GWM Haval Raptor previewed at GIIAS – petrol and Hi 4 PHEV options, coming to Malaysia?

At the ongoing Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), GWM is previewing its next global Haval model, the second-generation H9. Appearing far boxier and more rugged than its milquetoast predecessor, the seven-seater SUV – looking like a lengthened version of the purely five-seater Raptor – is making its right-hand-drive debut in the archipelago.

The angular design is very similar to the aforementioned Raptor’s, with a large upright grille (with four bars instead of its sibling’s three), round LED headlights sitting within square buckets, prominent horizontal shoulders, squared-off wheel arches, distinctive quad square taillights and a sideways-opening tailgate with a full-sized external spare tyre.

In terms of size, the H9 is slightly wider and quite a bit taller than the Raptor, but the main difference is in the wheelbase, which has grown by 112 mm to 2,850 mm, with a corresponding 270 mm increase in length to 5,070 mm. This obviously provides more room for either a third row of seats or more boot space, which in the five-seater version measures a whopping 791 litres, expandable to 1,814 litres with the second row folded.

As the car you see here is trapped in a glass box, we have no access to the interior, but we’ve seen the car before at Auto Shanghai earlier this year and can tell you that the cabin is very similar to the Raptor’s. That includes the bluff dashboard with chunky rectangular air vents, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen running on the latest Coffee OS.

Down below is a wide centre console with twin smartphone holders (one of which integrates a 50-watt Qi wireless charger), rows of physical buttons for the seats and four-wheel-drive system and a pistol-grip gearlever. Buyers can opt for power-adjustable front seats with driver’s side memory and heating, ventilation and massage functions, along with up to ten speakers.

Unlike the Raptor, which can be had as a plug-in hybrid, the H9 is pure combustion-powered. Power comes from a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 224 PS and 385 Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Unique to this car is a 186 PS/490 Nm 2.4 litre turbodiesel that’s paired to a nine-speed automatic.

Being that it’s pitched as a rough-and-tumble off-roader, the H9 is only available with four-wheel drive with locking centre, front and rear differentials; it also possesses a maximum water-wading depth of 800 mm. The car comes with seven on- and off-road drive modes including a low-range setting, and just like the Tank 300 there’s also a tank turn function, along with low-speed off-road cruise control.

The biggest departure from the unibody Raptor is under the skin – like its predecessor, the new H9 is a body-on-frame vehicle with a live rear axle supported by multilink suspension and coil springs. Safety-wise, the H9 comes with six airbags and a suite of driver assists, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring assist.

Is the Haval H9 coming to Malaysia as a more utilitarian alternative to the hybrid Tank 500? Perhaps – GWM Malaysia has already revealed plans to bring in the H9, but given that it has its hands full preparing for the launch of the Wey 80 MPV, expect this car to arrive next year at the earliest.