The Class 83 was designed with a streamlined sloped head, with large front windows and two high beam lamps concentrated at the center top part of the cavity, and two standard headlights at either bottom sides (later changed to LED lights in 2016). An
AAR coupling system is used, and this is compatible with all of KTMB's modern rolling stock. Route direction is indicated on the top-right front of the train within a confined fluorescent lighted box using a lightly transparent plastic, built integrated with the window shell (later replaced with LED destination indicators in 2010). The driver's cab features a dedicated access to the outside, which is atop the door access to the passenger area. The Class 83 cab head is designed to be bottom-heavy, with the bulk of the power transformers located beneath the coach. With full use of the top for passenger use, power traction motors are contained within the bogie itself. In terms of safety, the front outer frame is made of heavy, carbonized steel, which is capable of sustaining high impact, as with the
KTM Class 82. Unlike its successor, the
Class 92, the Class 83 trains (as with its sister classes) are endowed with multi-layered tempered glass, which is of a higher degree of impact resistance. The Class 83 had a top speed of , at the time of launch. This was similar to the top speed of the other classes, but significantly faster than the rail buses which were in use at the time. During normal operation, was the typical top speed with the average speed being around . Compared to the other classes, the class 83 was found to have the best acceleration among the 8x classes, and this is due to the Mitsubishi regenerative braking system being used, which gave efficient energy conservation during braking and reasonable acceleration during runs. == Formations ==