We just lately attended SAIC-GM-Wuling’s (SGMW) inaugural media day for Malaysian media, held within the firm’s residence metropolis of Liuzhou, Guangxi. Fairly a bit to unpack, as you may think about, so we’re going to go by journalism’s inverted pyramid construction and talk in descending order of newsworthiness.
UPDATE: Preliminary specs of the TQ Wuling Bingo have gone up on the official web site.
Everyone knows the little Bingo is coming (presumably as quickly as subsequent month), that it’ll be locally-assembled (CKD) at Tan Chong’s Segambut plant and that it’ll value below RM100k. What we didn’t know (or anticipate, since each Thailand and Indonesia solely get two airbags) is that Malaysia’s automotive could have six airbags – revealed conspicuously on the very finish of an information sheet offered by TQ Wuling to the media. Nevertheless, mentioned information sheet makes no point out of any form of ADAS.
If that is so, that’s 4 airbags up on the RM101k-114k Dongfeng Field, though the top-spec Field E3 does have ADAS together with AEB and ACC. However we don’t must let you know that the RM100k (earlier than an early-bird bundle) BYD Atto 2 and RM57k-70k Proton eMas 5 each have six airbags and ADAS (eMas 5 Premium). It appears the Bingo goes to must work slightly onerous.
At 3,950 mm lengthy, 1,780 mm huge, 1,580 mm tall and with a 2,560 mm wheelbase, the Wuling Bingo is smaller than the Proton eMas 5 in each dimension besides peak (which it equals). Its 310-litre boot (fold the again seats down for 790 litres) is 65 litres down on the eMas 5 – which additionally has a frunk, one thing the FWD Bingo doesn’t have.
The data sheet doesn’t reveal battery capability, however a 410-km CLTC vary is talked about, which suggests the bigger 37.9 kWh LFP battery. Will we additionally get the smaller 31.9 kWh LFP battery with 333 km of vary? (sure we are going to) Both method, there needs to be a 68 PS/150 Nm front-mounted electrical motor. Options embrace LED head and back lights with DRLs, 10.25-inch twin screens, keyless entry and begin and a reverse digital camera.
The opposite factor revealed at a presentation was that there’ll be extra Wuling fashions for Malaysia after the Bingo. Though not explicitly divulged, moreover the Bingo, the Wuling Cortez Darion MPV that debuted at Indonesia’s GIIAS 2025 in July was offered there for sampling, in EV and PHEV varieties – sufficient for us to take a position that the seven-seater was on the very least being thought of for our market.
Measuring 4,910 mm lengthy, 1,850 mm huge and 1,770 mm tall with a 2,910 mm wheelbase, the Cortez Darion EV (above left) has one 204 PS electrical motor and a 61-kWh battery for a 540 km CLTC vary. The PHEV model (above proper) makes use of a 1.5 litre devoted hybrid engine, a 198 PS motor and a devoted hybrid transmission, with a 125-km CLTC EV-only vary and a 1,000-km mixed vary. DC charging can deliver each EV and PHEV from 30-80% in half-hour.
For each variations, entry to the second and third rows of seats are through a pair of powered sliding doorways, whereas the second row of the seven-seater encompasses a pair of captain chairs. There’s additionally an electrical sunroof. Pre-orders are being taken in Indonesia at 400-500 million rupiah (RM99k-124k). Time for a BYD M6 competitor?
SGMW-TQ Wuling Media Day presentation slides
TQ Wuling Bingo EV previewed in Malaysia
Wuling Cortez Darion EV at GIIAS 2025
Wuling Cortez Darion PHEV at GIIAS 2025
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