XPENG P 7
With the same mission
statement as Geely’s Geometry
marque, new EV brand Xpeng is
targeting the Tesla Model 3 with
its new P7 compact saloon.
Details such as the short front
overhang, frameless doors and
pop-out handles all provide
a direct link to Tesla’s most
affordable model. Xpeng claims
the P7 is capable of 311 miles of
range under China’s NEDC-
based tests.
NEWS
24 APRIL 2 019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 11
WEY VV 5
Premium brand Wey, owned by Chinese giant Great Wall, intends
to l a u n c h i nto Eu r o p e w i th p r o d u c ti o n d e b u t s a t S e p te m b e r ’s
Frankfurt show. Established just two years ago, it has already
sold 250,000 cars in its home country. Positioning itself as a
rival for Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Wey launched the VV5 SUV at
Shanghai, a model that will
spawn an EV version in 2020.
BYD E-SEED GT
Home-market brand BYD (optimistically standing for ‘build your dreams’) showed off a hybrid sports
car called the E-Seed GT. With styling apparently inspired by a dragon’s face, the car was presented
with few official technical details made available, although Chinese media has reported that it makes
use of a 2.0-litre petrol engine coupled to an electric motor for a combined output of 469bhp. It’s
classified as a design study, but production intent was hinted at.
LAND WIND
You might remember Land Wind for its infamous Range Rover
Evoque near-copy, called the X7. But earlier this year, Chinese
courts ruled in favour of Jaguar Land Rover after a long-running
dispute and ordered sales of the original X7 to be halted. The new-
look model is a distinctly bespoke design as a result.
SINGULATO IC 3 URBAN DREAM CHASER
Think you’ve got déjà vu? No, new EV start-up Singulato has
indeed given a new lease of life to the Toyota iQ. Part of a licence
deal between the two firms, it also allows Toyota to buy green
car credits in the future. The tiny city car uses a bespoke electric
motor and battery pack and has a claimed 186-mile NEDC range.
JETTA
Volkswagen, fresh from delivering 3.11 million cars in China last
year to become the number one car maker there, launched a new
China-only stand-alone brand. Named after one of the country’s
best-sellers, Jetta is a joint venture with First Automobile Works
(FAW) and is a budget brand targeting younger buyers outsidecities. It launched with the VA3, VS5 and VS7 (above).
GEOMETRY A
Geely, the biggest Chinese
manufacturer, recently
launched an EV-only sub-
brand dubbed Geometry
and used the Shanghai
show for the public debut
of its first model: the A.
Intended as a Tesla Model
3 rival, the saloon is said
to b e c a p a b l e of u p to 3 1 1
miles of range (NEDC).
GROVE GRANITE
New Chinese start-up Grove plans to become the world’s first hydrogen-only mass-production car
company and launched with the Granite, a saloon designed by Pininfarina. An SUV, called the Obsidian,
was also on display, featuring an unspecified fuel cell powertrain offering a range of up to 625 miles
and regenerative braking. Volume production begins in 2020, with plans to expand beyond China.