Renders of should-be Jeep rival prove accurate as Chinese brand’s all-new off-road SUV emerges
The 2023 Chery TJ-1 made its first public appearance at the Shanghai auto show last month ahead of its Australian introduction later this year, but the inbound SsangYong Torres rival is still without an official nameplate.
Photographed in full at China’s biggest auto show by PaulTan.org, the rugged new mid-size SUV looks almost exactly the same as the pre-show renders predicted it would in January, with a bold front-end design dominated by a Musso-esque square grille and matching rectangular features.
This blocky theme continues down the flanks of the vehicle to the rear, where we find a chunky rear bumper, bulbous square exhaust outlets and a pixel-style full-width rear lighting signature.
Straight lines also define the interior, where there’s a layered dashboard, widescreen portrait infotainment screen said to span 14.8 inches, free-standing digital instrument cluster and a decidedly rectangular centre console offering plenty of storage and housing a particularly chunky gear selector.
The TJ-1 is yet to appear anywhere on Chery’s international or Chinese websites, but PaulTan.org is reporting an overall length of 4515mm, 1865mm width and a 2675mm wheelbase, with propulsion duties set to be taken care of by a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and a 1.5-litre turbo plug-in hybrid system.
Word is the internal combustion engine will be paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the PHEV will offer an all-electric driving range of more than 100km.
Specifics haven’t been revealed yet, but the plug-in system is pretty much guaranteed to be the same dual-motor system as seen in the just-detailed Chery Tiggo 7 and 8 PRO e+ duo, meaning up to 180kW/510Nm will be on offer from the petrol engine and dual electric motors.
All-wheel drive will supposedly be available across the range and a major drawcard of the PHEV version(s), given the extra power, control and capability Chery says it adds, no doubt aided off-road by the body’s short overhangs.
Last week was also a milestone period for Chery’s flagship SUV, the Chery Tiggo 9, which also made its first public appearance and became available to pre-order in China ahead of its official release there on May 9.
Chinese pricing for the seven-seat SUV starts from ¥155,000 – the equivalent of $A33,792 – with drive coming exclusively from a 192kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.
A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic handles transmission duties and sends power to the front wheels.
Chery Australia executives have previously indicated the Tiggo 9 is a strong chance for our market, but the Chinese brand’s new flagship SUV would likely arrive here after the already-confirmed Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 8 Pro and TJ-1 mid-size SUVs are released locally later this year.
Image source: PaulTan.org
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Keyword: Chery TJ-1 makes surprise appearance in Shanghai