Yet another upcoming model has been teased online in Malaysia. This time, it’s an image of the new Omoda C9 SUV. And as part of the Chery group, it just happens to be a rebadged Exeed Yaoguang (as you see in the photo above). The news was released in a joint post by Omoda Malaysia and Jaecoo Malaysia. The image shared on its social media accounts features the phrase, “A new chapter is about to begin,” while another sub-title suggests that the vehicle in “Coming soon” to the Malaysian market.
In order to complement Chery’s export strategy, Omoda and Jaecoo (collectively, “O&J”) operate as distinct brands outside of China, even though they typically use the same dealers.
However, Jaecoo is a distinct brand with its own freestanding dealerships, while Omoda is being marketed under the Chery name in Malaysia. The recent launch of Omoda Malaysia’s social media accounts and rebranding suggests that we may soon adopt the same approach as other markets.
Based on the M3X chassis, the Omoda C9 is a five-seater mid-size SUV sometimes referred to as the Yaoguang or Exeed RX in China. Unveiled in early 2023, the Omoda C9’s dimensions are 4,775 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,671 mm in height, with a 2,800 mm wheelbase. With these measurements, it is positioned as being larger than the Honda CR-V but smaller than the Proton X90 or Chery Tiggo 8 Pro.
Based on the specs provided by the China Domestic Market, the Omoda C9 has a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DCT). Only the front wheels drive this engine, which produces 261 hp and 400 Nm of torque. In addition, an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive (AWD) are available on the Chinese-market Exeed RX.
The Omoda C9 also comes with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option that pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with a dedicated hybrid gearbox (DHT) that has three speeds. Either an extra rear motor or a front electric motor is part of the PHEV system. It can produce up to 619 horsepower and 920 Nm of torque when used in tandem.
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In Malaysia, Jaecoo has already revealed the J8, in addition to the Omoda C9. Rumors pointed to a local launch by Q4 2024 for the Jaecoo J8, and because it is in the same market segment as the Omoda C9, it would be interesting to see how Chery distinguishes the two models from each other.