Dongfeng’s M-Hero and Voyah brands coming to South Africa

In one of the surprise announcements at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring last month, Dongfeng confirmed that its M-Hero and Voyah sub-brands will make their respective entries into the South African market in December. Announced at the unveiling of the Forthing Friday, the divisions will initially have a model each, with expansion plans for other products unknown for the time being. M-Hero On the M-Hero side, a brand founded six years ago as a new energy hardcore off-road division, the dramatic M817, or Hero II in certain markets, will make its arrival on back of receiving its first update in May this year.

Fundamentals Only introduced in China last year as a step up from the 917 that launched M-Hero, the M817 features a styling language called Heroic Soul Aesthetics 2.0, which reportedly draws from Dongfeng’s long standing relationship with the Chinese military. A key aesthetic aspect of both the M917 and M817, the latter’s dimensions are as follows: Length: 5 100mm; Wheelbase: 3 005mm; Height: 1 899mm; Width: 1 998mm. Available, outside China, in Russia and the Middle East, the M817 rides on a body-on-frame platform, complete locking front and rear differentials, a Craw function, dual-chamber adaptive air suspension, rear-wheel steering and a 360-degree turn function called M-Hero turn.

M817 has been 222mm and 333mm of ground clearance. Picture: M-Hero Europe According to official M-Hero Qatar press material, the M817 has 222mm of ground clearance, which increases to 333mm in its off-road mode. In total, seven off-road modes are offered: Auto; Wading: Mud; Rock; Sand; Deep Snow; Light Snow.

As standard, the M817 has a claimed wading depth of 700mm, which increases to 900mm with the air suspension set to its highest setting. Spec On the specification front, the M817 has been outfitted with the following: 18 or 20-inch alloy wheels; heated windscreen washer nozzles; electrically retractable side-steps; soft-touch closing doors and tailgate; illuminated grille; dual-zone climate control; ambient lighting; heated and ventilated electric front seats; 10.25-inch instrument cluster; heated and cooled centre console; type-A and type-C USB ports; heated steering wheel and rear seats; 12 or-18-speaker sound system; ventilated wireless smartphone charger; 15.6-inch infotainment display; wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; rear touchscreen displays.