Toyota distributor UMW Toyota Motor is continuing its painfully slow tease of its upcoming CKD locally-assembled hybrids, finally confirming officially that it is reintroducing petrol-electric vehicles in Malaysia soon. The move is a long time coming, as it was made known as early as February.
This is, however, the first time it is communicating an impending launch in no uncertain terms, although it has revealed precious little in terms of actual details (i.e. not advertising fluff). What it did do is release a few teaser images that pretty much nail down the identity of the first model due to be sold here.
As you can see here, the photos show simple line drawings of the car, but the shape hints at it being an SUV. Then there are the identifying features such as the large grille, relatively big headlights and distinctive front and rear fender bulges that prove beyond all reasonable doubt that this is, in fact, the Corolla Cross Hybrid. Not surprising, given that petrol version is due to be assembled locally this year.
To recap, the Corolla Cross Hybrid pairs a 1.8 litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine – which makes 98 PS at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm at 3,600 rpm – to a 72 PS/163 Nm electric motor, resulting in a total system output of 122 PS. The car is already being sold in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, so it is obviously very important to Toyota’s electrification plans in the region.
Aside from the Corolla Cross Hybrid, you can also expect the Corolla sedan (already spotted here in hybrid form two years ago) and Camry to get hybrid variants as soon as they are locally assembled. The news coincides with the 12th Malaysia Plan revealed today, which among others, confirms that the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint will be implemented to promote the use of energy-efficient vehicles, hybrid and electric vehicles, so there’s likely a tie-in of some kind.
The official Toyota Malaysia website also teases a “Live Hybrid Film Premiere” in just under 17 days’ time, putting the reveal at October 14. Hopefully it will be an official launch instead of yet another teaser. As usual, we will bring you more news as we get them.
GALLERY: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, Thai-spec
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Yeay, finally toyota hybrid is back
Toyota can talk so much till the cows come home but we still waiting for perodua hybrid cars since 2003. Why PT never highlight this is a mystery. Perodua have 28 year ties with Daihatsu and Toyota yet still not get an entry to their hybrid tech and not a peep from PT writers. Meanwhile Proton have a freshly made 4 year old start with Geely and yet PT writers feel the need to harp on Proton getting EV tech from Geely. Is there an agenda to plotek P2 while whacking P1?
Not so, you can never erase Proton’s bad past and it’s not to say their current position is that great either. Have a look at the X70 owner’s FB page to see their issues. Proton might have a ‘fresh’ start but it’s never a fresh beginning when you have the same old donkeys working inside and deciding the future of the company.
Nice try, why not go have at look at the umpteen problems faced by Ativa owners FB.
Perodua never promised to make EV cars. Also, PT is just posting normal articles with no bias. Don’t be like the Proton haters last yr in X50 articles.
We report on news as they come. We’d love to talk about Perodua’s electrification plans but nothing has been forthcoming on that front and we can’t just conjure up articles out of thin air.
Oh really? You folks certain did an excellent piece of fiction out of thin air
https://paultan.org/2021/09/04/opinion-we-now-have-premium-evs-in-malaysia-but-where-are-the-affordable-electric-cars-that-we-can-buy/
Yea banzai Toyota. The Emperor is back!
Whats with the crap quality images?
Look closely. It’s corolla cross
Still crap though, nonetheless.
These images is just teaser
Its a good, fuel champ TNGA Hybrid SUV, still cheaper than C-HR 1.8L?
Even the 1.8L Corolla Cross is great.
Priced and specced well and it will fly off the shelves! Hopefully by Q1 next year?
change the tv screen & will sell good
Not tv screen, but like display audio screen. But display audio screen still come with 9 inch with touch screen, but not too small. So no problem at all.