THE Omoda C9 sports utility vehicle (SUV) Coupe will be making its way to Malaysia's market by the end of this year, and it will be placed under the care of Jaecoo Malaysia.

This to some comes with a bit of confusion since the Omoda name generally falls under the Chery brand in Malaysia.

Simply put, as the first premium off-road SUV Coupe in Southeast Asia, C9's D-segment disposition falls in-line with Jaecoo's purview of premium off-road experience. 

Leveraging on Jaecoo's high-end persona also allows the C9 to position itself as a sport-performance centric model while drawing distinction between Chery's more family-oriented image.

To expand on the matter, the Omoda C9 is called the Exeed Yaoguang or Exeed RX in China. Strategically both Chery and Jaecoo reasoned it doesn't make much sense to introduce a third brand into Malaysia for the sole purpose to bring in another model line. 

This arrangement is only exclusive to the Omoda C9 however, as both the Omoda 5 as with the Tiggo brand will still be paired with the Chery name for their thematic characteristics and pricing.

“The C9 compliments our growing portfolio of SUVs and we are excited to introduce it to the market at a competitive price point set below RM200,000. The C9 is officially open for registration of interest with the C9 Two-wheel drive (2WD) estimated at RM185,000 and the C9 All-Wheel Drive (AWD) estimated at RM195,000," said Jaecoo Malaysia vice president Emily Lek.

"Ahead of our official launch in December, we are excited to share that the public will have the opportunity to experience the C9 at our upcoming roadshows scheduled for the end of October.

Further elaborating on the brand’s strategy with the C9, Lek explained Jaecoo is focused on providing premium SUVs to customers where the C9 model is backed by independent innovation, advanced technology, and commitment to quality. 

"We started with the J7 and the response from the Malaysian market continues to be exceptional," added Lek.

Powered by a 2.0 TGDI inline four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 257 Hp and 400Nm of torque, the C9's two variants features different amount of drive modes - 2WD variant features three drive modes while the AWD variant features seven drive modes to navigate urban and off-road terrains. 

Supporting the drive experience are R20 multi-blade alloy rims, 245/50 high performance Michelin tyres, all-round adaptive suspension, and MacPherson struts suspension in the front and a rear multilink suspension. 

Measuring at 1,671mm x 1,920mm x 4,775mm (height/width/length), the C9 has a wheelbase measuring at 2,800mm and a ground clearance of 165mm which enables it to wade through water at a maximum depth of 450mm. The rear boot has a 660 litre to 1,783 litre capacity.

Externally the C9 features a diamond matrix air intake grille, sigma-designed daytime running lights, intelligent adaptive control LED headlights, acoustic windshield, keyless door entry with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology alongside a walkaway locking system, and flush door handles. 

Advance driving and safety features comes in the form of Continuous Damping Control (CDC), a level 2.5 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Change Assist (LCA) and Emergency Lane Keep Assist (ELKA). 

The model's body is made of 85% high strength steel and is equipped with 8 airbags. 

Highlight inside the cabin encompasses the active rhythmatic ambient lighting and 24.6 inch single panel HD display. Centre console and dashboard wrapped in premium soft touch leather comes with air vents, wireless mobile charging (50W). three zone air conditioning system, a steering wheel paddle shifters, a windscreen heads-up display, transmission gear selector, and a Driver Monitoring System (DMS) with embedded navigation feature.

The built-in digital video recorder (DVR) enables drivers a 540-degree around view monitor, while the driver’s seat is electric powered with eight adjustable positions and a driver memory seat capacity for six positions. Front seats are also ventilated.

The AWD variant is equipped with 14 surround sound speakers with personalised speakers embedded in the driver’s seat. 

“We are looking forward to prepare the market for the introduction of the Omoda C9 ahead of our official launch in December. We take pride in understanding the market’s needs and preferences. We believe the C9 fulfils the market’s desire for a new exploration of attainable luxury,” said Chery Corporate Malaysia executive vice president Leo Chen.