Having been previewed earlier this year, the Jaecoo J7 is set to make its official debut in Malaysia sometime in the first half of 2024. This will make our country the first in Southeast Asia to launch the “urban premium off-road SUV”, the company says in a press release.
At launch, Jaecoo will also have its own dealership network, with the brand set to be marketed as a separate entity to Chery.
Ahead of its scheduled launch, the Jaecoo J7 has undergone an off-road assessment at the Malaysia 4WD Training and Experience Centre (M4TREC), where it successfully navigated numerous “extreme off-road tests” including roller ramp, articulation test, and ridge crossings.
The company attributes the SUV’s off-road capabilities to the All Road Drive Intelligent System (ARDIS), which offers up to 10 different off-road driving modes, with specific drivetrain logic and simulated differential lock capability via the Bosch Intelligent Power Brake (IPB) control system, in order to tackle the for various challenging surfaces and driving conditions.
The Jaecoo J7 is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, which makes up to 197 hp and 290 Nm of torque, with power sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Performance wise, the Chinese carmaker says that the powertrain rivals other luxury brands’ 2.0-litre turbocharged engines, allowing the J7 to accelerate from 0-30 km/h in “just 2.9 seconds” for better “rapid overtaking of off-road extrication”.
Other key advantages of the J7 for off-roading include its 200 mm ground clearance, a wading depth of 600 mm, as well as its 21-degrees approach angle and 29-degrees of departure angle.
READ MORE: Jaecoo J7 passes off-road & moose tests at M4TREC with flying colours
Finalised equipment list for the Jaecoo J7 isn’t available for the Malaysian market, but based on the unit previewed to the media, the off-road capable SUV should arrive here with a 14.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, powered front seats with ventilation and heating functions, and a large panoramic sunroof that measures 1.1 square metres.
The Jaecoo J7 will also come equipped with an extensive list of advanced driver features, boasting some 21 individual functions including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring, among others.
ALSO READ: Jaecoo J7 previewed in Malaysia – X70 rival launching mid-2024
