There’s an extra incentive to visit the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) next week – Perodua is unveiling its new EMO-II concept at the show. The third of the company’s Electric Mobility Online vehicles will be the clearest preview yet of the national carmaker’s first electric vehicle, set to be launched by the end of next year.
Essentially, the EMO-II is a more fleshed-out version of last year’s EMO scale model but is, in some ways, even sportier-looking, as teased by the video below. The front end retains the dramatic X-shaped front bumper and sharp corners, now joined by a full-width light bar underlining an illuminated Perodua logo. There’s also a deep chin spoiler with “EMO-II” embossed on it.
Moving to the side, one can see the heavily raked rear windscreen, giving the car a sleeker look compared to past Peroduas. But it’s at the back where the EMO-II looks arguably the most aggressive, with a slim letterbox rear windscreen, a sizeable rear spoiler, a scalloped tailgate, flared wheel arches and what appears to be an enormous diffuser with a triangular centre fog light. A running theme is a pixelated pattern that’s evident in the head- and taillights, flanks and rear windscreen.
As yet, it’s unclear whether the EMO-II will again be shown as a scale model or as a full-sized concept, but given the intricacy of the design, we’re putting our money on the latter. If so, it will likely carry the powertrain previewed by the EMO-I prototype at the Malaysia Autoshow earlier this year.
That car utilised a single front motor with conflicting outputs of either 68 PS (50 kW) and 220 Nm of torque or 163 PS (120 kW) and 315 Nm, getting it from zero to 100 km/h in seven to nine seconds. Also conflicting are the capacities of the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery – either 55.7 or 57.6 kWh, delivering a range of 350 or 450 km. It supports just 50 kW of DC fast charging but 11 kW of AC charging.
In what is a reversal of roles with Proton, Perodua’s EV will be an in-house development in collaboration with an Australian partner, given that neither Daihatsu nor Toyota currently have a full electric model at this size and price. By contrast, the Proton eMas 7 is a twin of the Geely Galaxy E5/EX5.
Perodua’s electrification efforts ramped up last week with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Petronas and Gentari. This will see the latter setting up charging facilities at Perodua service centres, with the view of aiding customers’ transition to full EVs.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.