Just before January ended, Omoda & Jaecoo Motor Philippines (OJPH) officially announced they would be launching their latest offering, the Jaecoo J5. It will serve as the brand's B-SUV offering and will be a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). It will also be OJPH's newest electrified vehicle after the J7 PHEV.

Based on the initial specifications they have released so far, the J5 HEV will have a combined system output of 221 PS with 295 Nm of torque, can average 5.3L per 100 km (or 18.8 km/L), and has an estimated range of over 1,000 km. Impressive figures, but what engine will the J5 HEV use once it debuts here?

Well, we may not need to wonder anymore, as OJPH recently received approval for an upcoming passenger vehicle with a gasoline-powered engine that has a displacement of 1499cc. It also has a reference weight of 1,636 kg, which makes it quite a hefty vehicle.

Since the J5 is a B-SUV, it's likely related to the Omoda C5 since they share the same platform. That also means the J5 may likely be powered by the same 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 156 PS and 230 Nm of torque. But thanks to an electric motor and a battery pack, the J5 HEV has a combined system output of 221 PS and 295 Nm.

With OJPH already receiving regulatory approval for a new passenger vehicle, it looks like the J5 HEV could make its Philippine debut very soon.