Chinese carmaker's latest attempt to break into Europe will be in the form of a small SUV concept, to be revealed at the Frankfurt show.
10 Sep 2017 | 7059 Views | By Jimi Beckwith, Autocar UK
Chinese car-making giant Chery has revealed specifications of its Europe-bound SUV, which will be inspired by its Tiggo Coupé Concept and come available in hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or battery electric (EV) form.
The model, due for reveal in concept form at this month's Frankfurt Motor Show, will be the first ...
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Chinese car-making giant Chery has revealed specifications of its Europe-bound SUV, which will be inspired by its Tiggo Coupé Concept and come available in hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or battery electric (EV) form.
The model, due for reveal in concept form at this month's Frankfurt Motor Show, will be the first of a family of models to be introduced to the European market. It will be quickest in plug-in form. Chery claims the PHEV model can hit 100kph in 6secs and has a top speed of 124mph/198kph. It also quotes a combined fuel economy of 157mpg/55.57kpl, according to NEDC tests.
Chery said the battery can be charged to 80% in 30mins and will reach full charge from a domestic 220V supply in four hours – bold claims that would rank the upcoming SUV model alongside electric models from established marques like the Audi e-tron.
As shown by new images of the car's rear, side and nose, the Chery model mixes typical SUV lines and a streamlined front that's not dissimilar to that of the Land Rover Discovery. An earlier glimpse of the interior showed a large, high-mounted infotainment screen and climate control switchgear.
The car is built on what Chery describes as an "all-new, high-quality" platform, although the company doesn’t say whether it will be a premium offering that competes with the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC or a rival to more mass-market SUVs such as the Ford Kuga and Vauxhall Grandland X. Crash safety is also highlighted as up to the standards of European manufacturers.
Partnering with top component suppliers
Backing its bold claims for drivetrain performance, Chery has revealed a list of European component and technology suppliers it has partnered with to produce the model. Key names include Bosch for the infotainment (which is comprised of a 10-inch touchscreen and 7.0-inch instrument cluster), Continental Automotive for the car's electronic architecture and renowned German engineering firm Benteler for the car's structure.
The markets selected for the as-yet-unnamed brand’s entry into Europe have yet to be revealed, but Chery has announced that it will open European design and engineering facilities specifically for the model.
Chery is one of China’s largest car producers. It sold more than 700,000 cars in 2016, with 100,000 of those exported internationally. Chery’s exports made up almost 30% of China’s total car exports last year.
The brand, if it occupies a mass-market position instead of a premium one, would be in direct competition with rival Chinese car maker Geely’s Lynk & Co brand, which sits below Volvo and was acquired from Ford in 2010.