This Friday EV, REEV launched in Malaysia for RM130k? Dongfeng sub-brand to launch V9 MPV in 2026 – paultan.org

A new brand, Forthing, has emerged on the Malaysian automotive landscape, with exhibitions at the ongoing Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur.

Forthing is part of the Dongfeng Motor Group and the brand has showcased two models, the Friday SUV and the V9 MPV, which the company plans to introduce to the Malaysian market. The Friday would be offered as both a battery electric vehicle and a range extension electric vehicle, with the former offering a range of 250 miles on the WLTP test cycle, according to the Forthing website.

paultan.org has learned that Forthing is targeting its brand launch in December this year, and its presence in the Malaysian market will be through local distributor Wide Premium.

The powertrain for the Friday range extender EV is an electric motor of 120 kW (163 hp) and 240 Nm, which runs on a lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP) of 31.94 kWh, supplemented by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 75 kW (102 hp) and 130 Nm. For the BEV version of the Friday, the powertrain consists of one 204 hp/340 Nm e-motor, powered by a 64.4 kWh LFP battery.

In short, a range extender EV powertrain works more like a BEV than a plug-in hybrid powertrain, because only the electric motor sends drive to the wheels, while the combustion engine runs to charge the drive battery while the vehicle is moving. In fact, in a REEV configuration, the engine works purely as a generator and does not power the vehicle.

While the BEV version of the Friday has a range of 400 km WLTP, the REEV version with a fully charged 31.94 kWh battery and a full 43 liter fuel tank will enable a combined range of more than 1,000 km. Because it is the ICE that charges the drive battery, recharging for long distances is easier, as refueling is faster than charging a BEV’s battery for the same range.

The Friday is 4,600 mm long, 1,860 mm wide and 1,680 mm high, has a wheelbase of 2,715 mm and a front and rear track of 1,590 mm and 1,595 mm respectively. The claimed curb weight for both the Friday REEV and EV variants is an identical 1,820 kg.

The rolling stock for the Friday EV consists of a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, fitted with 235/55R19 tires on the vehicle photographed here. Suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup at the rear (torsion beam rear suspension on the REEV), while disc brakes are fitted front and rear; power steering is provided via electrical assistance.

It has been revealed that the Forthing Friday will be offered in two variants: Luxury and Exclusive for the REEV, and Standard and Extended for the EV. Standard safety equipment includes front airbags (exclusive side airbags, front and rear head airbags and curtain airbags), ABS, EBD, traction control, stability control, hill descent control, hill braking control and pedestrian vehicle audio.

Also included are front and rear seat belt reminders, child safety door locks, ISOFIX anchor points for child seats, reversing camera, rear parking sensors and auto hold. The Exclusive adds a 360-degree camera setup and front parking sensors.

Exterior equipment on Friday includes heated, power-folding exterior mirrors, while the Exclusive and Extended variants add a panoramic roof and a power-unlocking tailgate.

Inside, standard kit on the Friday REEV includes a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way manually adjustable front passenger seat (10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat in the Exclusive).

For both Friday REEV and EV versions, ADAS is reserved for the higher spec variant of each (exclusive REEV and Extended EV).

For the REEV, the ADAS suite includes adaptive cruise control, smart cruise control, forward collision warning, AEB, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention and traffic sign recognition. Compared to the REEV, the high-end EV adds additional lane change assist, blind spot monitoring, door open warning and rear cross traffic alert.

Infotainment and connectivity are identical for the REEV and EV versions of the Friday, including an 8.8-inch driver instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. The audio output is a six-speaker set and mobile phone connectivity is supported by wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Also included are Bluetooth connectivity, AM, FM and digital radio, device connections include USB-A, USB-C and a 12-volt power outlet, along with a 50W wireless phone charger.

Also coming from the Forthing brand is the U-Tour V9 MPV, which is expected to hit the Malaysian market next year. Pictured here in left-hand drive form, this suggests that the V9 MPV is further along the timeline compared to the Friday SUV in terms of readiness in the Malaysian market.

Compared to the Friday SUV, less is known about the seven-seater V9 MPV. According to information from the Forthing website, the V9 MPV is 5,151 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 1,820 mm high, has a wheelbase of 3,018 mm and has a front and rear track of 1,633 mm and 1,646 mm respectively.

A plug-in hybrid powertrain is the powertrain of choice for the V9 MPV, and it consists of an ICE engine delivering 140 kW (190 hp) and 280 Nm from a 1.5-liter turbocharged direct injection engine. This is combined with an electric motor that delivers 130 kW (177 hp) and 300 Nm, sourced from a ternary lithium battery or a lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP).

Suspension components for the V9 MPV consist of MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup at the rear, with electric power steering. Braking is done by ventilated discs at the front and solid discs at the rear; The rolling stock on the unit shown consists of a set of 19-inch alloy wheels on 245/45R19 tyres.

Inside, the Forthing V9 MPV features a full-width display ensemble, which appears to include three screens. The steering wheel, like the Friday SUV, is a flat-bottomed multi-function unit. As with this segment’s models, the best seats of the bunch are second-row captain’s chairs, each with power adjustment and touchscreen controls, and each with a tray table.

Ahead of its expected official arrival in 2026, prices for the Forthing V9 seven-seater MPV have yet to be announced, although sources have indicated that this will be the case. paultan.org that the Forthing Friday SUV could be priced from RM130k in Malaysia.

Forthing Friday REEV shown in Malaysia

Forthing U-Tour V9 MPV shown in Malaysia

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