Daihatsu Rocky pays homage to the Feroza

MANILA: Last month, during the Tokyo Motor Show, Daihatsu revealed a crossover which we reported will be christened “Rocky.” Well, we were right. Daihatsu has officially named their new crossover the Daihatsu Rocky and is now on sale.

The Rocky nameplate is not something new from the brand. In the early ‘90s, the first generation Rocky was released in Japan but sold as Daihatsu Feroza in Latin America and the Asian market. By the end of the 90s, the name was dropped and is now getting a revival. But unlike the rugged compact SUV that it was before, the new generation Daihatsu Rocky is more of a city carrier.

The 2020 Rocky will sit on a Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform and measures 3,995 mm long, 1,695 mm wide, and 1,620 mm tall, with a 2,525 mm-long wheelbase—smaller than most subcompact crossovers. It is powered by a turbocharged, 1.0-litre intercooler 3-cylinder engine that can churn up to 98 Hp of power at 6,000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque from 2,400 to 4,000 rpm.

The engine is mated to a CVT and all trims will come in 2WD but a 4WD option is available. But don’t expect too much from it. Just think of it as your support when driving on the slightly paved, slightly rocky roads of the back streets of the metro or when driving in the rural countryside.

If you are looking forward to the 2020 Daihatsu Rocky, well, dream on. Since the brand has no presence here in the country, it is very unlikely that we will see the Rocky on our streets. However, the Toyota-badge version of it, the Raize will most likely make it to our shores.

Also Read: Toyota Raize shares similarities with Daihatsu Rocky