The Chinese carmaker again piqued the interest of local motorists at the 8th Philippine International Motor Show, with the debut of a turbocharged, 2.0-liter straight four, all-wheel-drive (AWD) model for its top-end Tiggo 8 Pro nameplate. The variant sits right between the turbocharged 1.6-liter straight-four Tiggo 8 Pro and the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle).

The Tiggo 8 Pro 2.0T AWD has 254 ps and 390 Nm under the rightmost pedal, linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. For reference, the abovementioned entry-level Tiggo 8 1.6T has 195 ps and 290 Nm, also linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic box, but with just two wheels pulling the unit.

Standard on the Tiggo 8’s variant launched at PIMS 2022 was soft-touch padding in a number of cabin areas, leather for all seats, light emitting diode (LED) interior lighting, wireless charging, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone air-conditioning, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen in-car infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

No finite price was given as of the launch, but Chery hinted that the Tiggo 8 Pro 2.0T will border close to Php 2,000,000. Since its 2019 rebrand as a purely sport utility vehicle peddler, Chery Philippines has made its presence felt at multiple car shows. Buoyed by its growing lineup, the Chinese automaker just reported a 140-percent month-on-month sales-increase this last June, its highest ever since the brand's reintroduction in the Philippines. 

With Chery joining the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines and this year's PIMS, do you think it is now a worthy contender in the local automotive scene?