Want-but-cannot-have refreshed Exeed VX priced in China

One of the star attractions of parent company Chery’s New Journey, New Life International User Summit in Wuhu last month, upscale premium division, Exeed, has confirmed pricing of the updated VX soon to be sold in other key left-hand-drive markets outside China.

What is it?

Billed as Chery’s rival for the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Volkswagen Touareg and to some extent, the Toyota Land Cruiser, the VX, known fully as the Exeed VX Lanyue in the People’s Republic, rides on a unibody rather than a body-on-frame platform in addition to offering a permanent all-wheel-drive system made by BorgWarner.

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Its architecture known as M3X, the VX measures 4 970 mm long, 1 940 mm wide and 1 792 mm tall while riding on a 2 900 mm long wheelbase. No details surrounding luggage capacity were disclosed.

Imposing

Available as standard with seven-seats, or with six as shown in Wuhu with the middle row being occupied by a pair of captain’s style chairs, the VX’s update comes a mere three years after its initial reveal as the flagship Exeed model above the LX, TX, TXL and RX that will come to South Africa next year as the rebadged Omoda C9.

The recipient of a more prominent chrome grille with horizontal slats, the VX’s updates also encompasses a new front bumper, blacked-out LED headlight clusters, chrome L-shaped surrounds for the LED fog lamp clusters and dropping of the chrome strip on the bonnet that previously housed the Exeed logo.

Interior look familiar?

While no changes have taken place at the rear, inside, the previous dual 12.3-inch displays both depart in favour of a Mercedes-Benz-style Hyperscreen made-up of three screens under a single piece of glass.

Also new is the new steering wheel and the centre console housing, which drops most of the physical switchgear and gear lever for a streamlined design highlighted by an expansive storage area housing a pair of cupholders plus the wireless smartphone charger.

As for the mentioned switches, the majority have been integrated into the infotainment system with the gear lever moving to the steering column.

Resplendent with amongst others, heated and ventilated front seats with a massaging function, an electrically folding third row, Active Noise Cancellation technology and a heated second row, additional items include remote engine start, facial recognition and an ottoman-style reclining front passenger seat that will be available on the South African-spec Omoda C9.

Petrol power only

Up front, the previous entry-level 1.6-litre T-GDI engine used in the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and the new Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max has been dropped along with the 187kW/390Nm 2.0-litre T-GDI that powers the facelift Tiggo 8 Pro Max.

While the latter engine continues, outputs have been revised to match those of the Exeed RX/Omoda C9, namely 192kW/400Nm.

Also gone is the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox replaced by an Aisin-sourced torque converter automatic the C9 will come out with as standard.

Sorry South Africa

Available in three trim levels, pricing for the VX kicks-off at 228 900 yuan (R582 433) and tops-out at 238 900 yuan (R607 878) for the top-spec all-wheel-drive buyers can specify with the seven or six seats without requiring to pay a premium regardless of the configuration.

Although enquired on a number of occasions during the event as to whether the VX will be heading to South Africa possibly as an Omoda, Chery South Africa confirmed that no plans are currently in place as a result of production being limited to left-hand-drive.

Additional information from carnewschina.com and xcar.com.cn.

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