BMW Group Malaysia Reports Valiant Show In 2019 – 11,567 Units Across BMW, MINI, Motorrad Divisions

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In an event held in the city centre today, BMW Group Malaysia announced their ‘2019 Report Card’ to detail how the Group performed in what’s unilaterally regarded as a ‘challenging year’ in a ‘challenging market.’ Despite the headwinds, BMW Group Malaysia posted some pretty healthy numbers, driven by the 32 model variants introduced in 2019 across the BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad arms of the business.

BMW Group Malaysia was keen to underline that it retains its position as the leading electrified-mobility provider in Malaysia, with 3,148 units of electrified BMWs and MINIs delivered in 2019, contributing to the overall total in excess of 17,000 electrified models since BMW Group Malaysia began its electrified offensive in 2015. This was backed up by an introduction of 18 new BMW i charging facilities across the country, bringing the total number of chargers installed by the brand in the last three years to over 30.

“Against the backdrop of a challenging year for the automotive sector, we are proud to have achieved such success within the electrified segment in Malaysia and across the globe – which reaffirms our optimism for the year ahead. We are committed to continue leading the charge for electromobility in Malaysia, especially in light of the upcoming National Automotive Policy announcement that will see electrified vehicles play a prominent role in propelling our automotive sector to greater heights.”

Mr. Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director, BMW Group Malaysia

The success of the Group was driven primarily by the BMW brand itself, with 9,300 new owners recorded in 2019. The new 3-Series racked up 2,514 registrations, of which over 1,000 were made up of the BMW 330e M-Sport. The 5-Series came in as the second biggest contributor, with over 2,000 new owners found in the same period.

The BMW X family of vehicles also made good headway in 2019, with 3,985 units recorded between all its members. The X3 brought back 1,354 sales, with the smaller X1 totalling 1,331 sales. The BMW X5 xDrive40e also played a critical role, with 975 units (or 24% of the overall BMW X sales) recorded in 2019.

MINI on the other hand saw a shift of 1,142 vehicles, with the Mini Countryman contributing over half of all deliveries. BMW Motorrad followed right behind the British marque with 1,125 units shifted too, with the Adventure segment finding over 600 new homes.

Compared to their performance in 2018, BMW Group saw a drop of 2,771 overall sales, or nearly 20% year-on-year. This is in keeping with the shrinkage of premium segment sales over an otherwise stagnant total industry volume. Only Volvo has come out of this rough patch unscathed, charting a growth of over 30% through 2019 while its major competitors had to tighten their belts.

Regardless, it is promising to see that the BMW Group remains committed to the Malaysian market with plans already being laid to make full use of the soon-to-be-announced National Automotive Policy that will hopefully see their Kulim, Kedah plant continue to play a major role in the brand’s presence in the ASEAN market.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Ends 2019 On A High – Over 10,000 Cars Sold, 1.8% Marketshare

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Despite challenging conditions in 2019, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has managed to hold onto its lead in the premium segment, doing so against bearish conditions that have affected the premium segment most of all. With 1.8% marketshare last year, the company is confident that 2019 has set the tone for the decade to come, even though they weren’t setting new sales records as we’ve come to expect from the brand.

2019 was certainly an exciting year for fans of Mercedes-Benz here in Malaysia, with product launch after product launch after product launch. The E-Class lineup was shaken up with the introduction of the E350 AMG-Line, E300 Exclusive Line, and the E200 Sportstyle Avantgarde very early on in the year, while the A-Class family was refreshed with A200 & A250 variants available as both 4-door saloons and 5-door hatchbacks. The new GLE-Class SUV also made its debut here in Malaysia, while the facelifted GLC & GLC Coupe models brought about the introduction of MercedesMe Connect services for the first time.

“We wrap up the decade on a great note as we continue to grow our customer base and set our footing in Malaysia. 2019 was a year where we placed great emphasis on expanding our product offensive with innovative technology and emotional design, catering to the needs of our customers. We also celebrated the 15th year anniversary of local production excellence, noting the 100,000th vehicle roll-out milestone and the commencement of Philippine export initiatives. Through a solid leadership and vision, we reaffirmed our commitment to the Malaysian market and our customers in delivering the best products and the best customer experiences.”

Dr. Klaus Weidner, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

On the AMG front, the A35 Saloon brought about fresh blood in the entry-level space (if you can call it that), followed by the C63S in both coupe & saloon forms. Moving further up saw the introduction of the AMG GT 63 S Four Door, as well as the refreshed GT C and GT R models.

Most notably for this writer, Mercedes-Benz also took a bold step in premium emissions-conscious mobility by introducing the new S560e plug-in hybrid limousine, aimed at creating eco-aware buyers from the top-down. Additionally, Malaysia was graced with the regional-debut of the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV at the same event, where it was announced that the zero-emissions family SUV will make a formal market introduction here sometime in 2020.

On a production side, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia marked their 100,000th locally-assembled vehicle this year, rolling out of their heavily-updated facility in Pekan, Pahang. That same event also saw the commencement of left-hand drive production for export to the Philippines, with C180 models assembled here for consumption in the Republic. We’re made to understand that reception of the Malaysian-made cars there has been very warm, with MBM looking at perhaps expanding LHD production to offer a wider selection of cars for Philippine buyers.

“Despite facing headwinds, we ended the year on a strong note to cement our position in the premium automotive segment. We delivered 10,020 cars to our Malaysian customers, signifying a continuous mark of confidence towards Mercedes-Benz. We are fully confident that 2019 has set up a great tone, as we power up great momentum for the new decade.”

Mr. Michael Jopp, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

With 2020’s total industry volume set to remain stagnant, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will certainly have its work cut out for it as it aims to maintain its lead in the segment. However, with the new Mercedes-Benz GLC & GLC Coupe already on our shores, and the promise of more MercedesMe Connect vehicles set to arrive throughout the year, we’ve no doubt that their offensive this year will most certainly do much to help the company maintain its lead.

  • The Management Team at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia with a couple of their most notable models introduced in 2019
  • Dr. Klaus Weidner, President & CEO of MBM, against the new Mercedes-Benz S560e Plug-In Hybrid
  • Mr. Michael Jopp, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, with the refreshed Mercedes-Benz GLC range featuring MercedesMe Connect
  • The new Mercedes-Benz EQC makes its regional debut in Malaysia, alongside the new Mercedes-Benz S560e Plug-In Hybrid, as well as the Mercedes-Benz C300e Plug-In Hybrid

Volvo Car Malaysia Records Superb 2019 – 36.1% Sales Increase Year-On-Year

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Resurgent luxury marque Volvo has had a splendid year in our market in 2019, as announced at a media event today. Speaking on behalf of the managing director of Volvo Car Malaysia (who was called away due to a personal emergency), marketing & PR director Mr. Akhtar Sulaiman revealed just how well Volvo performed in our market last year, despite an overall decline in the luxury segment.

Beating the odds against a shrinking premium car market, Volvo Car Malaysia logged an increase of 36.1% in retail sales for 2019, with a total of 1,883 cars delivered. The Volvo plant in Shah Alam produced a total of nearly 5,000 cars last year too, with the remaining 3,000+ cars that the plant produced exported to various ASEAN countries (in both left- and right-hand drive forms).

Mr. Akhtar Sulaiman, Director of Marketing & PR, Volvo Car Malaysia

The exemplary performance in 2019 was propelled by major product introductions, like the 2019 Malaysia Car of the Year (Compact SUV/Crossover) XC40 T5 R-Design, the world-renowned and multi-award winning XC90 facelift, as well as the S60 T8 R-Design compact executive saloon. In 2020, the company expects to maintain its momentum off the back of the S60 (now in CKD form), as well as the “S90 facelift,” which was confirmed in the press release without a potential release date given.

2019 also saw the establishment of 5 new Volvo dealerships across the country, to which Volvo has confirmed they will add one more in the city of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah this year. Notably, Malaysia is the second market in Asia Pacific to boast a full 100% implementation of the ‘Volvo Retail Experience’ dealership standard, backed by the arrival of their renewed regional training centre.

Volvo Retail Experience space, within the Volvo Car Regional Training Centre

Volvo Car Malaysia is set to enjoy momentous growth in 2020, thanks to its already-strong portfolio of models, as well as #recharged models on the way. With production of the XC40 in its stride (though a waiting list still exists for the ‘tough little robot’) and the S60 T8 gaining momentum in the compact-executive saloon space, bolstered by the XC90’s position as the only large premium SUV in the space below RM600,000, we’ve little doubt that by this time next year, they’ll have even better numbers to report.

Perodua Once Again Confirms “Investigating” Myvi GT

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At their Chinese New Year luncheon event, Perodua was once again posed the question of the eagerly-awaited Perodua Myvi GT, a hotter variant of the effervescent hatchback that was first mooted as a concept at the KL International Motorshow back in 2018. We first asked about the Myvi GT during Perodua’s 1H 2019 review event back in July last year, where the company confirmed that they were “looking into” the matter.

Since then, there have only been minor movements on the Myvi GT front it seems, with President & CEO Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad skillfully avoiding saying anything concrete on the matter. Dato’ Zainal confirmed that there has been some progress, with the company actively evaluating the business case for the model, given that it will not only sit as the flagship of the range but justifiably command a bit of a premium over the current 1.5-AV top-dog. Additionally, the expected low volume of the car would pose a production headache for Perodua, which is looking to improve its tact times on its cars from both its factories (PMSB & PGMSB are Perodua’s two manufacturing plants, with PMSB tasked with the assembly of the Myvi).

2018 Perodua Myvi GT Concept – KLIMS’18

The car remains a contentious topic among Malaysians – many applaud the strong value-appeal of the Myvi, with the Myvi GT seemingly flying against Perodua’s efforts to streamline and ‘reduce baggage’ in the lineup. But others contend that the Myvi, and Perodua in general, is in desperate need of some character, and the Myvi GT would indeed be the injection of colour that the Sg. Choh company would benefit massively from.

Additionally (in our opinion), the Myvi GT would be an excellent opportunity for local vendors and supplier to shine: Specialists like FTuned Racing for example could be brought in to help sharpen the car’s handling (FTuned is helmed by a former PROTON R3 engineer with masses of accolades under his belt), while local racing personalities (like Karamjit Singh, for example) could be consulted to help further fine-tune the vehicle for maximum tractability and engagement.

How Perodua would go about pepping the car up mechanically remains to be seen – alternative tunes for the transmission and engine could be applied if Perodua wanted to offer modest performance gains. That said, with Dato’ Zainal confirming that “all new Perodua models” will be built off of the DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) platform, perhaps the Myvi GT will be saved for the next generation, where it could be offered with a sprightly turbocharged unit.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

  • 2018 Perodua Myvi GT Concept – KLIMS’18
  • 2018 Perodua Myvi GT Concept – KLIMS’18
  • 2018 Perodua Myvi GT Concept – KLIMS’18
  • 2018 Perodua Myvi GT Concept – KLIMS’18

Perodua ‘Confirms’ D55L/Kembara – Due H2 2020

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At their Chinese new year luncheon (cum year-in-review event), Malaysian automotive heavyweight Perodua made a surprise ‘confirmation’ that it will seek to introduce the heavily-rumoured ‘D55L’ compact SUV in the second-half of this year. We like to call the D55L model the ‘Kembara’ on the basis that, like the original, the D55L will be a high-riding A-segment machine that offers something ‘different’ from the rest of the Perodua range.

When the original Kembara was introduced, it was the very first Perodua to offer all-wheel drive and a tall seating position, which enabled owners to truly embrace the spirit of adventure (or their inner pengembara, as it were). The D55L, likewise, is set to offer an array of innovative new features as well, in a package that’s truly new for Perodua, and better suited to the pengembara of today.

Perodua’s head honcho Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad responded to a series of questions from the media (ED: They were actually almost all from us) that Perodua will be using parent-company Daihatsu’s new DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) to develop its next model, and that the company will follow market trends & consumer demands in terms of developing their next model.

Interesting point you make there about SUVs, sir.

Additionally, Dato’ Zainal also offered up this slide showing us Perodua’s projected total industry volume (TIV) for 2020, which notably showed an increase in SUV marketshare of 4% year-on-year compared to 2019. Perodua is a company known for its secrecy; but that said, its management team are known for dropping hints by making members of the media ‘read between the data,’ as it were.

It seems pretty clear then that, with the use of DNGA confirmed for their next model and further allusion by way of suggesting consumer-led product development, that the D55L is well on its way to market introduction. With a launch slated for the second-half of 2020 (due to a need to stabilise production & delivery times for existing models, as well as an RM500-million upgrade to their PGMSB plant in Sg. Choh), we can’t help but wonder why Perodua remains conservative (almost bearish) with its 2020 sales projections.

But with the Perodua Aruz already in existence, you may ask what ‘unique innovations’ the D55L will offer. Based on the Daihatsu Rocky/Toyota Raize duo (the former being used for illustrative purposes here), the new A-segment crossover is powered by a new 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, mated to a CVT automatic gearbox that sends power to the front wheels.

Dato’ Zainal interestingly also made mention of the industry trend of downsizing engines, which help to minimise pollution, improve efficiency, and reduce overall running costs (like roadtax, and also fuel consumption). This further alludes that the D55L will be brought to the Malaysian market with minimal powertrain changes, which puts to rest the rumours and suggestions that Perodua may swap out the turbo-triple in the Daihatsu Rocky in favour of the tried-and-tested 1.5-litre VVTi presently employed by the Perodua Myvi and Perodua Aruz.

See? ‘Engine Downsizing = Right Sizing!’ according to Perodua.

Either way, you can rest assured that we at MalaysianMotoring will not only champion the cause to revive the much-loved ‘Kembara’ nameplate for the D55L, but pit Perodua’s little tyke up against the also eagerly-awaited PROTON X50, which Dr. Li Chunrong has also confirmed is slated for a 2020 introduction.

Stay tuned.

Perodua Records 240k Sales In 2019 – Targets Same Number In 2020

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At their year-in-review event held in the capital, Malaysian automotive heavyweight Perodua has announced its ‘report card’ for the last year, with the company growing in all major aspects over the year before.

The company exceeded its targets for 2019, with a total of 240,341 cars sold last year. This was fuelled by the introduction of the Aruz and the facelifted Axia, but its existing models (Alza, Bezza, and Myvi) continued to sell well. In ascending order, its sales were made up of the Alza, Aruz, Bezza, Axia, and Myvi.

The 2019 numbers made a 5.8% jump over the year before, and it’s the highest annual sales figures the company has ever recorded, despite the slower total industry volume and generally bearish industry outlook.

“Against a 2019 TIV estimated at 604,775 units, Perodua took nearly 40% of the Malaysian market, overtaking the 38% that Perodua recorded in 2018,” said Perodua CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Every model from the Perodua lineup took the crown in their respective segments, including the Perodua Aruz, which ended 2019 as the most popular SUV in the Malaysian market with over 30,000 cars sold.

Perodua remains confident in the capability of its models, especially against the sharpening competition from PROTON. While the Bezza remained 2019’s best-selling A-segment saloon, the Saga snatched three ‘minor titles’ by topping monthly sales charts in October, November, and December last year. However, Perodua’s projections for the Bezza has not slipped despite this, with the carmaker managing 2,000 deliveries of the new car since launch, with another 5,600 expected to be delivered before the end of the month.

“We forsee a challenging first-half of 2020, as we focus on fulfilling existing bookings. We will evaluate the market situation in the second-half of 2020, while building up our inventory so that we are ready to take advantage of the market if it improves (in 2021).”

Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President & CEO, Perodua

On the vendor side of things, Perodua managed to hit its 2019 target for parts purchases, totalling RM5.4-billion. In 2020, the company projects that despite its flat sales targets, the 4% increase in overall production (from 245,000 cars to 255,000 cars) will require a total parts & components purchase spend of RM6-billion, which will most certainly play a role in growing the local industry.

Aftersales was also a highlight of the 2019 ‘report card,’ with the company successfully servicing some 2.35-million vehicles last year. According to Dato’ Zainal, this means some “70% of the cars [Perodua] sold in the last 8-years have come back for servicing with [Perodua],” which is an enviable metric for any carmaker in our market.

Perodua says that this year they will also invest in excess of RM1-billion in ‘customer-focused initiatives’ such as upgraded 3S centres and showrooms, with the Rawang company set to provide funding for its dealers to meet ever-changing demands and standards from its customers. This is in keeping with Perodua’s push to become a more globally-competitive marque in the coming years.

PROTON X70 CKD Coming “Very Soon,” X50 Due Before Year-End

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At a luncheon event with the media today, CEO of Proton Cars Dr. Li Chunrong said that while 2019 has been an excellent year for the national flagbearer, the company has no intentions of slowing down.

Remarking that the company has successfully sold in excess of 100,000 cars in 2019 (an increase of over 55% over the preceding year), Dr. Li says the company is targeting a number over 130,000 this year, in an attempt to push its marketshare even further. PROTON successfully claimed the #2 spot in overall passenger car sales last year, and this year Dr. Li is insistent that they do even better.

To do this, Dr. Li says that the locally-assembled version of the highly-successful X70 will be coming “very soon,” packing updated and refreshed features better suited to the local market. These are, according to sources, inclusive of features like updated upholstery options, ventilated seats, and a power boot. There is also some talk of improved ADAS systems, though this remains speculative.

What is more concrete is the updated powertrain, with the 1.8 TGDI engine massaged to produce more power and torque, sent to the wheels via a new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. That should see improvements in fuel economy, a major issue with the current car, of up to 15%.

Another contributor to PROTON’s bold sales figures is the long-awaited introduction of the X50 compact SUV, which will arrive in our market packing a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, the same 7-speed DCT, and full local assembly.


Between these two models and the continued improvement of PROTON’s perception in the eyes of the buying public, the company is well on its way to improving its overall marketshare here. But one of the big factors in PROTON’s overall growth through 2020 will be its export activities, with Dr. Li hoping that the company will export to “more than 10 countries” by the end of the year.

PROTON appears to finally be on the right track with Geely, with our talented team of local engineers, supported by its vendors and suppliers, finally able to produce globally-competitive vehicles. Should they be able to maintain the momentum, it would not be without reason to believe that the Tiger will roar louder soon than it has ever been.

VIDEO: 2020 Perodua Bezza Lands – 3 Variants, ASA 2.0, RM35k-RM50k

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National carmaker Perodua has today unveiled their refreshed Perodua Bezza, arriving to the market some 5 months after the launch of the updated PROTON Saga, and some four years after the model was first introduced. The Perodua Bezza has comfortably held the position as the most popular A-segment saloon since it was first launched back in 2016, with 184,000 units sold – critically however, that position has since been threatened by the new Saga, with the PROTON snagging the title as the best-selling compact saloon in the segment for two months in 2019.

This refresh then is critical for Perodua, as this updated Bezza will be tasked with fending off PROTON’s new contender for a few more years. But with the Saga holding a clear price advantage, the new Bezza truly tests Perodua brand loyalists like never before, with a gap as wide as RM10,000 in favour of the Saga at the top end. However, with pre-facelift models sold out since mid-December, bookings for Bezza models from last year were converted into bookings for the new car, which were then added to the 2,000 bookings received for the new Bezza since the registration of interest opened 5 days ago – which means that right off the bat, the new Perodua Bezza has some 10,000 orders already locked and loaded, with a further 4,000 units a month expected to move once orders stabilise.

The new Bezza continues to offer the same array of engines, with a 1.0-litre three cylinder motor in G models, and a 1.3-litre four-cylinder in the X and AV models. The pair put out 67hp/91Nm & 94hp/121Nm respectively, with a 4-speed automatic shared across the range. Only the base G comes with the option of a 5-speed manual now though, with manual X models being dropped from the lineup.

The changes with this refresh are limited to just specs and aesthetics, then. The new Bezza arrives with a more aggressive face, topped by new slim headlights and a new grille. The headlights are now LED and standard across the range, a move taken from the larger Myvi and Aruz. Down the flanks there are new alloy wheels – the 14s for the G models are shared with the smaller-capacity Myvi variants, while the 15s for the X and AV are an entirely new dual-tone design.

At the rear, changes are limited to a new bumper with a more aggressive design and ‘diffuser,’ as well as a new garnish between the taillights.

Inside, Perodua has lightly tweaked the aesthetics, though some changes are more obvious than others. The first thing that stands out is the incorporation of a contrasting silver element that runs across the dash, flicking upwards in the middle and framing the new centre stack. That centre stack itself now houses a new infotainment unit, again nicked from the Myvi and Aruz, which should offer things like satellite navigation and smartphone mirroring. Elsewhere there’s a new instrument cluster, featuring a more sophisticated look designed to inspire drivers (kononnya) that’s also now backlit in white for improved legibility.

There are no changes to report in the rear-half of the cabin though – unfortunately the rear bench remains as upright as it has ever been, a serious gripe among Bezza owners and potential buyers, though they seem to be a bit more sculpted to improve comfort somewhat. There are also no changes to the boot, with 508L of capacity on offer still. However with the facelift, Perodua has opted to add a small luggage net to the side of the boot, to improve load carrying capabilities a little bit.

Safety-wise, the Bezza continues to do well, at least for the posher variants. The X and AV models soldier on with 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety ratings, while the G models make do with just 4. ABS and EBD are standard across the range, while vehicle stability (VSC) and traction control (TSC) are the reserve of 1.3-litre models, with the AV going further by adding ASA 2.0.

Overall, the new Bezza certainly seems ready to take on the new PROTON Saga, albeit at a price disadvantage. That said with benchmark levels of kit and ten thousand units set to be delivered by the end of January, the Perodua Bezza shouldn’t have a tough time finding its way into the hearts and minds of buyers at all.

2020 Perodua Bezza Open For Booking – Specs Confirmed, Prices Leaked

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Following our publication of leaked publicity shots of the 2020 Perodua Bezza last night, we received early this morning news from Perodua that the order books are now open on the new model.

Included in the press release regarding the commencement of bookings was a helpful graphic to list down all the new features of the Perodua Bezza, helping to confirm some of the specifications we speculated about in our earlier post.

It confirms that the Bezza will follow the same route as the recently-facelifted Axia, offering only three trim levels: G 1.0, X 1.3, and AV 1.3. Only the entry-level G variant will be offered with a choice between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic, with the rest of the range getting only the automatic transmission.

Additionally, only the G models will go on sale without safety features lke vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control (TRC). ABS and electronic brake distribution (EBD) are, mercifully, standard. So too are electric side mirrors, with G & X models now getting integrated turn signals, and AV models getting electric folding units instead.

The bigger news pertains to the X and AV models, with both featuring VSC and TRC as standard, but the AV now gets advanced safety assist (ASA 2.0) for the first time, just like the facelifted Axia. This is in line with Perodua’s goal of moving the industry forwards by offering innovative features at unbeatable pricepoints to set the bar higher for its competitors.

The press release also confirms what we already know – there are new bumpers on either end, standard LED headlights across the range, a smaller upper grille (with different finishes for 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre models) and larger under-breather, and new alloy wheels (14-inch units for the 1.0-litre, and 15-inch ones for the 1.3-litre models). The facelift Bezza also touts a redesigned instrument cluster (now featuring white backlighting) and keyless entry & go (1.3-models only).

What we’ve also managed to get our hands on are price-lists for the new 2020 Perodua Bezza, though so far we cannot confirm the veracity of these documents. It states that the prices for the new Bezza will be as follows:

  • Perodua Bezza G M/T – RM34,580
  • Perodua Bezza G A/T – RM36,580
  • Perodua Bezza X A/T – RM43,980
  • Perodua Bezza AV A/T – RM49,980

*all prices are on-the-road, without insurance

What’s worth noting is the RM7,400 price gulf between the G and X variants, a gap that’s large enough to lose some customers in between. Normally carmakers will try and price their products close enough that potential customers can be ‘upsold’ to the plusher model, but it seems that Perodua is taking a slightly different tact here.

Additionally, the Perodua Bezza AV is now nearly RM10,000 more expensive than the new PROTON Saga Premium, which is also offered with a 1.3-litre engine and a 4-speed automatic. This is again in keeping with Perodua’s shift to becoming a value-driven brand rather than a maker of economy cars, as they have no doubt that buyers keen on getting the best features in the category (like ASA 2.0, LED headlights, and keyless entry/go) will not be swayed by the more affordable PROTON.

Two body colours new to the Bezza – Garnet Red (exclusive for 1.3-litre models) and Granite Grey – join the existing four colours on offer (Ivory White, Glittering Silver, Ocean Blue, Sugar Brown) to make a total of 6 available colour choices.

What do you think of the new 2020 Perodua Bezza? Do you think it has what it takes to take on the PROTON Saga, currently Malaysia’s top-selling A-segment saloon? Let us know in the comments below.

SPYSHOTS: 2020 Perodua Bezza Publicity Shots Leak Ahead Of Launch

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Our friends at Perodua are known for running an amazingly tight ship, with information only spread within relevant departments to reduce the risk of information leaking out ahead of official announcements. We know this for a fact because even when we lightly tortured staffers there, they refused to give up any information regarding new models or proposed timelines.

But despite their best efforts, photos have managed to leak out anyway. Posted in a Facebook group called Live Car Breathe Car by group administrator Chin Swee Hoe, these photos show the new 2020 Bezza in all its glory, revealing its new updates almost in their entirety.

The new Bezza seen here is strutting its stuff in a new colour, which appears to be a halfway-point between the Rosewood Maroon & Ruby Red offered by its main competitor, the PROTON Saga. It’s clear to see that up front, the new bumpers frame brand-new headlights which appear to be packing LED lighting for the first time in the A-segment, which is most certainly a good sign. The front bumper itself is far more aggressive in this iteration with large pseudo air-intakes around the fog-lights and a more aggressive lower breather, and it gives it a face that isn’t too far off what we’re seeing with the current-generation Toyota Vios.

Down the back there’s just a new bumper with similar pseudo air-intakes to be seen, as well as a prominent rear diffuser. We’re certain that Perodua will reason these upgrades as ways to make the car appear broader and more stable, though overall we’re fully aware that this more aggressive design is in response to market demand.

There are also new alloy wheel designs – the ones seen here are the 15-inch units, which we believe are reserved for the 1.3-litre models, while 1.0-litre models will get the 14-inch ‘turbine’ alloys from the Perodua Myvi 1.3.

Inside there are more changes than we anticipated, with a new dashboard design put forward, with silver accents (though these are likely to be reserved for the top-most ‘AV’ trim). The overall design of the dash appears to incorporate traits from the Aruz flagship SUV (notice how the silver accents tick upwards around the centre stack), as well as existing bits from the Bezza (like the rectangular air vents on either side). If you squint, you can almost make out a new, more sporty meter cluster (said to use white backlighting this time round) as well as a new infotainment unit.

On that infotainment unit, it’s clear that the new Bezza will receive the same touchscreen head unit as seen in the recently-facelifted Perodua Axia, offering bluetooth, smartphone mirroring and the like, as per the Axia AV. And given that the Axia AV also introduced advanced safety assist (ASA) with the latest refresh, we can expect to see that incorporated here too.

There also appears to be a new boot net in the… uh, boot. Which is nice.

There shouldn’t be any changes to the powertrain, with the Bezza soldiering on with either a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine or a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, with either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual. We expect to only see the manual available for base 1.0-litre models only though, just like what happened to the Axia with its facelift.

There aren’t any major price revisions expected with the 2020 Perodua Bezza, which is rumoured to be launching within the next couple of weeks. We should see either a slightly shuffled lineup with the new Bezza, or maybe no changes at all given the popularity of the compact saloon in our market.

We’re made to understand that the booking forms will be opening on the new Perodua Bezza soon, with a launch date within the next 14 days. Either way, we’re glad to see that the Bezza has been revised to keep it fighting fresh for the new decade (ha!) and we can’t wait to put this up against our own grey PROTON Saga.

UPDATE: 2020 Perodua Bezza Specifications Confirmed, Bookings Opened, PRICES LEAKED