That version, which is currently available in Geely showrooms nationwide, features refreshed styling along with a new welcome light sequence and larger infotainment screen. But while all that was happening, Geely also gave the crossover a more comprehensive update for its home market of China at roughly the same time. And now, that substantially updated version has finally made its way to its first foreign market: Chile.

Riding on the same basic platform and body as the current Coolray, the new model gets a substantially updated front-end. The face is now sharper with slimmer headlights, a Lexus-like spindle grille, hood with vents, and numerous red pinstripe accents. At the back, it gets new angular LED taillights joined by a full-width lightbar. The tailgate’s also been changed with the number plate changing positions, while Geely’s made sure to make the rear spoiler look more aggressive while further accentuating the rear diffuser and quad tailpipes.

Inside, the updated Coolray retains its sporty black and red color motif, but supplements that with added tech courtesy of a free-standing 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Amenities include rain-sensing wipers, a wireless device charger, a 540-degree panoramic vision camera, blind spot detection, and an automated parking assistant. Sadly, there’s still no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but it does get a Mirror Link feature.

The lack of any credible smartphone connectivity notwithstanding, the new Coolray does manage to add a new cylinder to its engine. The turbocharged NordThor 1.5 4-cylinder develops 174 horsepower—slightly lower than the current model’s 177 horsepower output. However, it manages to counter that with a slight torque bump to 290 Nm (from 255 Nm) at 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. Moreover, it now comes with an idle start/stop feature and, get this, Launch Control. When activated, Geely says it’s good for a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds—slightly faster than the current model’s 7.9-second sprint. The transmission remains a 7-speed wet-type dual clutch. Launch Control is also fairly unique in the crossover segment and something you often see in supercars like the Porsche 911 or Nissan GT-R.

For its debut market of Chile, the new Coolray comes in three variants: the GL Comfort, GK Exclusive, and the GF Sport. The prices there start at 16.490 million Chilean Pesos (P 1.142 million), an increase of 2.5 million Chilean Pesos (P 173,285) over the current Coolray. 

With Geely now starting to export the Coolray to global markets, it’s just going to be a matter of time before the Philippines will get this refreshed model. Expect a local debut perhaps as early as this year, perhaps alongside or a bit after the GX3 Pro sub-compact SUV which was previewed at the Manila International Auto Show.