Geely VF11 MPV leaked – a Proton Exora replacement?

Geely’s new MPV, known internally as the VF11, is set to make its debut in China soon. It’s said to be the successor to the Emgrand EV8, but more importantly, there are rumours that the new MPV will in fact be the next-generation Proton Exora.

We first saw pictures of its concept at Auto Shanghai 2017, but leaked photos of the MPV have begun circulating online – particularly on CarNewsChina – ahead of its debut at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show.

Based on the leaked photos, it’s clear that Geely stuck to the overall look of the concept, albeit toned down a fair bit. The front fascia wears the signature Geely grille and is flanked by a pair of sleek headlights, presumably LED units to go with the rather imposing LED DRLs.

Round the side, the production version features smaller wheels and conventional doors rather than sliding or coach doors. Profile-wise, the MPV looks suitably lengthy, and it apparently has an overall length of 4,706 mm, width of 1,909 mm, height of 1,664 mm and a wheelbase of 2,805 mm. In comparison, that’s 114 mm longer than the Exora’s 4,592 mm overall length and 436 mm more than the Perodua Alza (4,270 mm).

Over at the back, again, things appear far more restraint than the radical slim tail lights previewed on the concept. From the photos, it seems that the tail lights cluster feature subtle three-dimensional contouring, and resting snug beneath the large adjoining chrome strip – with the Geely lettering – is a reverse camera. Interestingly, the exhaust pipes are nowhere to be seen, although they could be tucked away for a neater look.

According to the publication, there will be three variants of the VF11 – regular petrol powered, plug-in hybrid, and full electric. The petrol will get a 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder making 177 hp, whereas the hybrid gets the same 1.5L unit plus an electric motor. Both variants will be launched in June, and the full electric version is said to join the line-up later in the year.

For equipment, it’s unclear what exactly the MPV will get, but a large panoramic glass roof is certainly among the cards. A choice of five-, six- or seven-seater versions will be available at launch.