Perodua EMO Concept Bows At Malaysia Autoshow 2023 – Miniature EV Concept Previews Future EVs

Though a pint-sized scale model, this is perhaps one of the biggest talking points of the Malaysia Autoshow 2023.

One of the biggest talking points of the Malaysia Auto Show 2023 Press Day was, ironically, also one the of the smallest on show. We’re talking about the Perodua EMO Concept, which stands as the national carmaker’s vision of its possible electric-powered future.

As noted in its initial teaser, EMO stands for ‘Electric Motion Online’. The concept study on display is in fact a clay scale model at a 1:6 scale. The ‘Electric’ bit in its moniker is highlighted by the mock charger assembly that stands next to the model, all of which presented on a rotating display that gives a 360-degree view.

The Perodua EMO Concept is presented on a rotating display to give viewers a 360-degree look.

The EMO Concept display is accompanied with a full-sized driving simulator placed in an adjacent booth, and it provides some details in terms of proposed dimensions and performance. For the former, the EMO Concept is positioned as a B-segment offering measuring 3,895 MM long with a 2,500 MM wheelbase, 1,735 MM wide, and 1,515 MM tall. As a reference, these figures mirror the current-gen Myvi hatch.

As for performance, Perodua envisions the concept to feature an all-electric driveline, though exact details weren’t reveal. Given the claimed 95 PS and 121 NM outputs and subsequent claimed 0-100 KM/H time of roughly 10 seconds, our best guess is that it’s single-motor setup driving the front wheels (FWD). Additionally, Perodua notes a rather high claimed V-max of 160 KM/H as well.

Perodua envisions the EMO Concept to mirror the current-gen Myvi hatch in size and dimension.

As for battery size, charging, and range, Perodua envisions the EMO Concept to harness a 50 kWh battery that’s capable of accepting DC rapid charge inputs at an ambitiously high 300 kW rate, thus allowing charges up to 80% in about 20 minutes. This, according to Perodua, should enable a real-world driving range roughly between 300 and 350 KM.

The size of the EMO Concept on display does mean we won’t get to see an actual mock up of the concept’s proposed interior design. However, during its press presentation, Perodua did show illustrations of which, and it’s pretty novel featuring defined cockpit space for the driver that’s separate from the front passenger, with zones for either clearly defined too through clever use of colours.

Perodua CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin detailing the EMO Concept to press members at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023.

Presumably, given the ‘Online’ bit in its moniker, the EMO Concept’s cabin should promise a high degree of internet-enabled and connectivity-driven functions too.

For now, Perodua’s glimpse of its potential electric-powered future remains as a small scale model first. However, Perodua CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad stated that an actual model of the EMO concept will be constructed sometime later this year or early next year. This should be an exciting prospect to look forward to indeed.