New hybrid SUV offers 1,030 miles of range and charges in 9 minutes
Great Wall Motor (GWM) is targeting China's premium large electrified SUV segment with the Wey V8X, taking aim at models from BYD, Denza, and Xiaomi. The five-seat plug-in hybrid features an unusually large battery, with the Ultra trim receiving a 66.6kWh pack. Its 800V architecture and 6C fast charging allow the battery to charge from 30 to 80% in exactly nine minutes.
The SUV offers 250 miles of all-electric range as per China's CLTC cycle. This drops to 194 miles according to the WLTC standard. The technology package also includes modern driver assistance systems.
Power comes from the Super Hi4 hybrid system, which combines two electric motors with a turbocharged gasoline engine. Buyers can choose between 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter engines. In the most powerful Ultra+ version, the system produces 500kW and 686 lb-ft of torque. This allows the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 4.5 seconds.
When the battery runs low, the combustion engine takes over. It either generates electricity or directly assists the electric drive system. This extends the maximum range to 1,031 miles. The range-topping Ultra+ with the larger 2.0-liter engine is rated for 1,018 miles.
GWM also offers chassis technology typically found in luxury vehicles. The Wey V8X can be equipped with closed-loop dual-chamber air suspension and electronically controlled dampers. Rear-wheel steering with an angle of up to 20 degrees is also available. Despite measuring more than 16.4 feet long, the SUV is claimed to have a turning radius of just 16.4 feet.
Coffee Pilot 4 handles assisted driving. The system uses Nvidia's Thor-U chip with 700 TOPS of computing power, a LiDAR sensor, a front-facing 4D millimeter-wave radar, and eleven cameras. Among other features, it is designed to support parking-space-to-parking-space navigation.
Inside, GWM's Coffee OS 3.5 infotainment system runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip. Other equipment includes a 25-speaker sound system, active noise cancellation for engine and tire noise, Nappa leather, Alcantara upholstery, power soft-close doors, and power-retractable running boards.
BYD and Xiaomi put pressure on GWM
The Wey V8X faces strong competition in China. BYD's premium Denza brand offers the Denza N8, an all-electric SUV with a 129kWh battery. The manufacturer claims a CLTC range of up to 623 miles.
The BYD Ti 7 follows a similar hybrid approach. Its DM-p Super Hybrid system uses a 35.6kWh Blade battery that provides up to 74 miles of electric range. On longer journeys, the combustion engine primarily generates electricity for the battery while also supplementing the electric drive system.
Xiaomi is also competing with its EREV SUVs. The SkyNomad N70 Max combines an 11.9-gallon fuel tank with either a 52kWh LFP or 76kWh NMC battery. This configuration provides up to 314 miles of electric CLTC range and 908 miles of total range.
The seven-seat SkyNomad N90 Max flagship travels even farther. With a 15.9-gallon tank and a 76kWh NMC battery, the N90 Max offers up to 288 miles of all-electric range and a claimed total range of up to 1,059 miles. With the battery depleted, the two Xiaomi SUVs are said to return between 37.6 and 38.6 mpg on gasoline.
The Wey V8X costs the equivalent of $35,600 and $46,900 in China. At launch, GWM is offering a limited-time discount that lowers the hybrid SUV's starting price to around $33,700. The range-topping model retails for about $46,900. GWM has not announced plans to launch the new hybrid SUV in Europe or North America.
Source(s)
GWM | Weibo
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