Among the hustle and bustle of the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, Daihatsu quietly displayed an upcoming compact SUV – without a name, even – at their stands.
With the rumours floating about on a new compact SUV from Perodua with the code name D55L, could this be our first look at the upcoming local B-segment SUV?
The unnamed SUV is styled to portray a sporty and aggressive appearance. The front facade features a tall face, with a large hexagonal grille taking the spotlight. Flanking the grille are the headlight enclosures, which features LED reflectors and an eyebrow-styled turn indicator light strip.
Underneath the headlights are the fog lamps, parking sensors and vertical LED daytime-running lights, tucked neatly in an angular moulding on the bumpers.
The compact SUV also features a stereoscopic camera setup at the top of the windshield, pointing at the inclusion of advanced safety features such as auto emergency braking.
On the side, the wheel arches are wrapped in black cladding, joining the front bumper lips, side skirts and the rear bumper to create a rugged look. The five-seater SUV rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, with 195/60 section tyres.
The C-pillar of the compact SUV is painted in body colour, while the rest are painted in black along with the roof to create a “floating roof” effect, similar to that of the Volvo XC40.
Moving on, the rear design of the B-segment SUV emanates a certain sense of familiarity to the current-generation Perodua Myvi, with two-piece horizontal taillamps joined by a gloss-black trim piece.
The lower apron features a decorative black “vent”, along with the bumper-mounted registration plate, further emphasising the similarities between the two cars.
Moving inside, the dashboard features a layered design, with attention drawn directly to the free-standing infotainment display. A satin silver air-conditioning vent is placed right underneath the touchscreen display, followed by the automatic climate controls and the push-start button on the lower section.
The hexagonal-shaped motif of the grille also carries into the interior, with the air vents, instrument cluster housing, door handles and door card pockets all featuring the geometric design.
The centre control stack is angled slightly towards the driver, joined by a centre console featuring the gear selector, mechanical hand brake and arm rest separating the front passengers.
Powering the compact SUV is a 996-cc three-cylinder engine, capable of producing 98 hp and 140 Nm of torque. A CVT gearbox transfers the drive from the engine to the front wheels.
Daihatsu has not provided any information on the launch date of the unnamed SUV, although the car looks to be production-ready in its current form. Would you get one if this handsome SUV makes its way to our shores with a Perodua badge?
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