Chery looks set to expand its SUV range even further upwards in Australia.
The Chinese brand has already confirmed the Mitsubishi Outlander-rivalling, three-row Tiggo 8 Pro Max for a May 2024 launch, and now another SUV has appeared in government approval documents.
The Omoda C9 is similar in size to the Kia Sorento, but has only two rows of seating.
In markets like China, it’s badged as the RX or Yaoguang and sold under Chery’s premium Exeed brand, while in some export markets it’s sold as the C9 under the standalone Omoda brand.
“This model is under consideration, but no confirmed plans yet,” said a spokesperson for Chery Australia.
Should it be sold here, it’s unclear if it’ll be sold under the Chery brand or if Omoda will be rolled out as a separate brand here; the approval documents list the make as Omoda.
Chery is already preparing to launch a spinoff brand in Australia in the second half of 2024 with Jaecoo. Its inaugural product, the J7, is sold as a Chery in China.
The approval documents list two variants of the Omoda C9: one with front-wheel drive and one with all-wheel drive, both with a 183kW turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
According to the documents, the Omoda C9 measures 4774mm long, 1932mm wide and 1686mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase.
Tare mass is between 1790kg and 1865kg, while both models ride on 20-inch alloy wheels.
While a full equipment list isn’t available, in China the SUV is offered with dual 12.3-inch screens; heated, ventilated and massaging power-adjustable front seats finished in Nappa leather; LED headlights with adaptive high-beam; a panoramic sunroof; and an augmented reality head-up display.
All models use a Sony sound system, with either eight or 14 speakers depending on the variant.
There’s also a full suite of active safety and driver assist technology available, including adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-traffic assist.
Chery also offers the Exeed Yaoguang, as it’s known in China, with a plug-in hybrid powertrain using a 1.5-litre Miller cycle four-cylinder engine.
This is mated with either two or three electric motors, and either 19.43kWh or 34.46kWh batteries. Total system outputs are 270kW of power and 605Nm of torque with the dual-motor configuration, or 445kW and 915Nm with the tri-motor plug-in powertrain.
No plug-in hybrid version appears in the Australian Government approval documents.
Chery has been busily expanding its Omoda range. In addition to the C9, a rechristened Exeed, and the Omoda 5, Chery has also revealed the Omoda 7 to slot in between them.
