Chery new model roll-out firms

CHERY looks set to maintain its new-model cadence with a varied range of vehicles headed to Australia over the next 12-18 months.

Alongside SUVs wearing the Chery marque are models from Omoda and Jaecoo, including not only SUVs but also four-wheel drives and dual-cab utilities – potentially with trade-tough body-on-frame underpinnings.

Speaking with GoAuto at the launch of the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 CSH in the Hunter Valley this week, Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris said that in addition to the Omoda 9’s arrival next month, the importer is also set to offer a more rugged vehicle in the four-wheel drive space.

“While it’s too soon to confirm specifics, what is confirmed is a proper, ladder-frame chassis off-road platform that will arrive in the form of a dual-cab pick-up in the second half of next year,” he said, potentially referencing the Rely branded ute teased earlier this year.

“There are a lot of different options available to us for pick-ups – it is not just the one-tonne ladder-frame chassis that we are exploring.”

Adding to his Australian colleague’s remarks, Chery Automobile head of product development and director of pre-research and vehicle architecture Dr Xianqiang (David) Lu told GoAuto the new-model roll-out is likely to maintain a pace similar to that exhibited over the past 18 months or more.

“So, we do have our launch cadence in place, and there is a lot going-on on the homologation side,” he hinted.

“A four-by-four will come very soon, and of course the ‘9’ is almost here. But we are looking at other vehicles including a (pick-up) truck and sedans.

“We will see what fits for the Australian and New Zealand market.”

In referencing comments made separately about the localised tune of ADAS and chassis settings for Australian and New Zealand markets, Dr Lu suggested that the utility and four-wheel drive offerings may benefit from even greater collaboration with local engineering teams.

“We are also considering putting more resources into the development side and working with local engineering teams – we have a bigger plan for here (Australia),” he smiled.

While neither Mr Harris nor Dr Lu would be drawn on which dual-cab model would arrive in Australia first, there is suggestion that the Rely 08 is the best fit for the four-wheel drive pick-up segment, offering specifications closest to those of popular entrants like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

The Rely 08 – which may surface locally as the Chery Himla – is powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder diesel engine producing 120kW/420Nm paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The combination drives all four wheels via a dual-range transfer case, with the platform capable of hosting not only diesel power, but also both petrol and diesel plug-in hybrid options, and a battery electric alternative down the track.

It is understood the model offers comparable off-road and towing capabilities, meaning it should offer a class-competitive braked towing capacity of 3500kg when it arrives Down Under.