What do we have here from reader Pra Na Krish? On the surface, it’s a Mitsubishi Xpander, a Suzuki Ertiga and a funny looking Toyota Avanza getting a good cardio workout by climbing Genting Highlands, all of them wearing trade plates.
That’s rather strange, given that the latest Ertiga (the one with the Volvo-style tail lamps) and Xpander aren’t sold in Malaysia. The latest Avanza with the Vellfire face is, but why is the MPV looking so shady here? Who’s behind this?
If this covert operation has Perodua written all over it; true enough, the B1400A and B1756A trade plates seen on the Avanza and Xpander here belong to the Rawang carmaker, and have been spotted on prototype Myvis before.
With that established, the Avanza does appear slightly strange here; that, plus the benchmarked budget MPVs (all are big players in the Low MPV segment in Indonesia) could point to Perodua developing an MPV. Today’s Alza, based on the Japanese Toyota Passo Sette/Daihatsu Boon Luminas, has been around in current form since 2009. That’s a full decade ago. Could this be a “new Alza” currently being developed by P2, under the rumoured D27A codename?
An all-new Perodua Alza could very well share a platform with the Toyota Avanza, as Daihatsu in Indonesia and Perodua in Malaysia are all part of the greater Toyota family. Indeed, Perodua produces certain T-badged models, and the NR engine it makes in Negeri Sembilan is supplied to Toyota as well.
It’s pretty much the same in Indonesia, where Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM) takes the development lead in joint Daihatsu-Toyota models (Ayla-Agya, Sigra-Calya and Terios-Rush) and manufactures the budget Toyotas as well.
A new Alza going the shared underpinnings with ADM route also follows the trend where Perodua no longer bases its cars on Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) models, but shares underpinnings with its Indonesian counterpart while developing in-house top hat upper body design plus interior.
The current Myvi is the best example of P2’s R&D capabilities – the hatchback is unique to Malaysia and isn’t a restyled Daihatsu. We could be looking at more integration, and the next Alza could be a mainstream Low MPV contender instead of a JDM oddity.
If the new Alza is going to be a sister of the next-gen Toyota Avanza, which itself is very long in the tooth, could the duo be the production version of the Daihatsu DN Multisix concept car shown in GIIAS 2017 and Tokyo 2017?
There’s also the Daihatsu HY Fun concept MPV shown at the recent GIIAS 2019; stylistically, it’s a longer shot, but the HY Fun hints at a hybrid powertrain, which Perodua also showcased at KLIMS 2018. Perodua has been proactive in introducing active safety tech to its range of late, will hybrid powertrains be its next push?
These are early days and the spotted test mule is exactly what it is: a development car using a random shell for road testing purposes. It’s all jigsaw pieces at the moment, but something is definitely brewing in Sg Choh, and the budget people carrier segment is about to get interesting.
GALLERY: Daihatsu DN Multisix Concept at GIIAS 2017
GALLERY: Daihatsu HY Fun Concept at GIIAS 2019
GALLERY: Perodua-Daihatsu hybrid tech at KLIMS 2018
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Its well known P2 plan new model every year.
so this gonna be 2020 all new P2 Alza to P1 jiaji.
Jiaji would be like twice more expensive than Alza. Jiaji is huge.
Exora is huge than Alza but for every unit of exora sold, p2 put 3 alzas on the road.
Buyer want big people carrier but buy smaller people carrier coz they cant afford big people carrier?
or
My market does not favour big people carrier?
or
Cars in My are bloody expensive coz gomen need to protect local player?
Gomen shud raise import duty to protect Proton. It is our only ‘true’ national car.
Huge Exora means heavier and harder for it to climb up Genting, especially when loaded with multiple wifes in the car.
looks like Perodua not benchmarking against outdated India’s Honda BR-V/Mobilio and Malaysia’s rebadged India 1st generation Ertiga.
Indonesia’s Avanza, Expander and India’s 2nd generation Ertiga is being used instead.
Abit dissapointed it’s not benchmarked against Japan’s Sienta and Freed.
Ertiga is actually designed for Indonesia, not Indian. The prove comes from the name itself which means 3 rows seating. Row 3 = R3 = Ertiga
India launched Suzuki Ertiga before Indonesia in 2012. India also premiere Suzuki Ertiga at india AutoShow in 2010.
Nasi Lemak is malaysia’s. But Singaporean still can claim It’s thier. India showcased Ertiga and launched it there first, with sales figure even higher than Indonesia itself too.
To add on, even the Ertiga SUV launched at India before Indonesia.
https://paultan.org/2019/08/23/suzuki-xl6-launched-rugged-ertiga-with-captain-seats/
The Writer forgot to add this 2017 MPV concept by Perodua also:
http://paultan.org/2017/01/20/perodua-concept-x-showcasing-design-capabilities/
I would have preferred the ALZA replacement to be based on a car platform, which the current ALZA is basically running on a stretched MYVI platform.
The ALZA replacement on something like the AVANZA is a step back in comfort levels IMO.
The Alza should be a stretched myvi platform. If P2 thinks they can go with a ladder frame platform from the Avanza, they are making a big mistake.
I’m liking the myvi platform. would look cun and reduce cost further for parts and accessories.
That’s an Indonesian-spec Xpander, bought in a dealer in Indonesia and sent to Malaysia. There is a variant badging ‘Ultimate’, not seen on any Xpander outside Indonesia, and a yellow dealer sticker on top of the tailgate window, common in Indonesia.
1. I suspect UMW going to CKD the Toyota Avanza in Perodua plant.
2. Perodua will restyle their version of the Avanza with different grille and bumpers.
3. Toyota Rush and Toyota Avanza is based on the same ladderframe chassis.
4. Toyota Rush and Perodua Aruz is built on the same production line at Perodua manufacturing.
5. Perodua Avanza will share the same assembly line with Perodua Aruz in Perodua manufacturing.
6. Sad that the next Alza is not based on the car like Perodua Myvi or based on the Toyota Sienta.
I don’t understand how UMW Toyota doing their business here. The Aruz itself kill the Rush, so will Alza on Avanza. The past few years number shows how much their volume is decreasing while more of these go into Perodua’s sales on top of Honda chewing their pie for breakfast.
Or is it a win-win situation for them?
toyota vs p2. whoever win, umw win. u got that?
Don’t forget Perodua is not belongs to UMW, maybe Toyota bored with UMW keep selling cutdown spec and polluted Toyota’s name in Malaysia so they just want to hamtam UMW with Perodua selling cheaper price (which is a lot cheaper) but nearly the same spec… After all they just want to use our production line to save cost anyway, it’s an always win for Toyota.
Previously it was opined that the big car manufacturers were sidelining Malaysia due to the government’s emphasis on Proton. But now with investments made by Toyota, Perodua and Geely, looks like Malaysia is back in the picture
Well done perodua
No mood to read Automotive news after read the PH new fuel subsidy scheme. Sob…
Nobody cares
If it’s going to replace the avanza, I do hope it is a RWD too.
Please analyze to Dauhatsu Sigra recent advertise in Trans Tv and Trans 7 Channel in Indinesia
perodua developing a car? u sure? or its a bumper?
It’s another perodua designed name Myza, kacukan myvi dgn alza
My opinion P2 just rebadge toyota sienta as a new Perodua Alza.. P2 can reduce the price like Perodua Aruz.. People will loved it..