An anonymous reader has sent the images of
a brochure of a Daihatsu Sirion Cross, hinting of an impending launch. Now, we already know that the regular Sirion is a rebadged Perodua
Myvi that is sold in Indonesia, and the Cross appears to be a jacked-up
SUV-esque version of said car.
Hatchbacks with more rugged-looking
exterior addenda are all the rage these days (see the Honda Jazz Crosstar), and
even Perodua itself is in on it with the Axia Style, so it’s no surprise that
Daihatsu’s Indonesian arm has gone down this route. The modifications look to
be fairly far-reaching, and go beyond simply slapping black plastic body
mouldings, roof rails and a raised ride height.
Those tweaks are present and correct, of
course, but the Cross also gets a new front bumper for a sportier look. The
blacked-out fascia that starts from under the headlights and covers the grille
and centre air intake looks suspiciously similar to the Japanese-market Honda Vezel
Modulo X (essentially a more aggressive version of the HR-V), as are the silver
lip spoiler and larger corner inlets with horizontal LED strips.
The Cross also rides on new 15-inch wheels
in an identical design to the 17-inch ones on the Toyota Raize. But the biggest
difference is at the rear of the car, where the car sports an entirely new
tailgate incorporating the number plate recess (which is on the bumper on the
regular Sirion/Myvi). A rather massive black plastic piece on the bumper
completes the look.
Beyond that, it looks to be the same exact
car as the Sirion, down to the 95 PS/120 Nm 1.3 litre Dual VVT-i engine and a
choice of five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission choices. The
appearance of this Cross brings with it a number of implications – although PT
Astra Daihatsu Motor is capable of local research.