Perodua, the second largest automaker in Malaysia, is working on a new small car which could be called the Axia. The Perodua Axia, which will slot below the Myvi hatchback in the automaker's portfolio, is a badge engineered Daihatsu Ayla.
Perdodua has registered three brand names with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia: Axia, Atrivia and Eliana. The new hatchback could adopt any one of these names but Axia is consistent with the company's tradition of two syllable four letter names.
The small car in question has been spied by Funtasticko.net and the resemblance to the Daihatsu Ayla is unmistakeable. Save for the new front fascia in the Perodua version, there are no visual differences between the two hatchbacks. The interior is also expected to be closely related.
The Perodua Axia would be powered by the Ayla's all-aluminium three-cylinder petrol motor which puts out 66 PS and 87 Nm of torque. Transmission options would be a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic unit.
The new Perodua hatchback is expected to be built at the company's new facility that is coming up near its existing one in Rawang, Malaysia. Given the readiness of the car, the launch is expected this year.
[Spy Image from Funtasticko.net]
