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Chery has always stood out from other Dragon automotive giants for its green vocation. Among the first Chinese manufacturers to exceed one million units sold, it immediately focused on the mission of creating an environmentally friendly ecosystem using the most advanced technologies. It is no coincidence, therefore, that “New Energy and New Eco” is the slogan Chery gave itself when participating in the seventeenth edition of the Beijing Motor Show (29 April – 4 May).
If Omoda 5 was the model that made Europeans, including Italians, aware of the offer intended for sales in the Old Continent, at the Asian exhibition of Omoda 5 it debuted in an electric version, the E5. The new variant is equipped with a 61 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery combined with a latest generation powertrain for a declared range of 430 km and an overall consumption of 15.5 kWh per 100 km. Furthermore, with direct current fast charging, the car can go from 30% to 80% capacity in just 28 minutes.
The other novelty from Chery in Beijing is Omoda 7 which will be the first models of the brand to land in Europe. Characterized by larger dimensions and an evolving design compared to the rest of the SUV range, it is aimed at higher, essentially premium, targets. The front has a very personal look, while the waistline is truly elegant. Finally, the design of the rear lights underlines the intention to offer unprecedented aesthetic standards for Chery.
And we come from the Jaecoo brand, recognizable for the large gray hexagonal front and LED matrix headlights inserted into the bumper and separate lenses for low beam and high beam. Inside, the 14-inch digital display and the “jet fighter” style electronically controlled gear selector stand out. The attention to detail and premium-level materials convey a clear feeling of quality. Finally, there is a gem represented by the 64-color dynamic lighting which creates a more engaging setting. Two variants are available, the Jaecoo J7 electric version and the electrified J7 Phev-in making its debut in Beijing with very high power and autonomy based on a petrol engine and an extra large battery.
Another debut at the show are the Jaecoo 8 models, the de facto flagships of the brand, offered in two variants, Jaecoo J8 EV and J8 Phev. In both cases, in addition to sharing with the more compact J7 version for the management, for example, of all-wheel drive, larger dimensions are added to accommodate up to 6 passengers on board in three rows instead of the traditional 5. The first of the two new models, the J8 EV is the 100% electric version, while the J8 Phev offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a power of over 600 hp for a declared autonomy of approximately 1,300 km.