Jaecoo J7 – Q1 2024
Omoda is but one half of a division that Chery refers to as O&J. The “J” stands for Jaecoo, a portmanteau of “Jae” (a contraction of the German word for hunter Jager) and “cool”. Another upmarket sub-brand, with a striking design language and a high level of technology, one could say that Jaecoo is for Chery, what Haval and Tank are for Great Wall Motor.
Measuring 4 500 mm in length, 1 865 mm in width, 1 680mm in height and with a 2 650-mm wheelbase, the boldly styled, unashamedly blocky Jaecoo 7 is a premium compact crossover. We imagine it is what the Jeep Cherokee would have looked like by now if (then) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles hadn’t made the 4th iteration of that model so darn curvy and, sad to say, indistinct. The Jaecoo 7 is much more macho.
Its grille takes inspiration from Mercedes-AMG’s Panamericana treatment, and it is flanked by slim, technical-looking LED headlamps; the rear styling, by contrast, is Range Rover-esque. The chunky and angular aesthetic continues in the cabin with (ahem) Jeep-style door handles and straight lines perpendicular to each other with a big, portrait-oriented infotainment screen on the fascia.
Under the Jaecoo’s clamshell bonnet is a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine that develops about 140 kW along with 275 Nm of torque. The J7 is likely to be made available in both front- and all-wheel-drive guises in conjunction with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Jaecoo J8 – Q4 2024
The J7’s bigger brother looks quite imposing too, but its exterior execution is less overtly off-roader-inspired and more akin to that of a conventional luxury SUV. In fact, the Jaecoo J8 is slightly bigger than the Omoda C9 at 4 815 mm in length, 1 924 mm in width and 1 710 mm in height. It also has a 2 800-mm wheelbase, which makes it rather roomy and puts it well and truly in the Executive SUV category.
It looks striking by virtue of its bold grille, full LED lights (fore and aft), contrasting black roof (and pillars), as well as ornate 20-inch wheels. Its luxurious interior, however, is the coup de grace.
The J8’s cabin, which we understand could be available in 2- and 3-row configurations, takes cues from models such as the new Mercedes-Benz GLC, with Nappa leather upholstery, a plush headliner, soft-touch surfaces, polished metallic finishes (including the air vents), electrically adjustable seats, climate control settings for each row, LED ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, a 14-speaker audio system and the latest connectivity features built into the 24.6-inch curved infotainment screen/instrument cluster.
Build quality is said to be very impressive indeed and the newcomer’s suite of safety systems reportedly includes 10 airbags, automatic emergency braking, a tyre pressure monitoring system, driver fatigue monitoring, L2.9 advanced driver assistance systems and plenty of other features.
The Jaecoo T8 is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine, which produces 183 kW/385 Nm, is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and drives either the vehicles’ front or all wheels (depending on the configuration that will be offered in our market).
Chery SA already has 80 dealers in its sales network. Still, considering the decidedly premium-brand positioning of Omoda&Jaecoo (O&J) products, the local subsidiary of the Chinese brand feels that its dealer footprint needs to expand to meet the expectations of a new, more diverse clientele.
“Omoda&Jaecoo is an important step forward for Chery Group’s globalisation strategy. The consumer market is updating and iterating, and we are keenly aware of the need for more diversified products to meet more market segments,” said Tony Liu, the executive deputy general manager of Chery SA.
“Omoda&Jaecoo (O&J) and Chery focus on different market segments. (Therefore) we are opening more than 30 Omoda dealerships and with Jaecoo joining (Chery SA’s product line-up in due course), the expansion of our dealer network will certainly continue in the next few years,” he added.
