08/02/2026

theSunday Special XVI ON SUNDAY FEB 8, 2026

Great just got greater GWM Wey G9 Hi4 PHEV shakes up luxury MPV segment

GREAT MOTOR (GWM) Malaysia has thrown its silk plush top hat into the rapidly burgeoning luxury MPV segment with the locally-assembled 2026 GWM Wey G9 Hi4 Phev that is priced from an astonishing RM269,800. At the heart of the Wey G9 mobility is GWM’s Hi4 intelligent hybrid system, combining a turbo charged engine with dual electric motors to deliver electric drive at both axles. The powertrain comprises a combination of a 1.5-litre turbo charged four-cylinder engine linked to dual electric motors on each axle and mated to a 4-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission. GWM quotes a combined sys tem output of 442PS and 642Nm of torque to all four wheels. That makes it good for the century sprint in a spritely 5.7 seconds and if you keep your right foot planted, it will top out at 190kph. An Intelligent Torque Vectoring WALL

tion, and HaloSonic active noise cancellation technology. To fill the silence, passengers can enjoy soothing tunes through the 21-speaker, 2,440-watt pre mium audio system, tuned for the cabin’s acoustics for maximum clarity, all whilst allowing effort less conversations. Luxury goes beyond soft leather and business-class seats, conven ience takes precedence as well. With respect to that, the Wey G9 has wide-opening powered doors and a generous central aisle for easier accessibility, while 11 USB charging points ensure con nectivity for all occupants even on the longest journeys. The vehicle is also equipped with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. It offered more than 20 intelli gent safety features designed to support the driver and protect occupants in everyday driving sce narios to ensure everyone reaches the destination safely.

Control (iTVC) continuously man ages torque distribution. The front motor produces 109PS and 170Nm of torque while the more powerful rear unit churns out 184PS with a lunging 232Nm of twisting force. Feeding the electric motors is a 44.2-kWh ternary lithium battery. It is a lithium-ion battery using a cathode made from three metals, nickel, cobalt and manganese, or nickel, cobalt, and aluminum. This type of battery is known for its high energy density and fast charging. On a full charge, the battery can provide pure electric propulsion of up to 170km (NEDC). Altogether, the Wey G9 is capable of up to

1,000km (NEDC) on a single tank of petrol with the fully charged pack, or 1.2 litres per 100 km. Even when battery levels are low, fuel consumption remains efficient at 6.2 litres per 100km, supported by intelligent energy management. Charging numbers are up to 6.6kW for AC charging and will take the battery from 15% to 100% in 6.5 hours. Faster DC charging is supported up to 60kW and will see the battery’s state-of-charge go from 30-80% in 26 minutes. Elevating luxury within the cabin is a flat floor while the front seats are equipped with Nappa leather upholstery, ventilation and massage functions.

The most important people in the cabin though will the lucky duo in the second row Zero Gravity captain seats, equipped with one touch reclining action, ventilation and 10-point massage while wrapped in Nappa leather. Even the third row can com fortably accommodate three full sized adults, making it a true 7 seater. Luxury and comfort is of the utmost importance and due atten tion has been given to deliver that on all fronts. At highway speeds of 120kph, cabin noise is measured at just 63.4 decibels, achieved through a combination of double-glazed acoustic glass, structural insula

Cherry about to get sweeter

Alfa confirms pricing, opens showroom

MALAYSIAN ALFISTI rejoiced with the official return of Alfa Romeo to our shores and now Alfa Romeo Malaysia has announced the pricing for its debut mod els, the Giulia Veloce and Stelvio Veloce, with the interesting addition of its eligibility for duty-free pricing. The official pricing for the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce is RM438,800 and its more practical SUV sibling, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce, will set you back RM478,800. Part of the price confirmation included duty-free pricing (Langkawi & Labuan) that sees the Giulia Veloce drop down to RM228,800 while the Stelvio Veloce will cost RM258,800 in those markets. Alongside the announcement was the opening of Casa Alfa Romeo, the brand’s flagship showroom located at Rhapsody Square, TREC Kuala Lumpur. Not only will the showroom serve as a sales point

asts and customers alike, with 25 con firmed bookings to date. According to the press release, “both models are complete built-up (CBU) to deliver the full Alfa Romeo experience as intended.” “The pricing reflects more than just the car itself, it represents the craftsmanship, performance, and ownership experience that define Alfa Romeo,” said Douglas Cheng, Executive Director Of DLSB Partners Sdn Bhd, a member of Atlantis Motor Group. Every new Alfa Romeo sold here will be accompanied by a 5-year or 150,000km warranty, part of a measured and purpose ful re-entry for the brand here.

IT WILL be a busy 2026 for Chery Malaysia as the company has announced four new models to be launched here, led by the new flag ship Chery Tiggo 9 that will arrive in Q2 2026. While the exact model was not revealed, it is clear from the slides presented that “redefining flagship luxury” implies its top tier model, which is the Tiggo 9, and is available with multiple powertrains. One is the 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four from the Tiggo 8 Pro. Outputs are 254PS and 390Nm of torque mated to an eight-speed auto matic. On the other hand, the Tiggo 9 is also available as a Phev, running on the plug-in Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) power

train. In this setup, it combines a 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-four engine that produces 156PS and 220Nm of torque on its own. This is combined with two electric motors at the front, the first making 102PS and 170Nm while the second 122PS and 220Nm. The total system output is 381PS and 610Nm of torque. While the next model coming is quite obvious, the remaining three might take some educated guessing to determine. What is confirmed is a second facelift for the O5, or previously known as the Omoda 5. Another possible scenario is an update for the petrol Tiggo 7 Pro that sits below the Tiggo 7 Phev. However, considering that the Tiggo 7 Phev and Tiggo 8 Phev are quite new in Malaysia, the teased Phev update in the local range could very well be

and aftersales sup port centre, it was also designed as a hub for the Alfisti community. Since the iconic marque announced its return here, Alfa Romeo Malaysia has received encouraging response from enthusi

the Tiggo 9 PHEV. It is expected that the pure petrol and CSH vari ants of the Tiggo 9 will be sold here once

launched.