We’ve simply attended the finale and winner announcement ceremony of the Asian Compact Sedan Design Problem 2023 (ACSDC), co-organised by Perodua and the Malaysia Design Council. Asian Compact Sedan, Perodua, are you considering Bezza? Sure, the next-generation Bezza was talked about by Perodua VP Datuk Ahmad Suhaimi Hashim in his opening speech.

“As a few of you right here might keep in mind, we introduced the launch of the ACSDC 2023 on July 4, and through the occasion, we stated that we might think about the design as inspiration for our future mannequin. It could be a simple guess on what that mannequin can be as we solely have one sedan below our steady of autos,” he stated.

That’s the Bezza all proper. “It’s true that we’re searching for a full mannequin change of our Bezza sooner or later and this design competitors is a part of the product growth course of as we think about numerous concepts to combine right into a full mannequin change. Nonetheless, this product growth course of remains to be on the ‘drafting board’ stage and wouldn’t materialise any time quickly,” Ahmad Suhaimi added, bringing out the proverbial bottle of chilly water.

That is probably the primary time that Perodua has explicitly talked about the brand new Bezza, and it comes as a shock because the market chief is often tight-lipped relating to upcoming fashions, until the introduction is simply across the nook.

“I perceive that for a lot of the media members right here in the present day, this announcement is uncommon as we sometimes preserve our future plans to ourselves till the final second. This transformation in ways is as a result of our designers are eager on listening to your suggestions on what’s on show in the present day, and naturally your variety protection of this competitors and the finalists as effectively,” Ahmad Suhaimi defined.

With that stated, let’s take a look at the competition and the entries. The inaugural ACSDC drew 93 entries from seven nations together with Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Iran and India. There have been two classes – Pupil and Skilled. Perodua’s chief designer Muhamad Zamuren Musa led the panel of judges.

For the skilled class, Kenny Chan from Malaysia was named champion. “The design proportion present dynamic with a fastback silhouette, robust and steady physique character makes the automotive well-balanced. The numerous of particulars and different artistic parts of favor make the automotive among the many better of all individuals,” Zamuren stated of the ‘Payung’ idea automotive.

Philip Samuel Tandio from Indonesia was the primary runner up together with his ‘Out Journey’ idea, whereas Muhammad Izhar Che Shukarno’s ‘Fastback’ was named second runner up. Within the pupil class, Bryan Teh Yea Quan from Malaysia’s Asia Pacific College was topped champion forward of Alfred Han Wen Hao from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan and Muhammad Amin Othman from Universiti Teknologi Mara.

Whereas the title of the competition says ‘Compact Sedan’, most of the finalists got here up with what gave the impression to be massive sedans, and a few have been even coupes! Whereas Zamuren agreed that the entries may have been extra real looking, he appreciated among the design concepts utilized by the individuals, such because the profile surfacing on Chan’s successful entry. By the way in which, P2 owns the rights to all of the designs submitted.

The problem, as at all times, can be to include as a lot design into the manufacturing automotive as doable, with out affecting value. That’s one constraint confronted by Perodua, because it’s a maker of inexpensive automobiles and prices – particularly for intangible issues like design – need to be stored low to accommodate options that can be utilized and felt.

One other huge hurdle can be the format of the compact sedan – to look good, a sedan wants size and good proportions, however that’s not a luxurious that compact sedan designers have. Primarily based on small hatchback underpinnings, they’ve to include peak (these are sensible instruments, good area is a should) and a boot. A automotive just like the Bezza may effectively be probably the most troublesome to design.

Ahmad Suhaimi stated that whereas a sedan is seen as a sensible mode of transport in Malaysia, the bodystyle a standing image elsewhere in Asia (I can consider the compact hatchback in India or the MPV in Indonesia). “We need to bridge that hole as a lot as doable, equip this new automotive with the most recent security and connectivity options in addition to inside a worth vary that’s typical of our merchandise. This course of will take a couple of years, however it’s within the works,” he stated.

A number of years? The unique Bezza surfaced in 2016, two years after the primary Axia, and the all-new DNGA Axia was launched earlier this 12 months, so it might be two, three extra years earlier than we see a brand new Bezza? Anyway, the Bezza is effectively on monitor to be Perodua’s finest promoting mannequin in 2023, and P2’s No.1 is at all times Malaysia’s best-selling automotive, so it’s removed from broke.

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