New Omoda C9 revealed – and its coming to South Africa

Omoda made a splash at this year’s Festival of Motoring with the reveal of the new C9, the second model in the Chinese automaker’s portfolio.

A spokesperson at the event confirmed to TopAuto that the C9 will launch in November 2023, roughly two months after its public debut.

What you need to know

Omoda is a newcomer to the South African market, having only launched in April this year with its first vehicle – the C5 crossover.

The carmaker is technically a subsidiary of the now well-established Chery, but the two names operate independently with the former taking the role of a “luxury” division, similar to the relationship that Lexus has with Toyota.

The C5 has not been on the market for very long, but has already generated much interest leading to the addition of a new mid-range derivative to the line-up, and the announcement that hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric models are under consideration for a local introduction.

The reveal of the C9 only months after the brand’s launch therefore comes as a welcome surprise, indicating that the company is doubling down on its efforts to enter the South African market.

Confirmed features

The C9 will take the reins as the flagship of Omoda’s local stable, with a body that takes the form of the increasingly popular crossover-coupe style seen in recent entries like the Suzuki Fronx and VW Taigo.

While key details like its line-up and domestic pricing have yet to be revealed, the presentation at the Festival of Motoring included a breakdown of its physical attributes, as well as a few of its biggest selling features.

It will use a 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine, in contrast to the 1.5-litre unit found in the C5, which lends the new car a generous power reading of 197kW and 400Nm, and a combined fuel consumption of 7.6l/100km.

This will link to an eight-speed automatic gearbox that has been specifically set aside for the South African market, and local buyers will also get a choice of front and all-wheel-drive configurations.

Regarding its size, the crossover clocks in with a length of 4,775mm, a width of 1,920mm, and a height of 1,671mm, with a ground clearance of 187mm making for easy access and exits.

As for its features, Omoda confirmed that the following will be included as standard: LED headlights, nine airbags, a hands-free electric tailgate, keyless entry and start, a wireless charging pad, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting with a “dance function,” a heated steering wheel, voice commands, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, heating and ventilation functions for both the front and rear seats, massage function for the driver’s chair, and a Sony sound system.

It will also have seven driving modes for Eco, Standard, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Off-Road, and a new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) 2.5, though the manufacturer has not yet explained what this system will include.

Visually, the C9 follows the same basic cues as the C5, though the grille is noticeably different with a closed-off look more reminiscent of electric cars than the C5’s “Diamond Star” pattern.

Buyers will have six different colours to choose from at launch – Celestial Blue, Meteoric Green, Galactic Grey, Boundless Black, Crystalline White, and Lunar grey.