Perodua Prepares A New Crossover That Is Said To Be A Yaris Cross Twin

The new Perodua car silhouette is Yaris Cross's twin. (Photo: Paultan)

JAKARTA After officially releasing its first electric vehicle (EV) a few days ago, Perodua has warmed the automotive market again by displaying their latest teaser model through a short video on social media. Although the information is still limited, many suspect that the model is a long-awaited crossover segment B, coded D66B.

This model is said to be sharing many similarities with the DNGA platform-based Toyota Yaris Cross, which won the ASEAN NCAP five-star safety rating last August. Interestingly, a report related to the Yaris Cross for the Malaysian market lists Malaysia's production for the Malaysian market, confirming allegations that the SUV-B will be present in two versions, namely as Toyota and Perodua.

For Perodua, the name Nexis or Traz has resurfaced, referring to the trademark submission that has been made more than three years ago. Like the relationship between the Perodua Alza and Toyota Veloz, the Perodua version of D66B is expected to appear with a touch of different designs despite sharing the same base.

In the latest teaser, Perodua only shows the front grip with a L insertion pattern, in contrast to the U-style design on the Yaris Cross. The video also features a D66B dark silhouette that, after being digitally illuminated, shows a resemblance to the Yaris Cross, from a sleek forward light to a tilted chrom accent in the C pillar area.

Reporting from Paultan, Wednesday, December 10, Perodua has not disclosed machine specifications for the Nexis/Traz. As an illustration, in Indonesia Yaris Cross comes with a 1.5 liter 2NR-VE gasoline engine powered by 106 PS and a 138 Nm torque, with a manual transmission option of five accelerations or CVT.

While in Thailand, this model is available in a hybrid variant combining 1.5 liter 2NR-VEX engines with electric motors, resulting in a total power of 111 PS. The previous D66B launch is projected to take place in April 2024, referring to the Kenanga Research report.

But the company's focus on developing the Q-VE model is thought to be the reason for the delay. Now, with the official teaser release, the indication is clear that D66B's debut is getting closer and positioned above Perodua Astiva in their SUV lineup.

As an illustration, Amiva is currently marketed from 62,500 ringgit (or equivalent to Rp253 million) to 73,100 ringgit, or equivalent to Rp259 million.

If you look at the market enthusiasm and track record of the Perodua 'Toyota collaboration, D66B has the potential to become one of the most attractive models in next year's compact SUV segment.