Perodua Ativa D55L SUV – DNGA platform explained

The largest, or maybe crucial automotive launch of 2021 occurs to be yet one more SUV, and this time it’s from the Perodua camp. That’s proper, the D55L SUV, believed to be known as the Ativa, shall be launched in only a matter of weeks, and it’s the automaker’s first mannequin to be based mostly on the DNGA platform.

What’s DNGA, you ask? It’s brief for Daihatsu New World Structure, very similar to guardian firm Toyota’s personal TNGA. It’s a model new platform that entered the Japanese market as lately as 2019, and that is important to us because it signifies that Perodua is getting the very newest platform, engine and transmission from Daihatsu. To your reference, the present Myvi runs a modified model of the second-gen Myvi’s platform, which had its roots from the 2010 Daihatsu Boon/Toyota Passo.

The truth that the Daihatsu Rocky and the Toyota Raize is offered in Japan can also be value noting, as we are actually getting a bonafide JDM twin within the Ativa. In distinction, the Aruz is a mannequin designed for rising markets, i.e. Indonesia and Malaysia. You received’t discover its seven-seater Indonesian twins Daihatsu Terios and Toyota Rush in Japan, that’s for positive. DNGA can also be a unibody/monocoque base, which is much more refined than the Aruz’s extra utilitarian rear-wheel drive ladder body structure.

Modular and CASE-ready (linked, autonomous, shared, electrical)

Like most fashionable platforms, DNGA was designed to satisfy quite a lot of standards, which incorporates connectivity and autonomous driving applied sciences, in addition to future electrification plans. Modifying present Daihatsu platforms to be CASE-ready can be too expensive and time consuming, so a model new answer was deemed vital “to swiftly launch merchandise in rising markets, the place competitors is anticipated to develop into more and more fierce,” in accordance with the Japanese carmaker.

DNGA is a modular platform that shall be used to underpin Daihatsu’s total vary of automobiles, particularly JDM kei automobiles, in addition to A- and B-segment fashions (designated DNGA-A, DNGA-B) for home and worldwide markets. Having mastered the “smallest particulars” of small automotive manufacturing, Daihatsu got here up with a redesigned idea to have as many shared elements as doable between new fashions, which is able to lead each to top quality at inexpensive costs and larger improvement effectivity.

Quicker, cheaper improvement of latest fashions

Key elements resembling suspension, underbody, engine, transmission and seats had been all developed from scratch and up to date on the identical time. Daihatsu says the modularity of DNGA permits elements sharing between fashions to exceed 75%, shortening the event time of latest fashions by 50%. The capital investments of creating and launching a brand new product can also be diminished by 30%.

This considerably reduces operational prices over time, and no matter financial savings made can be utilized so as to add extra options to the automobiles, benefitting clients. Shorter improvement instances additionally imply the model can supply more energizing, extra updated merchandise, reacting faster to any modifications in market traits. Now outfitted with the brand new platform, Daihatsu intends to launch 15 physique sorts and 21 fashions by the top of 2025, with a focused annual manufacturing quantity of two.5 million autos by then. That’s an enormous goal to say the least.

Objective: class-beating stability and luxury

Daihatsu’s improvement of the brand new platform began with the suspension, with an up to date geometry that prioritises stability and luxury, optimising automobile behaviour and responses on numerous street surfaces. The full variety of transferring elements have additionally been diminished, which ends up in a lighter chassis.

The Rocky and Raize use a model new MacPherson setup up entrance and a torsion beam for the rear. These had been developed from scratch with optimised mounting factors and diminished weight, but on the identical time supply a steady experience with minimal physique roll, Daihatsu says. Vibrations skilled on undulating surfaces are additionally neutralised extra rapidly with this setup. The platform’s noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) ranges shall be as much as class requirements for the following 10 years, Daihatsu claims.

Lighter however safer – elevated chassis rigidity, extremely high-tensile metal combine

A serious change for Daihatsu chassis design is the linking of force-application factors on the entrance and rear of the automobile, smoothening the transmission of power by way of the body. This improves the underbody’s collision security efficiency and energy, and extra considerably permits the chassis to be each extra inflexible and lighter than earlier than. Utilizing the Tanto kei-car for instance, the newest DNGA mannequin is 30% extra inflexible and 80 kg lighter than its direct predecessor.

The DNGA higher physique additionally utilises thicker, high-tensile-strength metal plates (10% greater than earlier than), additional aiding rigidity and security. In the meantime, the crumple zones have additionally been redesigned to extend the efficacy of the absorption and dissipation of kinetic power throughout a collision.

The Rocky scored the complete 5 star Japan New Automobile Evaluation Programme (JNCAP) crash security score in 2019, being solely the second Daihatsu mannequin to take action. You possibly can watch the JNCAP crash security take a look at movies under. We’re anticipating the Perodua Ativa, with all its passive and energetic security options, to bag the complete five-star ASEAN NCAP crash security score as nicely.

As a recap, the Ativa will get six airbags, digital stability management, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and Lane Departure Warning and Prevention as customary. The range-topping Ativa AV will add on Lane Hold Management, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Site visitors Alert and Adaptive Cruise Management to the combination.

Designed along with newly-developed engine and transmission

DNGA was developed along with new engines and transmissions, as to attain important enhancements in all points. Within the case of the Rocky, it will get the 1KR-VET 1.0 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a D-CVT drivetrain. We’ve already lined the engine in a deep dive story, and we’ll do the identical for the transmission quickly.

Suffice to say, DNGA, along with your complete package deal, is a fairly substantial generational leap ahead from Perodua’s present platforms and autos, and clearly a step in the precise route.

Extra DNGA fashions to return from Perodua?

Theoretically, all DNGA-based fashions, no matter physique kind or dimension, may be constructed alongside the identical manufacturing line. It’s the spine of modular engineering anyway. By that logic, the Ativa SUV would be the first of many DNGA-based Perodua fashions to return. In 2020, P2 invested the higher a part of RM500 million on the modernisation and growth of its plant in preparation of the Ativa, so that you finest guess there’s extra DNGA-based fashions to return with that sort of funding.

Subsequent in line ought to be the next-generation D27A Alza, maybe with the hybrid expertise already previewed at KLIMS 2018, or a turbo possibility if the Ativa’s boosted engine will get good response. So there you’ve it, the larger image that’s the Daihatsu New World Structure. Like we stated, the Ativa is barely only the start.