Tag Archives: off-road SUV

NEWS

Jetour T2 with three body kit concepts showcased at 2025 Auto Shanghai

The Jetour T2 is a mid-size SUV that features a unibody construction and offers characteristics suitable for off-road driving.

In its standard version, the Jetour T2 boasts a boxy SUV design reminiscent of the popular Land Rover Defender.

This design element is accentuated by a variety of accessories available for customization, based on the presence of several body kit variants showcased at Auto Shanghai 2025.

Near the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao hotel, where the media are staying, Jetour displayed the T2 Stargazer version, complete with accessories such as:

  • A front bumper with a protective bar
  • A more aggressive grille
  • Distinctive alloy wheels
  • Side steps
  • A taller engine hood
  • A roof rack
  • Wider front and rear fenders
  • A foldable ladder on the left side
  • An external storage box on the right side
  • An external storage compartment on the tailgate door
  • Protective metal for the rear light housing

At the Jetour International Business Annual Conference dinner, they presented two additional accessory concepts known as Stargazer Air and Nexus Sentinel.

Unlike the Stargazer, the Stargazer Air package is more streamlined, lacking features such as a roof rack, side storage box, and foldable ladder.

The Nexus Sentinel accessory package features a futuristic and modern design, with wider front and rear fenders, an aerodynamic roof rack, and a cyberpunk-style fuel tank cover.

For your information, Jetour has previously confirmed plans to launch the Jetour T2 SUV model in the Malaysian market soon.

 

Jetour T2 Stargazer

 

Jetour T2 Stargazer Air

 

Jetour T2 Nexus Sentinel

NEWS

Jetour T2 set to arrive in Malaysia: here’s what you need to know

During the launch of the Jetour Dashing in early April, Jetour Malaysia also revealed plans to introduce a lineup of crossover and off-road SUV models to the local market.

One of the off-road SUVs confirmed for entry into Malaysia is the Jetour T2, also known as the Traveller in the Chinese market.

The Jetour T2 is a mid-size SUV built on the Kunlun unibody platform and features design elements inspired by the popular Land Rover Defender.

It measures 4,785 mm in length, 2,036 mm in width, 1,960 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,800 mm.

The Jetour T2 offers a 28-degree approach angle, a 30-degree departure angle, and a ground clearance of 220 mm, aided by MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear.

Similar to the Dashing, the design of the T2 was created by former Porsche designer Hakan Saracoglu.

In terms of power, the Jetour T2 is available with a choice of a 1.5-liter turbo engine (181 hp/290 Nm) paired with a seven-speed DCT transmission.

There is also a 2.0-liter turbo engine option (251 hp/390 Nm) that can be matched with either a seven-speed DCT or an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the T2 is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo engine combined with two electric motors and a three-speed DHT transmission, producing a total output of 375 hp and 610 Nm.

With a 26.7 kWh battery pack, the T2 PHEV (or T2 i-DM) can achieve an electric-only driving range of 139 km, with a total range of up to 1,000 km.

Currently, Jetour Malaysia has yet to announce the specifications for the T2 that will be launched later.

At the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao, Jetour showcased the right-hand drive (RHD) version of the T2, which is reportedly still in the prototype stage.

In addition to the right-hand steering position, the Jetour T2 RHD is equipped with a 10.25-inch digital cluster screen, a 15.6-inch central display, a panoramic glass roof, and leather-wrapped seating.

On the center console, there is a rotary dial for selecting driving modes (economy, standard, sports, snow, mud, sand, rock, and adaptive X), as well as a relatively large gear shifter.

Along with a cargo space of 580 liters, the Jetour T2 also provides an external storage box mounted on the tailgate door.

Aligning with its nature as an off-road SUV, Jetour offers a variety of accessories that can be installed, including roof racks, storage boxes on the C/D pillars, foldable ladders, and more.

Advanced safety features included are front collision warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW), blind spot monitoring (BSD), door opening warning (DOW), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance (LKA), and adaptive cruise control (ACC).

One question remains: What price will Jetour Malaysia set for the T2 SUV?

NEWS

GWM Malaysia opens bookings for off-road SUV Tank 500 HEV, estimated price below RM350k

GWM Malaysia has recently announced the opening of bookings for the luxurious off-road SUV model, the Tank 500 HEV, for the local market.

The Tank 500 HEV is fundamentally a seven-seater SUV, boasting dimensions of 5,078 mm in length, 1,934 mm in width, and 1,905 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm.

It is powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbo engine paired with a single electric motor that delivers 105 hp and 268 Nm of torque, along with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Overall, the Tank 500 HEV produces an impressive total power of 346 hp and 648 Nm of torque.

In addition to its intelligent four-wheel-drive system (featuring the M-Lock capability), the GWM Tank 500 HEV offers an Intelligent All-Terrain system that includes 11 driving modes, a Tank Turn function, Off-road Cruise Control, and a transparent chassis view feature.

Among the cabin amenities are Nappa leather seats, an Infinity sound system, powered side steps, and massage and ventilation functions for the front seats.

Not to be overlooked are safety features such as six airbags, a high-strength body chassis, and advanced L2+ driver assistance systems.

The pre-order session for the GWM Tank 500 HEV is now open at all 14 authorized GWM dealership centers nationwide, with a starting price estimated to be below RM350,000.

NEWS

Suzuki Jimny Nomade lands in Japan, imported from India, priced from RM76k

Suzuki has officially launched a more practical five-door off-road SUV variant of the Jimny, known as the Jimny Nomade for the Japanese market.

Compared to the three-door Jimny Sierra still available there, the Jimny Nomade measures 3,890 mm in length, making it 340 mm longer, and resulting in a wheelbase of 2,590 mm.

The benefits? More spacious rear passenger seating, as well as increased cargo capacity, making it more practical.

The Jimny Nomade can be distinguished by its honeycomb grille structure with a Gun Metallic finish, as well as new color options including Sizzling Red Metallic and Celestial Blue Pearl Metallic.

In terms of power, the Suzuki Jimny Nomade retains the 1.5-liter engine that produces 103 hp and 134 Nm of torque, paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Additionally, the Jimny Nomade comes standard with a part-time four-wheel drive (4WD) system and maintains a 36-degree approach angle and a 47-degree departure angle.

In Japan, Suzuki sells the Jimny Nomade starting at ¥2,651,000 (approximately RM75,643).

For reference, the Suzuki Jimny Nomade is a completely imported unit from the Gurugram assembly plant in India, unlike the Jimny Sierra (3-door variant) which is assembled in Japan.

EV, NEWS

Audi Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept comes with portal axles

Who would have thought that the premium-looking Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron electric SUV could transform into a more serious off-road vehicle?

That’s what Audi aims to showcase with the Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept, featuring a higher ground clearance and a wider body dimension.

Audi has also hinted that this model is ready to be realized as a production vehicle.

In terms of power, the Q6 e-tron Offroad is equipped with two electric motors producing 510 hp, driving all four wheels.

With an increased track width of 250 mm and a ground clearance raised by 160 mm, thanks to the use of four portal axles directly connected to the wheel hubs, this SUV is designed for enhanced off-road performance.

The newly designed portal axles allow this SUV to increase wheel torque by 50% compared to the 20 to 30% achieved with conventional designs.

As a result, the torque at all four wheels can reach 13,400 Nm, though the top speed is limited to just 175 km/h.

Overall, these upgrades enable this off-road SUV to tackle steep slopes with angles of up to 45 degrees.

The original design of the Q6 Sportback e-tron has been retained, but the front bumper has been fitted with extra LED lighting units, and the wheel arches have been enlarged to accommodate off-road tires.

Audi has previously unveiled several off-road concept models, such as the Activesphere and the AI:Trail Quattro, and they also participated in the 2024 Dakar Rally using the RS Q e-tron.