P2 has finally unveiled the long-awaited ‘D66B’ SUV model today, now officially known as the Perodua Traz. The B-segment crossover is available in two variants, namely X and H, with prices starting from RM76,100 – but keen-eyed readers might have noticed a key omission in the Perodua Traz’ feature set.
While both variants of the Perodua Traz come as standard with the Perodua Smart Drive Assist advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) suite, including features such as lane departure prevention and autonomous emergency braking, they both notably lack adaptive cruise control (ACC). That is in spite of the fact that the feature is already present on the more affordable Perodua models, including the Myvi and Ativa.
When quizzed during a press conference during a media preview session of the model, Perodua Manufacturing Director of R&D, Jehan Adnan, explained that the feature’s omission was due to the “batch planning” process employed by Toyota Motor Corporation for models built on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform.
“The philosophy of [the] DNGA [platform] is batch planning. So the Perodua has already been planned for many years ahead,” she explained, adding that the model was already in the planning phase around the same time as the Ativa, which was also built on the same DNGA platform.
The model’s feature set was initially catered for a model launch years ago, but due to the regulatory scandal that has plagued Daihatsu and Toyota in recent years, the model’s introduction has to be delayed. And by then, due to the batch planning process, it is too late to ‘add-on’ the latest ADAS suite to the model, which includes ACC.
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Perodua says that the delayed introduction of the Perodua Traz is also part of the reason why the model is not offered with an Advanced (AV) variant, which is usually the range-topping variant on all Perodua models.
“The model was planned for launch two years ago. But looking at the competitors and at the features of this model, we think it’s not – maybe, to be honest – up to the current standard of market. Therefore, we decided that [it’s better to not include] the AV variant”, explained Perodua CEO and President, Dato Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
“If we have more time to develop these features, including the latest trend in the market, maybe we would then consider an AV variant”, he added, stopping short of revealing if there would be an AV variant for the Perodua Traz in the future.
While Perodua would never admit it, another possible reason for the feature’s omission could also be for the purpose of a clearer product distinction between the Traz and a Toyota counterpart that is heavily rumoured to also arrive in Malaysia soon.
As opposed to the mainly cosmetic changes between the Perodua Alza/Toyota Veloz, and Aruz/Rush, rumours suggest that the upcoming Toyota Yaris Cross will further distance itself from the Traz with actual mechanical differences, thanks to a new hybrid powertrain underneath the bonnet instead of P2’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated mill.
We presume that if the rumours are true, then the ACC feature alongside other modern convenience niceties like a fully digital instrument cluster could also likely be reserved for the Toyota, marking it out as the more “premium” option. Of course, expect a similarly premium price tag north of the RM100k mark, too.
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