Great Wall Motor (GWM) Malaysia‘s first MPV and PHEV is launching 11am tomorrow (Thursday, January 29). Click here to watch the launch of the GWM Wey G9 live.
Open for booking since December at a sub-RM300k estimated price, the Wey G9 is locally assembled (CKD) at EP Manufacturing’s (EPMB) Pegoh, Melaka plant. Our car is expected to be the seven-seat (2-2-3 layout) short-wheelbase version (Gaoshan 7 in China; there are longer 8 and 9 versions). Length, width, height and wheelbase are respectively 5,050, 1,960, 1,900 and 3,085 mm.
That makes it longer in both body and wheelbase than the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire, but shorter than its compatriots (Zeekr 009, Xpeng X9, Denza D9), all of which are over 5.2 metres long and have wheelbases between 3.1 and 3.2 metres. By the way, the first Malaysian CKD units are already on their way to Thailand.
Power comes from a Hi4 plug-in hybrid powertrain, with a 1.5 litre turbo four-cylinder engine making 150 PS from 5,500 to 6,000 rpm and 240 Nm of torque between 1,800 and 4,000 rpm, mated to a four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). This integrates a 109 PS/170 Nm electric motor to drive the front wheels, with another 184 PS/232 Nm motor on the rear axle.
A combined output of 442 PS and 642 Nm of torque sprints the all-wheel-drive G9 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and onwards to a 200 km/h top speed. A 44.2-kWh NMC battery delivers a pure electric range of 170 km on the NEDC cycle, and thanks to a 58-litre tank, the total range is a quoted 1,000 km.
Thailand gives us an idea of what we could get – for 2.4 million baht (RM309k), the car has 18-inch two-tone multi-spoke alloys, two sunroofs, 64-colour ambient lighting, powered/ventilated front seats, driver’s seat memory and massage, plus one-touch reclining second-row seats with built-in ottomans.
Furthermore, there’s a rear fridge, a 12.3-inch instrument panel, a head-up display, a 14.6-inch touch-screen, a 17.3-inch rear monitor, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 50W wireless charging, 21 speakers and a hands-free tailgate.
Safety-wise, the Thai G9 comes with six airbags, a 360-degree camera and a full complement of driver assists, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, parking AEB, blind spot monitoring with collision prevention, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, a door opening warning and even hill descent control. All will be revealed tomorrow.
GWM Wey G9 as previewed in Malaysia in September (middle-wheelbase version)
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