GWM HAVAL H6 HEV now available with black interior

It used to be that after a model is launched, we would not hear about it for a while and with Japanese models, there would be a refresh and update about halfway through the typical 5-year model life.

With the Chinese brands eager to quickly grow their presence since they only entered the market a few years ago, there’s not only a constant flood of new models but even update them within a short time. While the market is so competitive and there is a need to keep the attention of car-buyers, they are also learning as fast as possible about Malaysian preferences along with the driving and road conditions, and making adjustments to their products.

For example, the suspension of Chinese cars tends to be soft and Malaysians complain of getting sick with the floatiness. The softness is probably okay in China as their roads must be smoother but Malaysian roads, as you would know, are uneven and rough (and repairs can’t be extensive partly because insufficient money is available, according to the Works Minister).

A soft suspension should seem better for absorbing the imperfections but it is the bouncing that upsets passengers. GWM picked up this issue early, said Nicole Wu, a Vice-President in the company, and changes were made to the suspension of the locally-assembled HAVAL H6 SUV. They are constantly talking to owners to have a better understanding of what Malaysians prefer so they can provide the best product, she told MotaAuto.com.

They also picked up on interior colour preferences and as a result of what they learnt, there is now a refreshed version of the H6 HEV with a Phantom Black interior theme. Besides giving another choice to buyers, the new black interior adds a premium and dynamic feel to the feature-packed model.

“Our customers have made it clear — there’s a strong preference for interiors that feel modern and refined. We are proud to deliver on that, while continuing to lead with performance and value,” said Roslan Abdullah, COO of GWM Malaysia. “Malaysian drivers are savvy. They know real value goes beyond the pricetag of RM139,800. With the GWM Haval H6 HEV, you are getting premium specifications, strong performance, and proven reliability in one complete package.”

The technical specifications of the additional version are similar to the other versions with the self-charging hybrid electric drivetrain having a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and electric motor giving a total system output of 243 ps/530 Nm. As with many hybrid electric vehicles, fuel consumption is much lower and the claim is 17.2 kms/litre with a potential range of up to 1,000 kms on a full tank.

Click here to read more about the HAVAL H6 HEV

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