Chery recently launched its flagship seven-seater SUV, the 2022 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, in South Africa, with Distinctive and Executive variants on offer. Like the earlier-launched 2022 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, the new SUV comes with an impressive 10-year/1,000,000-km warranty in South Africa.

In South Africa, the 2022 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro is priced between ZAR 496,900 (~RM 136k) to ZAR 546,900 (~RM 149k), overlapping the models like the Honda HR-V (ZAR 437,800 to ZAR 517,900) and Honda CR-V (ZAR 556,100 to ZAR 796,300).

South Africa is the first country on the African continent to receive the Tiggo 8 Pro, and it arrives shortly after its debut in other large markets such as South America, Russia and the Middle East.

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“In planning for the South African introduction of the Tiggo 8 Pro, we used the analogy of first-class travel. Once in first class, your every need is taken care of. There are no hidden costs, no surprise bills and luxury is a given. That is what we have created for customers of the Tiggo 8 Pro, from design, to seating, to performance and of course to luxuries. We invite customers to enjoy their First Class,” said Chery South Africa Executive Deputy General Manager Tony Liu.

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The Tiggo 8 Pro showcases “Movement Design”, Chery’s next-generation design language. Its galaxy-inspired three-dimensional grille is flanked by standard-across-the-range automatic matrix-LED headlamps with dual daytime running lamps, establishing a strong visual signature.

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Subtle yet striking satin chrome adorns the lower air intake – which doubles as a skid plate – fog lamps, grille, windows and lower doors, while the load-bearing continuous chromed roof rails, 18-inch black and chrome alloys and Executive variant’s panoramic sunroof exude restrained class and luxury.

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Inside, all major controls have been digitised in three separate screens – a horizontal 12.3-inch instrument panel, an 8-inch climate control screen and a 10.25-inch floating infotainment screen in the centre of the dashboard that features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reverse camera display.

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The climate control system is fully automatic, dual-zone and fitted with an N95-grade air purifying system as standard, while the Executive variant adds a third air conditioning system for the rearmost seats. All variants offer wireless charging, intelligent voice control and eight SONY surround speakers.

Leather seats are standard, with the Executive variant’s featuring a diamond stitched pattern. The driver’s seat is six-way power-adjustable with memory, and in the Executive variant, the front passenger seat is four-way adjustable with lumbar, all powered. Other interior features include 60:40-split folding rear seats, USB and 12V ports, and ambient lighting.

In terms of safety, the Tiggo 8 Pro has six airbags, Traction Control (TCS), Roll Stability Control (RSC) and ISOFIX as standard. The Executive variant adds Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Automatic Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSC), Intelligent High-beam Control (IHC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSD), Front Collision Warning (FCW) and an emergency Brake Override System (BOW).

Also standard are rear park distance control (PDC) – encompassing a reverse camera with dynamic guides and 360-degree view – remote window closing, tyre pressure monitoring, hill assist, downhill ascent control and keyless entry and start.

Powering the Tiggo 8 Pro is a 1.6-litre turbo direct-injected engine, one of Chery’s award-winning powerplants. Lauded in the China Heart engine competition for its high efficiency, the engine makes 197 PS at 5,500 rpm and 290 Nm of torque between 2,000 and 4,400 rpm, and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Standard, Eco and Sport driving modes are selectable, along with Eco and Sport steering modes.

Its 10-year/1 million km warranty is limited to the first owner and not transferrable to the next owner. A five-year/150,000-km warranty linked to the vehicle is standard, as is five years of comprehensive roadside assistance. Chery will also offer South African customers a comprehensive five-year/60,000-km service plan as standard.

The Tiggo 8 Pro is among the Chery models planned for launch in Malaysia.

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