Perodua Alza - Part 2

In terms of R&D too, Perodua has been advancing in Japanese style, ie developing full proficiency at each stage rather than be over-ambitious (and impatient) and try to 'run before learning how to walk’ properly. Since starting off doing mostly cosmetic with the early models, Perodua’s R&D department has progressed to more structural work and for the model after this MPV, Malaysians will be working on the upper body design themselves. This will mean they can develop a unique body design while sharing a platform with Daihatsu (saving a lot of money) in the same way Nissan and Renault models sit on similar platforms but look very different.

So that’s the background to the new model which you will now know is called the Alza. The name was selected from submissions by Perodua employees and is said to be derived from a Spanish word which means 'rise’. Like many new names for cars, it will probably draw all kinds of comments but it’s a fairly 'neutral’ sort of name and in time will be as accepted as Myvi.

The styling of the Alza has some cues from the Myvi but because it is longer and has an extra row of seats at the rearmost section, the rear quarters have been given more glass area. This ensures those in the back won’t feel claustrophobic and give the cabin a more airy feeling too.

The front end follows the corporate face which Perodua currently uses with special attention paid to the headlights. The detail inside the lighting units is nice and this model is the first model in its segment to have projector-type headlights. These lights provide more focussed illumination rather than depend on the reflector to enhance lighting.

The rear end is clean and simple with distinctive lights on the roof pillars. LEDs are used for the upper section while the lower third is taken up by the large reversing light. Positioning the units high up is good as not only are drivers further back in a queue able to see the brake lights but in a rear-end collision, they are less likely to be broken, reducing repair costs. The premium version also has a spoiler mounted on the trailing edge of the roof for a sporty image.

Under the skin, extra attention has been paid to structural strength. Daihatsu is a specialist in small cars and over many decades, it has found ways to increase the levels of protection for occupants. For the Alza, besides a computer-engineers front structure that effectively absorbs impact energy from a collision, there is extra reinforcement to give better protection against collisions from the sides. The centre pillars have extra reinforcement and two extra transverse beams in the floor to provide extra rigidity. Though Perodua doesn’t do its own testing, Daihatsu has conducted the necessary crash tests and the Alza meets Japanese requirements.