth is about 30cm but the third row kinda slants rearwards so you have more of a triangular wedge kind of boot space. WIth the third row folded, the luggage space grows up to 89.5cm in length. It’s a Myvi with a good sized boot. And BTW, yes there is a spare tyre located under the car but it s a temp tyre and not a full sized tyre.

You can click the image above to view all the various compartments in the car. There are loads of cupholders.

How does the Perodua Alza handle?

Click to view our test drive route

The Alza behaves surprisingly decently around the bends on our test route. It’s definitely better than the Myvi. All four of us in the Alza 1.5 Premium A/T were all pleasantly surprised by this. I also had no complaints about the weighting of the power steering system – a decent weight makes it easier to point instead of being overassisted where it turns too easily and makes it hard for the driver to hold it in the position he or she wants through a bend.

When I asked the engineers, they said the Alza had improved suspension settings and it was likely that the biggest contributor to the Alza’s decent behaviour around corners is the addition of a rear stabilizer bar. The Myvi does not have this.

The rest of the suspension layout is similiar to the Myvi’s – MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion bar at the rear. The wheels are 15 inchers across the range and the tyres are 185/55R15.

The manual gearshift while in a good position to be reached of course does not offer Civic Type R kind of shift feel. It feels very rubbery and for some reason the feel of putting it into first gear is just somehow tak sedap, like it only goes in half way or something, without much feedback to you that the gear is in position. The rest of the gear positions feel ordinary.

Malaysia is a hot country – how is the air conditioning?

I think this is one of the most important features in an MPV. Stuffing many annoyed people in a hot vehicle is surely a recipe for family arguments! There is only one blower in the Perodua Alza and dashboard-level air conditioning vents are only available at the front.

Click for enlarged image

Perodua says the interior of the Alza’s low roof helps with the air circulation. You can click the image above to test out some test results on air conditioning performance that they’ve released. The tests were performed with a starting cabin temperature of 55 degrees Celcius and test results were obtained after 11 minutes of driving with the air cond at maximum performance.

I tried sitting in the rear bench with the air cond blower turned up and I was surprised that there was sufficient air cond breeze reaching me. I could even feel the blower air hitting my face when I was standing outside the rear of the car with the boot open. Based on our short driving experience in late morning temperature conditions, I believe the air conditioning system performs sufficiently though you’ll probably have to wait a few minutes for the last row to be cool and comfy.

Are there any safety features?

Yes, only for the premium version, which gets the full ABS and dual SRS airbags treatment. I’m not sure if I can even call that full since we can get 4 airbags in a car below RM100k now – in the Peugeot 308. Even Proton is guilty of this – 2 airbags is the most you can get in any Proton sold in Malaysia.

The standard version is devoid of any safety features whatsoever other than your usual crumple zone and the chassis. ABS, EBD and dual SRS airbags are only available for the premium version, which I find is just plain skimping on specifications. Why couldn’t they have left a single airbag for the standard version? There are also no ISOFIX points anywhere in the car, so you’ll be forced to strap your baby chair with seatbelts (as per some reader’s request, please read my long rant about ISOFIX in this story).

What about the Alza’s Fuel Consumption?

Its premature to talk about fuel consumption at this point of time considering we drove only a few km around Shangrila Putrajaya. Logically I don’t expect the Alza to perform great in terms of fuel efficiency if you have a full load but it’s probably still going to be cheaper than if you take two cars.

Perodua claims 12.7 km per litres with the automatic transmission model and 15.5 km per litres with the manual transmission model. This is based on their own internal “Perodua mixed mode test”, so these numbers will be different from the Passo Sette’s which are based on Japan 10-15 mode.

The Alza’s multi-info display meter integrated in the center dashboard has the ability to show you your average fuel consumption in litres per 100km, and your remaining range based on the fuel remaining in your fuel tank in terms of km.

I will be requesting for a test drive unit later in order to do some day to day driving with only one or two people in the car and measure the overall fuel consumption. I’ll also be trying to measure the fuel consumption on a full load on a short trip somewhere. I believe with these two figures you can get a better picture of the kind of fuel money you’ll be forking out if you own an Alza.

The Perodua Alza drives decently (you honestly can’t say the Alza handles like a boat or the usual stuff that gets said about the Myvi) and offers a lot of space inside, as long as you don’t actually use it as an MPV. At the kind of prices Perodua is asking for, it could become an alternative to sedans from Proton or the Korean manufacturers, or for those who have the spare cash and want something newer than the Myvi, with a bigger bootspace. Just buy the Premium version to make sure you get all the necessary safety equipment. But if you are looking for an alternative to the Exora or any other MPV, you’ll have to think twice if you need it to fit 7 adults.

Perodua Alza – Classy Purple

Perodua Alza – Ivory White

Perodua Alza – Glittering Silver

Perodua Alza – Interior

Perodua Alza – with people as a reference

Perodua Alza – Seating Arrangement

Perodua Alza – Air Conditioning

Perodua Alza – Engine and Safety

Perodua Alza – Chassis Exhibit

VIDEO: Perodua Alza TVC

Watch on Youtube

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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VIDEO: Perodua Alza TV Commercial

Paul Tan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:14:07 +0000

I am still putting the finishing touches on my Perodua Alza story. But still, I promised something at 5PM so for now you can enjoy the TV commercial that Perodua have produced for the Perodua Alza. Stay tuned!

Watch on Youtube

Perodua Alza 1.5L Standard M/T Solid – RM55,490 Metallic – RM55,990 S. Metallic – RM56,190	Perodua Alza 1.5L Standard A/T Solid – RM58,490 Metallic – RM58,990 S. Metallic – RM59,190
Perodua Alza 1.5L Premium M/T Solid – RM60,490 Metallic – RM60,990 S. Metallic – RM61,190	Perodua Alza 1.5L Premium A/T Solid – RM63,490 Metallic – RM63,990 S. Metallic – RM64,190

*S. Metallic – Pearl White

Look after the jump for photo galleries.

Perodua Alza – Classy Purple

Perodua Alza – Ivory White

Perodua Alza – Glittering Silver

Perodua Alza – Interior

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Watch out for the Perodua D46T this evening!

Paul Tan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:04:19 +0000

Check back after 5PM today for the full details on the new Perodua D46T MPV set to be launched at KLCC this afternoon.

No doubt nearly all of you have probably already seen how it looks like thanks to the various spyshots floating around the internet, and I know there are some members of the public who saw the full car undisguised in action during our test in Putrajaya earlier this month. Anyway, we’ve got some short driving impressions around Putrajaya for you to accompany the full details and specifications.

I probably should have thought of this earlier – if you have any questions about the Perodua D46T MPV please post them in the comments section here and I’ll try to see if I can answer them in the story at 5PM.

See you later after 5PM.

Picture above thanks to Sashi.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua D46T MPV test drive units on trailer en route to Perodua showrooms?

Paul Tan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:57 +0000

Click for enlarged image

Trailerloads of the Perodua D46T MPV are on their way somewhere, and from the looks of the livery on the side of one of the exposed vehicles, it looks like they are promotional units, probably to be used as display units or test drive units. These shots are thanks to long-time reader KK Chen.

Click for enlarged image

The Perodua D46T MPV is based on the Toyota Passo Sette so if you absolutely need to know more about this new model to hit our local roads you can refer to my story on the Passo Sette, but for a more accurate picture of what we’ll get in our Perodua version you’ll have to wait for the full story after the launch next week on the 23rd of November 2009 at 5pm.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua MPV teased in Hari Raya print ads

Paul Tan — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:01:12 +0000

Click for enlarged image

This may look like just another Hari Raya greeting from Perodua at first but for those who are follow the auto industry closely and are expecting something to be launched soon will immediately realise that this is in fact a hidden teaser for the new Perodua MPV!

The Perodua MPV will be based on the Toyota Passo Sette (also known as the Daihatsu Boon Luminas) and has been called the codename Perodua D46T for the development stage. Being engineered from an existing Toyota and Daihatsu model, the only surprise for us usually is the car’s refreshed and Perodua-ised exterior looks but even for that, we already have a rough idea of how it’ll look like thanks to teasers that Perodua have released – the exterior at SMIDEC and the interior at MSAM.

The interior teaser shown in April this year had a cream interior and this colour scheme has been repeated in this teaser image – the seats are done up in cream. There will be a small middle seat between the driver and front passenger but in this teaser image, it has been folded down to use as an armrest, and probably that’s how it should be used as most of the time as there probably won’t be any seatbelt for the front middle chair.

Second row shows all three occupants are buckled up – with the middle occupant wearing a lap belt. It doesn’t look like the third row occupants are wearing any seat belts (though there is most likely going to be seat belts equipped for the third row) and I personally don’t think the rear will be that wide – it must be some kind of optical trick.

Perodua’s head honcho Datuk Syed Hafiz has stated repeatedly to the mainstream media that the new Perodua D46T MPV is positioned mainly as a car with a large boot instead of an MPV (I believe the proper term for that is wagon). They won’t be trying to go head to head against the Exora or other MPVs, or at least that’s what they are saying now in the interviews that you see in the mainstream media every month.

This is quite different from the marketing strategy used by “cousin” UMW Toyota for their Avanza promos – the ads clearly show and promote the advantages of having 7 seats (remember the left behind print ads?). The third row is only meant to be used whenever needed – an admission to its extremely utilitarian looks as shown in the Japanese version photos. But of course marketing may say one thing but consumer purchase decision behaviour could go the other way – “it has seven seats so it must be an MPV?”

These interviews also unveiled a November 2009 launch date. Why so late and not in time for the balik kampung purchases you ask? It could be something to do with the impending NAP announcement – perhaps it is not safe to announce one set of prices and then have to change it a few months later?

If you want to find out more about the new Perodua MPV, you can refer to my past coverage on the subject, especially the coverage on the Toyota/Daihatsu cars as they show the Japanese version in detail including exterior and interior. Selamat Hari Raya!

Thanks to Iskandar Hidayat for the pointer!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua MPV D46T unveiled fully undisguised in SMIDEC teaser, launch in November!

Paul Tan — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:50:04 +0000

Apparently Perodua played a teaser video for its upcoming Perodua D46T 7-seater MPV based on the Toyota Passo Sette at the SMIDEC exhibition this month!

Continue reading for the full scoop on the new Perodua MPV!

Reader waja2000 was kind enough to record the teaser video for us, and the good news for us eager followers of the MPV’s development is that the Perodua MPV is shown clearly in its undisguised form in the video, from pretty much every angle! The video also revealed that the MPV will be launched in November 2009.

The front end features a new grille that very much reminds me of the one found on the Perodua Nautica. Perodua has also changed the shape of the headlamps. The Passo Sette and Boon Luminas versions sold in Japan feature headlamps that have a straight bottom design but Perodua’s cuts upwards towards the outer edge of the car.

The bumper features a wide central air intake flanked by two large round foglamps. In a way, Perodua’s design has all the design cues to look relatively more sporty than the more conservative standard Toyota bodykit in comparison, but there are some optional bodykits on the Japanese versions that look way more aggressive than Perodua’s take on the Passo Sette.

The teaser video even lets us have a glimpse of the alloy wheel design. It is very likely that the alloy wheels will not be featured across the range as the norm is for Perodua to put steel wheels on the baseline models, and there will likely be a baseline model given the price sensitive buying behaviour of alot of Perodua buyers.

There are not much changes on the rear end. With one past rebadged model, Toyota and Daihatsu put the Passo’s number plate on the rear bumper with a flat rear hatch, and Perodua modified this to have the bumper on the rear hatch instead. But with the Passo Sette, the number plate was already on the rear hatch and this was probably in line with Perodua’s already established rear end look and feel so Perodua left it untouched. The rear bumper is missing the round or square reflectors that some of the Japanese models have.

I am not 100% sure but it looks like the Perodua MPV has LED tail lamps in this particular screen capture. Could just be an illusion or distortion though.

It looks like Perodua is not holding everything back with secrecy when it comes to their new 7-seater MPV. First it displayed the Perodua MPV interior, and now the exterior. It knows it will be sharing the market with Proton and is trying to draw buyers away from the Exora, or at least get them to wait until their model comes out and then make a decision. The Perodua is a smaller vehicle of course, likely to be powered by a 1.5 litre DVVT engine with front wheel drive.

Proton will likely be countering this with the 5-speed manual Proton Exora, which would bring the baseline price point down a little. I think other than competing with the Exora, the Perodua MPV might actually also steal some thunder from the Proton Persona because it will be an affordable Perodua (since the Nautica is relatively unaffordable) with decent boot space when you fold the small third row seats down and turn it into a 5-seater with a large boot instead of a 7-seater. The third row doesn’t look too welcoming for full sized adults. Perodua previously only had the Myvi and Viva, which cannot compete with a full blown sedan in terms of luggage area.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua MPV or Toyota Passo Sette spotted again!

Paul Tan — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:14:20 +0000

A Toyota Passo Sette 3-row MPV or rather the upcoming new Perodua MPV was spotted by reader Goniothalamus on his KL-Bentong journey.

The compact people mover had barely any disguise on, with only a few simple black tapes covering key identification marks such as the badges. In fact looking at the position of the badges that are covered up and the typical Japanese rear window black tinting, it could potentially just be an actual Passo Sette from Japan (compare to this photo), which means this car doesn’t necessarily belong to Perodua.

Toyota Passo Sette Interior

Perodua MD Datuk Syed Hafiz has previously indicated that the Perodua MPV (codenamed Perodua D46T for now) will be sold with a price tag of between RM57k to RM66k and a launch date has been set for somewhere in Q3 this year, which would be anywhere between July to September.

It has already been previously spotted in Malaysia from as early as April this year (check out Perodua MPV photo and video spyshot) and Perodua has also exhibited the Perodua MPV’s interior in Johor.

Look after the jump for all the spyshots.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua MPV (D46T) Interior Exhibited at MSAM

Paul Tan — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:53:23 +0000

Click for larger image

Reader Nazril sent in these 3 shots of the new Perodua D46T MPV, which apparently is being displayed in near full glory at the Minggu Amanah Saham 2009 in Johor Bahru. Thanks Nazril! Now we can compare these shots with the already revealed shots of the Japanese model so we can see what the differences are.

Click for larger image

Quite interestingly these shots show a dashboard that has its dash-mounted shifter very intact – it’s not been moved to the floor! So that’s nice. The dash has a two tone design, dark att the top and beige at the bottom, with some form of integrated audio head unit with steering wheel audio control on the steering wheel.

The front seats are joined together (not the backrests though) as a single bench, and the arm rest in the middle looks like it can be flipped up to become a small backrest for the middle area, unlike the bench seat this part was found in the Passo Sette. No sign of a handbrake so it must be foot-operated!

Click for larger image

Of course there are some changes compared to the Japanese unit. The displayed Perodua D46T MPV interior used blue backlighting for its head unit and a blue instrument panel, while the Japanese car uses orange. The head unit design is also very different, but I see a little mic there so there should be a Bluetooth handsfree.

Air conditioning controls have been changed from automatic climate control with an LCD panel to a manual 3-knob version that looks like it shares parts with the Toyota Vios, but this 3-knob control is also found in the low spec versions of the Passo Sette.

For more info on the new Perodua MPV (currently called by its Perodua D46T codename) based on the Toyota Passo Sette set for a launch later this year, refer to the linked posts below.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua MPV D46T spotted at Restoran Jejantas!

Paul Tan — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:40:39 +0000

A Youtuber called byawn4us spotted this disguised Perodua MPV at the Sungei Buloh Restoran Jejantas carpark on Thursday, just one day after the launch of the Proton Exora. The flow of the video is somehow quite convenient really, first you get to see it parked next to a Wira, then it reverses and drives past a Viva, giving us a good comparison of its size compared to other cars that we see daily.

The Perodua MPV (codenamed D46T) is based on the Toyota Passo Sette and is definitely smaller than the Proton Exora, but it is expected to be cheaper (indicated pricing of RM66k and below) and there will always be people who are drawn to its Toyota DNA, even more so if they only need 5+2 instead of 7 seater capabilities.

Have a look at the Toyota Passo Sette version, or watch the video after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Perodua MPV (D46T) to sell for RM66k and below!

Paul Tan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:42:58 +0000

As Proton gears up for its Proton Exora MPV to be launched next week, our other national carmaker Perodua is also prepping up its Perodua MPV, set to be launched in Q3 this year. The new Perodua MPV is internally called the Perodua D46T codename and is expected to be priced between RM57K to RM66k, according to Perodua MD Datuk Syed Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar in Bernama.

The new Perodua D46T will be based on the Toyota Passo Sette, also known as the Daihatsu Boon Luminas. It measures 4,180mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,620mm tall, with a long 2,750mm wheelbase to maximize the interior space (2,550mm long).

It sits 6 or 7, depending on how big the people are, but the intention is 7 of course, because some of the Japanese model pix shows 3 headrests for the 2nd row. The same Bernama report also confirmed it will come with a 1.5 litre engine, likely the 3SZ-VE in transverse-mounted front wheel drive configuration.

There has been an interesting video that’s surfaced on Youtube, but it could be removed soon. Watch it! Also, please read the link below to find out more about the Toyota/Daihatsu car that the Perodua D46T will be based on.

GALLERY: Toyota Passo Sette (Perodua MPV)

Video: Toyota Passo Sette TVC

Video: Toyota Passo Collection

Video: Toyota Passo Sette Collection – Interview #1

Video: Toyota Passo Sette Collection – Interview #2

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Toyota Passo Sette 7-seater MPV: full details!

Paul Tan — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:04:10 +0000

Toyota’s latest compact 7-seater MPV has been unveiled in Japan on Christmas day, so let’s check out the full details of the new compact people carrier that will make its way onto Malaysian shores sometime in the second half of 2009 as the new Perodua MPV.

As with alot of other Toyota compact cars, the new MPV is available under both the Toyota and Daihatsu badges as compact cars like these are pretty much mainly Daihatsu-engineered as it is their speciality.

The Toyota version is called the Toyota Passo Sette, which essentially means Passo Seven, or a 7-seater version of the Toyota Passo. Sette means seven in Italian. The Daihatsu version is called the Daihatsu Boon Luminas, where Luminas is a combination of the words roomy and luminous.

All variants of the Passo Sette and the Boon Luminas are powered by the 1.5 litre 3SZ-VE engine putting out 109 PS at 6,000rpm and 141Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. Both front wheel drive and 4WD variants use a 4-speed auto, and the front wheel drive version is rated at 15.6km per litre under the 10-15 Japanese test cycle. There is an Eco-Drive indicator light on the dashboard to inform the driver when his driving style is economical.

As previously reported, the compact Toyota Passo Sette measures 4,180mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,620mm tall, with a long 2,750mm wheelbase to maximize the interior space which is 2,550mm long. The Boon Luminas CX with a bodykit is slightly longer at 4,195mm. Other dimensions that Toyota has provided include a 1,630mm space between the front and rear seat rows, a 150mm split seat slide for the middle row, a wide 935mm rear door opening to ease getting in and out, and a 630mm hip point for the driver to also aide ingress and egress.

Despite the car’s relatively long wheelbase its wheels are at the edges of the vehicle so it is compact and it has a 5.2m turning radius.

Toyota has provided the Toyota Passo Sette with some nice features in the interior including a rear seat entertainment system with a 7 inch widescreen monitor, a DVD player with headphone outputs, and the ability to play different media in the front and rear entertainment systems. There is an optional keyless entry and start with a key fob.

The Boon Luminas also comes standard with a “music server”, which essentially lets you rip 660 minutes of audio content from your audio CDs and store it onto the car’s on-board entertainment system so you don’t have to carry your CDs around in your car. This is also a specifiable option for the Toyota Passo Sette.

The Japanese specs offers some rather decent safety features, though in the interests of cost and maximizing profit I doubt all of them will make it onto the Perodua specifications. The Passo Sette and Boon Luminas has a total of 6 SRS airbags, vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control, Dynamic Support Headrests which reduce the risk of rear-end collision whiplash, and finally ABS brakes.

Now for the Japanese market prices. The Daihatsu Boon Luminas has higher specs so it is more expensive starting from 1,535,000 yen all the way up to 2,073,000 yen, while the lower spec Toyota Passo Sette starts from 1,490,000 yen but can be fully loaded up to a maximum price of 2,033,000 yen.

Please continue reading for a whole load of more photos and videos! It will give you a rough idea of the car to expect next year from Perodua.

GALLERY: Toyota Passo Sette

Video: Toyota Passo Sette TVC

Video: Toyota Passo Collection

Video: Toyota Passo Sette Collection – Interview #1

Video: Toyota Passo Sette Collection – Interview #2

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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New Toyota Passo Sette / Daihatsu Boon Ruminous 7-seater MPV to make Christmas 2008 debut!

Paul Tan — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:26:31 +0000

Click for enlarged image

LATEST UPDATE: Toyota Passo Sette 7-seater MPV – full details!

Toyota and Daihatsu have called for a joint press conference in Japan on Christmas day to unveil their latest 7-seater compact MPV, strongly believed to be named the Toyota Passo Sette and the Daihatsu Boon Ruminous. After the car’s public unveiling this month, it will go on sale early next year about the same time as Proton is expected to launch its MPV, which could pose a problem for Proton as potential customers in Malaysia would be able to get a preview of this new MPV that will hit Malaysian roads as a Perodua in Q3 2009, just half a year after the Proton MPV is launched.

Still, the two vehicles are not exactly in the same segment. This new Toyota/Daihatsu/Perodua MPV is smaller than the Proton MPV. However because is primarily a Daihatsu product, it inherits the Japanese K-car’s expertise in squeezing the most space into the smallest package. The engine under the hood will be the 3SZ-VE 1.5 litre that’s found in the Toyota Avanza, but installed transversely instead of longitudinally and powering the front wheels instead of the rear wheels.

Dimensions	New MPV	Sienta	Wish	Freed	Myvi F/L
Length	4180mm	4100mm	4650mm	4215mm	3750mm
Width	1695mm	1695mm	1745mm	1695mm	1665mm
Height	1620mm	1670mm	1600mm	1715mm	1550mm
Wheelbase	2750mm	2700mm	2750mm	2740mm	2440mm

(dimension comparison table from my previous post)

Given how many Malaysians think long and hard between the Persona and the Myvi as if they were in the same segment when they are actually not because of similiar pricing, this new Perodua MPV could pose a real threat to the new Proton MPV for those who just must have a “Toyota”, whether with a Perodua badge or not.

An indicated price for the Japanese market car is between 1.45 million yen to 1.8 million yen, which is about RM57k to RM70k, so that should give you guys an idea how much a localised version would cost. Don’t expect things like the column shifter you see in the brochure above to make it into the Perodua version as the Passo also had that but it got switched to a traditional shifter between the seats for the Myvi.

Whether you want to call it the new Toyota Passo Sette, or the Daihatsu Boon Ruminous, or the 2009 Perodua MPV, you can check out interior photos and a side profile which have been revealed in the brochure above, which does not mention the vehicle’s name yet. Or for more details, check out the related links listed below.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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2009 Perodua MPV: new artist’s impression

Paul Tan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:48:51 +0000

Click for enlarged image

This is an artist’s impression of the upcoming Perodua MPV that is set to be released in Q3 2009. Theophilus Chin’s rendering is based on the upcoming Toyota-Daihatsu compact MPV project that is set to be launched in Indonesia in early 2009. The Malaysian launch will come soon after.

Theophilus has given the Perodua version of the new Toyota compact MPV an aggressive front bumper inspired by the front bumper of the Daihatsu Sirion Sport. The bulging nature of the front bumper’s wheel arches are to complement the slightly bulging rear wheel arch that the Toyota version has. The grille has hints of the new Hyundai i-series grille in it while the headlamps are inspired by the JDM Toyota Camry.

And there’s of course the Perodua badge. This is probably much more accurate than the random impression posted here some time ago.

Toyota’s new compact MPV set for a 2009 debut

As a recap, here is a table comparing the dimensions of the new Toyota MPV versus some other MPVs available in our market, as well as competing MPVs from other manufacturers.

Dimensions	New MPV	Sienta	Wish	Freed	Myvi F/L
Length	4180mm	4100mm	4650mm	4215mm	3750mm
Width	1695mm	1695mm	1745mm	1695mm	1665mm
Height	1620mm	1670mm	1600mm	1715mm	1550mm
Wheelbase	2750mm	2700mm	2750mm	2740mm	2440mm

For more details on this new compact MPV, visit the related links.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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New Toyota MPV: details of the new 3-row compact that Perodua will also build!

Paul Tan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:05:48 +0000

Left: Artist’s rendering, Top-right: Mag-X thumbnails

We finally have some pretty solid but unofficial details on the upcoming compact 3-row MPV that Toyota and Daihatsu have been working on, scheduled to be launched next year. This is also the same vehicle that will be the base of the new Perodua MPV to be launched in Q3 of 2009, just in time for Hari Raya.

The word is that the Toyota version will be called the Toyota Passo Sette while the Daihatsu version will be called the Daihatsu Boon Ruminous, and will cost between 1,380,000 yen to 1,880,000 yen in Japan.

The Toyota version has a front end and headlamps that are very similiar to the current generation Toyota Vios. In classic Toyota style in knowing exactly how some Japanese love individuality and customization, the Japanese version will also get an alternate front end that is more sporty and aggressive. The Perodua version will naturally have its own front end, with a new grille, bumper and headlamps.

Toyota also has an existing compact 3-row MPV called the Toyota Sienta so it would be fair to compare this new MPV to the Sienta, and also the Passo/Boon/Myvi. And why not throw in the new Honda Freed into the mix. Let’s have a look:

Dimensions	New MPV	Sienta	Wish	Freed	Myvi F/L
Length	4180mm	4100mm	4650mm	4215mm	3750mm
Width	1695mm	1695mm	1745mm	1695mm	1665mm
Height	1620mm	1670mm	1600mm	1715mm	1550mm
Wheelbase	2750mm	2700mm	2750mm	2740mm	2440mm

From the table above we can see that the new MPV is wider as well as longer in both length and wheelbase compared to the Sienta and the Myvi. A 2750mm wheelbase is impressive – that’s as long as the Subaru Exiga, which is quite a big vehicle!

It’s also quite obvious from even photos that the new Perodua MPV will be between the Sienta and the Myvi in terms of height as the Sienta is quite tall, but this new MPV loses some of that height for a sleeker profile that is generally more acceptable outside of Japan. After all, Indonesia is expected to be a production center for the car in ASEAN.

Something also very interesting is the fact that it is equal to the Wish in terms of wheelbase but significantly shorter and also narrower. Another key difference between this new MPV and the Toyota Sienta is the fact that the Sienta has sliding doors for the rear doors while this car uses conventional swing doors.

The primary engine for the Japanese market will be the 1.5 litre 3SZ-VE producing 109 PS at 6,000rpm and 141Nm of torque, but a 1.3 litre version could be available for the ASEAN market since the Avanza 1.3 was accepted quite well here.

The Japanese market interior will feature a dashboard with a centrally-mounted speedo and also a dash-mounted shifter (CVT for FWD, 4-speed auto for 4WD). ASEAN versions could see this shift lever moved to the area between the seats instead as we’ve seen this happen before with the Myvi (Passo) and the Nautica (Terios).

From the Toyota product photos of the interior leaked by MagX, the second row looks like it can either fit 3 adults but I think 2 adults and 1 child would be more comfortable. At least it comes with 3 headrests, though this may be omitted in our market for cost cutting. The third row is a strict 2-seater.

The second and third row can be folded down for a flat loading area. The loading area is 1330mm wide at the rear-most area but when you fold down the rear seats, this width reduces to 1045mm because of the rear wheel arches protruding into the cabin. The loading area height is 858mm.

So, there you have it. There’s no telling at the moment which market will get the new Toyota compact MPV first, but it’s either between one of the ASEAN countries (Indonesia in particular), or Japan. One possible unveiling schedule could see a more “sophisticated” (dash-mounted shifter, option for DVD player, etc) Japan version unveiled first, then a low cost ASEAN version, and finally the Perodua version in Q3 2009.

Look after the jump for one more side profile shot of the new Toyota/Daihatsu/Perodua 3-row compact MPV.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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2009 Perodua MPV Rendered Speculation

Paul Tan — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:14:01 +0000

Click to enlarge

The upcoming Perodua MPV is still pretty far off, set to roll off the production lines only in September 2009, but here is a rendered speculation by Theophilus Chin of how it will might look like. Based on an existing Toyota compact MPV, the styling for this three row MPV rendering is largely based off the Perodua Viva.

Perodua CEO Datuk Hafiz mentioned in an interview with The Edge Weekly earlier this year that we should think of the new Perodua MPV as a smaller Toyota Wish that will have three rows and sit 6 people comfortably (probably not 7 because of a Perodua’s typically compact size and thus reduced width).

It will be based on the recently announced new Indonesian-based MPV model that was announced in March this year and is currently still under development by Toyota and Daihatsu. Perodua will apply its own styling onto the model.

Look after the jump for a rear shot of Theophilus Chin’s rendering as well as some other photoshop “experiments”. PS: KSG = Kenderaan Serba Guna.

Click to enlarge

These are just some extra renderings from Theophilus as a result of a boring weekend…

Perodua Kici

Click to enlarge

Sometime later in the future we may see Daihatsu coming out with a tiny smart/iQ-like car, perhaps powered by an electric drivetrain. Naturally it might trickle down to the Perodua model range.

Perodua Borong

Click to enlarge

A replacement for the commercial Perodua Rusa, which if ever comes into existance is likely to only come with minor styling changes and based on the Daihatsu Gran Max.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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Ingress gets Perodua MPV supply contract

Paul Tan — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:34:25 +0000

Ingress Technologies Sdn Bhd was recently awarded the contract for the supply of 6 modules for a new Perodua model, which includes the reinforcement roof child part, door child part, rocker panel assembly, fuel lid assembly, lower back assembly and under rear sub-assembly. This will make ITSB a Tier-1 supplier.

Supply will start in the third quarter of the financial year ending January 31 2010. As this would mean sometime in the second half of 2009, this news confirms the circa-September 2009 launch date of the new Perodua MPV mentioned recently by Perodua head Datuk Hafiz.

Related Posts:
New Perodua MPV coming in September 2009

Source

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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New Perodua MPV coming by end 2009

Paul Tan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:59:01 +0000

Click image above more details on the car that the Perodua MPV will be based on

UPDATE: The new Toyota MPV that the Perodua MPV will be based on has been unveiled! Click the linked text to find out how the new MPV looks like as well as its dimensions and specifications.

An interview with Perodua managing director Datuk Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar in The Edge Weekly has revealed some plans about Perodua this year. For one, Perodua will be undergoing a rebranding sometime in the middle of the year, which will coincide with the launch of the new Perodua Kembara. The rebranding exercise will also give Perodua a new logo, which will be more of a restyled evolution of the current one rather than something new.

The new Perodua Kembara will come with a 1.5 litre engine (likely the 3SZ-VE) and will have four-wheel drive. It will not be assembled locally by Perodua but will be a CBU import from Japan. It will be a low volume product, and the expected price tag is likely to be more than the Toyota Rush because of its higher specs (the 4WD drivetrain) and Japan sourcing. It will be targetted at the urban, upper-middle income group. Expect the new Perodua Kembara to be based on the short wheel base Daihatsu Terios with a May 2008 launch date.

Another surprise revealed in the article is Perodua’s plans for 2009. Perodua will launch a new three row 6-seater MPV by the end of 2009. Datuk Hafiz likened it to a Toyota Wish, but a smaller version. I wonder what could this be based on. Can’t really think of any compact 6-seaters from Daihatsu/Toyota other than the Daihatsu Gran Max, but that’s more of a Rusa-like van. (UPDATE: The Perodua MPV codenamed D46T will be based on the “>Toyota Passo Sette!)

If you read this article by Xinhua News Agency posted on the 5th of March 2008. it is revealed that Toyota and Daihatsu is developing a new MPV in Indonesia. The MPV is set to be launched in 2009. This model is could be the one that the new 2009 Perodua MPV will be based on.

Anyway whatever it is, it’s something to look forward to next year. 2009 seems to be the year of the MPVs.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 01:15:03 +0000.

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