Omoda is gearing up for the launch of its second model in South Africa – the C9 crossover.
As its name suggests, the C9 is positioned above the C5 and will take its place as the brand’s flagship vehicle once it makes its debut later this year.
The Chinese carmaker recently announced that the C9 is “set to hit the market in South Africa soon” and that it will make a public appearance at the Festival of Motoring at the end of August.
What to expect
The Omoda C9 has been on the cards for South Africa for well over a year, as the model was initially scheduled to land in November 2023.
It even made an appearance at last year’s Festival of Motoring held at the Kyalami Gran Prix Circuit in Gauteng, but its launch window came and went with no update from the company regarding a new timeline.
Omoda C9 at the 2023 Festival of Motoring in Gauteng.
However, Omoda reassured the media that the C9 is still coming to South Africa, and it now looks like the crossover is finally getting ready to make its official debut.
While the automaker has yet to provide an exact date, it previously confirmed to TopAuto that it will launch this year, so it should arrive before the end of December, if not much sooner.
The key thing to note about the C9 is that it is actually a rebadged version of a different car, known in China as the Exeed RX.
Exeed, like Omoda and Jaecoo, is one of the many brands that fall under the Chery umbrella, but it will not be launching in South Africa in an official capacity.
Instead, the Chinese automaker has decided to repackage models from its Exeed, iCar, Karry, and Luxeed sub-brands and sell them under one of its three existing nameplates – Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo – to keep things streamlined for our market.
The Omoda C9 is sold as the Exeed RX in China.
At last year’s Festival of Motoring, a C9 was displayed at an Omoda exhibit along with a short description of a few of the vehicle’s key features.
The powertrain takes the form of a 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine, which generates a total of 197kW and 400Nm.
As a point of reference, the C5 uses a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol plant with 115kW and 230Nm, making the flagship nearly twice as powerful as its forerunner.
Adding to the C9’s technical report is an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which will link to either a front-wheel or all-wheel-drive setup.
Owners can also make use of seven driving modes for Eco, Standard, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Off-Road, and the crossover is fitted with the brand’s latest Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) 2.5, though the manufacturer has yet to give a full breakdown of what this includes.
It measures 4,775mm in length, 1,920mm in width, and 1,671mm in height, with a ground clearance of 187mm.
What Omoda did reveal is that the high-end model is decked out with items like automatic LED headlights, a hands-free electric tailgate, keyless entry and start, a wireless charging pad, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, heating and ventilation for both the front and rear seats, massage function for the driver’s chair, a Sony stereo, and nine airbags.
More information on the Omoda C9, such as its pricing and model selection, will be announced closer to its launch date.
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