New Chery Tiggo TJ-1 unofficially previewed ahead of reveal

We’ve just been given our first look at the incoming Chery Tiggo TJ-1, a rugged new SUV intended to enhance Chery’s sex appeal as the Chinese brand prepares to relaunch in western markets – including Australia.

According to Chinese intel, TJ-1 is merely a codename for the first model of the new ‘J Series’ Tiggo portfolio that’s already been confirmed for an Australian introduction later this year.

Renders published by Chinese website Autohome – based on spy shots and official previews – suggest the TJ-1 will feature a much more rugged exterior design than the other more urban-oriented Tiggo models in an effort to attract the attention of younger buyers with a penchant for recreation.

Designed with more than a few Jeep influences, the rendered TJ-1 sports a bold and brash front fascia dominated by a chunky black grille, either side of which are a set of Hyundai-style sunken headlights.

The grille is underlined by a pronounced front bumper and a pair of yellow tow hooks, however, they should probably not be mistaken for or used as recovery points.

The boxy theme continues down the sides and rear of the car with muscular rear haunches and prominent wheel-arches, and there’s black contrasting cladding running all the way round the body.

A pair of square exhaust outlets poke out from the rear bumper while the full-width rear lighting signature features the same texture as the grille.

Toughened-up small and mid-size SUVs are becoming increasingly popular in China, where more and more brands are jumping on the Jeep-pioneered rugged SUV bandwagon.

Other examples of such vehicles include the upcoming Haval Dargo and SsangYong Torres – which the TJ-1 looks similar to – and of course the Jeep Compass.

Drive is set to come primarily from a turbocharged 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain, while an eight-speed automatic is said to be the default transmission choice, sending power to either the front or all four wheels depending on the variant.

Chinese media is reporting the Tiggo TJ-1 will make its public debut at the Shanghai auto show in April ahead of its domestic launch in July.

Chery Australia boss Andy Zhang revealed to carsales back in November that the J Series is intended to launch Down Under by the end of 2023, following the local arrival of the mid-size Tiggo 7 Pro and seven-seat Tiggo 8 Pro.

The flagship Chery Tiggo 9 large SUV should follow, as could two plug-in ‘lifestyle’ utes plus a direct rival for the Toyota HiLux.

However, the Chery Omoda 5 small SUV will precede all these vehicles following the conclusion of its local development and evaluation program.

Images posted on Facebook by Chery Australia yesterday show a large number of Omoda 5 vehicles ready to be shipped to Australia , where the Chinese brand was expected to be launched in 2022 but now looks likely to arrive around March, with a single model priced from under $30,000 and an EV version of the Omoda 5 to follow.