Jaecoo J6 Detailed - 279 HP, 500 KM Range, Coming to Malaysia At Sub-RM120K?

Part of our excursion to Auto China 2024 this week, CariCarz.com and other local press were given great insights into Chery and its sub-brands. They have taken the world by storm, culminating in the brand becoming China's biggest car exporter.

Yes, you read that correctly: Chery, as a brand, aims for worldwide market dominance rather than focusing primarily on the Chinese market, as other Chinese automakers do.

At the Chery Eco Exhibition and Model Showcase, we were drawn to the Jaecoo J6. If this appears familiar to you, yes it's the iCar 03, which we previously spied locally, and was displayed again at Auto China 2024. While the iCar 03 is sold in China only, the Jaecoo J6 will be its export version.

Although no specifications were revealed during the showcase, it's reasonable to believe that the J6 will mirror the iCar 03’s tech specs, with the primary variation being the driver side position and model badges.

Side by side, there are only three differences between the two: the front grille, which is classier on the J6, the wheels, which could be due to variant difference, and the rear external storage box, which is sleeker and smaller on the J6 compared to the bulky rugged ones on the 03.

Stepping inside, it's clear that not much has changed, since everything inside is carried over from the 03, including the "i" badged steering wheel. We're very sure this will change once export efforts begin.

Aside from that, the J6 will likely underpin an all-aluminium, multi-chamber caged body structure, sitting 4,406 MM long with a 2,715 MM wheelbase, 1,910 MM wide, and 1,715 MM tall. The tailgate is accessible from the left side, and the taillights are positioned vertically.

Additionally, the Jaecoo J6 comes with dual-zone automatic air conditioning, tyre pressure monitoring, ESP, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, an 8-speaker audio suite, automatic headlights and wipers, a roof rack, an electronic parking brake, and a 6-way electric driver's seat, all as standard kit.

The Jaecoo J6, like the iCar 03, would be available in a variety of configurations. The mid-range models should see additions like a dashcam, powered rear trunk door, folding side mirrors, panoramic sunroof, NFC keycard, and a 50-watt wireless charger.

Meanwhile, a few extra are expected in higher-end guises, such as side curtain airbags, electric passenger seat, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, 12-speaker sound audio, 64-colour ambient lighting, and DJI intelligent driving assistance.

If you look closely, the Jaecoo J6 pictured most likely stands as a mid-range variant as it seems to be missing the DJI driving controller — which is usually placed next to the wireless phone charger.

A camera-based L2+ intelligent driving aid system, which enables highway NOA (autopilot navigation), intelligent parking, and other functions, will also be standard on all high-end variants.

The Jaecoo J6 would most likely feature two powertrain options, similar to the iCar 03: the Mid-range will have a rear mounted single motor producing 184 HP and 220 NM, while the higher-end variants will have a dual motor 4WD setup rated at 279 HP and 385 NM. The latter should enable 0-100 KM/H sprints in 6.5 secs and a driving range of up to 500KM (CLTC).

With regards to price, this depends on when the model would go on sale as the government's EV tax-free term ends in 2025, and whether Chery Malaysia decides to explore CKD models for Jaecoo. Having said that, in China the iCar 03 Standard RWD costs RM73,000, the Advanced RWD at RM79,000, Long-range RWD at RM86,000, and the Long-range AWD at RM93,000.