UPDATE: The Geely Azkarra has been priced. Details here. (3/11).
Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP), the distributor of Geely automobiles has revealed the official name of its upcoming compact SUV: the Azkarra. And copying the launch playbook of its sub-compact crossover sibling, the Coolray, the Azkarra is going on tour starting today.
Unlike the Coolray which is underpinned by a Volvo-derived BMA platform, the Azkarra (aka Bo Yue Pro or “Exceedingly Rich” in China) uses the proprietary Geely NL platform. It’s also a much older vehicle, sold already in its home market in China since 2016—two years earlier than the Coolray. It was refreshed in 2018, though. That being said, it does manage to retain the same “Volvo-esque” look, and that’s down to ex-Volvo designer Peter Horbury being responsible for the exterior lines.
SGAP didn’t reveal much in terms of specs, aside from the fact that that it will use a mild-hybrid powertrain. This means it will beat the Subaru Forester e-BOXER as the first hybrid offering in the compact SUV segment.
The Azkarra uses a mild-hybrid system paired to a 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine shared with the Coolray. Thanks to the combined power of a force-induction motor and an electric motor, the Azkarra will develop more than 190 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque. Weirdly enough, the quoted 0-100 km/h times is a leisurely 8.9 seconds. But even if it cannot run on pure electric power alone, Geely says it can still do 17.24 km/L.
You can be one of the first to see the all-new Geely Azkarra at the following locations:
- March 9-15, Uptown Mall Atrium C
- March 16-31, Trinoma Mall L4 – Cinema Lobby
- March 19-April 1, SM Mall of Asia – Main Mall
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