New models and big updates from Hyptec, Voyah, Zeekr, AION, Qiyuan, and more.
August’s MIIT filings came in a little earlier than expected but were packed with a swathe of new models and important updates, so let’s dive right into what we know, starting with a new model at AION.
AION I60
AION’s range has been struggling somewhat of late with the new RT, UT, and V models not really having the impact they would have hoped, so the brand is tackling that by adding another mid-size SUV to its line-up just above the V.
Named the I60, somewhat of a break from their normal naming convention, the I60 will measure 4,685mm long, 1,854 or 1,876mm wide, and 1,660mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,775mm, with that last measurement identical to the shorter V.
It’ll be available in both EV and EREV form with either 150 or 165kW motors, most likely on the rear axle, and with 18- or 19-inch alloys.
EREV versions get the same 160km of EV-only range on the WLTC cycle, with 5.5-litres per 100km of fuel usage, and a 29.165kWh battery, all details identical to the V, suggesting it’s simply a rebadge of sorts in most areas.
AION V
The very same model from which the I60 is borrowing is also getting an early update, with minor styling adjustments the primary updates across the range, removing some of the gawkiness of the standard V.
One notable change, however, appears to the introduction of a a smart driving model (pictured), which seems to come with some kind of sensors on either side of the front bumper, potentially borrowing from the lessons learned with the L4 models currently under development by AION.
Drive and range variants are exactly the same as the I60 above, but the length is different at 4,580mm.
AITO M7
AITO recently pulled the wraps off their new M7, the replacement for the best-selling SUV in their range and, as expected, the new model will come with both fully electric and extended range drivetrains.
Measuring 5,080mm long, 1,999mm wide, 1,780mm tall, and with a wheelbase of 3,030mm, the M7 is shorter than the Li Auto L7 but has a longer wheelbase.
In EREV form, it packs a 1.5-litre engine as a generator, and either a 227kW motor on the rear axle, or the same motor plus an additional 165kW motor on the front axle, with the BEV changing that 165kW front motor for a slightly less powerful 160kW one.
It also gets a range of WLTC electric-only ranges, with the smaller battery of 36kWh getting between 165 and 175km, and the larger 52kWh battery getting between 242km and 251km, with fuel consumption of 6.2 or 6.5-litres per 100km, the differences dependent on the number of motors.
Buick GL8 Encasa
Buick’s long-running MPV hero has taken a battering in recent years from a selection of impressive Chinese fully-electric MPVs and updates have only been limited to PHEVs, until now.
The Buick GL8 Encasa is finally a fully electric version of the new GL8 with lightly modified styling at the front and a two-tone colour scheme.
Both front and all-wheel drive versions will be made available, with single motor variants getting 332kW on the front axle, and dual-motor variants adding a 150kW motor to the rear axle, a slightly awkward setup but one they’ve gone with for their six- or seven-seater.
It’s a big car too, measuring 5,260mm long, 2,000 or 2,023mm wide, and 1,836 to 1,820mm tall (likely due to air suspension), with a wheelbase of 3,160mm, and it gets 18-inch alloys.
Oshan Senyuan
The Changan Lumin Corn has had something of a facelift but not for the standard Changan brand, rather it’s for their oft-forgotten sub-brand Oshan.
The cute and cuddly Lumin Corn has now turned into an angry eye cartoon character with the top edge of the Lumin Corn’s oval lights sliced off, and the rear lights getting a more intense circular design with indicators in the centre.
Called the Senyuan, it measures 3,285mm long, 1,708mm wide, and 1,550mm tall, with a wheelbase of 1,980mm, and it comes with poxy little 14-inch wheels, and a 35kW motor on the rear axle.
Deepal A06
Deepal’s range continues to expand with the L06 the latest saloon to hit their line-up beneath the L07/SL03.
The design deviates somewhat from Deepal’s line up with a split headlamp set up at the front giving a more aggressive overall look, a lidar above the windscreen, and a rear end that looks a little similar to the NIO ET5 in the aero elements, which also include an active rear spoiler.
It’ll be available in both EV and EREV forms, both sporting 200kW motors on the rear axle, with the EREV boasting a 28.39kWh battery for up to 180km of electric-only range on the WLTC cycle, and fuel consumption of just 4.38-litres per 100km.
It measures 4,830mm long, 1,905mm wide, 1,480mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,900mm, with options for 18- or 19-inch alloys.
Hyptec A8
GAC AION’s Hyptec brand has struggled of late with the new HL SUV not making a huge impact on sales, so the brand has decided to push further upmarket and take on large saloons with the A8.
Aside from an aggressive front-end featuring a full-width daytime running light, a lidar unit, and styling not at all in keeping with Hyptec’s existing line-up, it also gets a long rear end with taillights that look almost taken directly from recent Audis.
The filings tell us that the A8 will be a big car, a full 5,130mm long, 1,966mm wide, and 1,492 or 1,500mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,020mm, essentially pitching it directly against cars like the Voyah Passion L (more on that down the page) and the BMW 5-Series, while it gets 19- or 20-inch wheel options.
Available as an EREV, it’ll have an electric-only range of 178km on the WLT cycle, fuel consumption of 5.74-litres per 100km, and a battery of 35kWh.
Nissan N6
Following on from the success of the electric N7, Nissan will rollout a shorter, plug-in hybrid saloon with similar styling into the Chinese market.
Measuring 4,831mm long, 1,885mm wide, and 1,494mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,815mm, the new model will serve as a partial replacement for the popular Sylphy, and will come with either 17- or 18-inch alloy options.
It gets an electric-only range of 125 or 130km on the WLTC-cycle, and fuel consumption of 4.32 or 4.4-litres per 100km dependent on the wheel size, with all versions getting a 21.1kWh battery and a 155kW motor, though we’re not sure if that’s on the front or the back.
Qiyuan Q05
Qiyuan’s recent expansion continues unabated and on the back of some teaser images on Chinese social media this week, we now have real pictures of the new Q05, a compact fully-electric SUV to take on the BYD Sealion 5 EV.
It gets Qiyuan’s familiar styling with a similar but slightly more aggressive front end than the Q07 SUV, and gets a similar rear light treatment with the wraparound light bar across the back.
It measures 4,435 long, 1,855mm wide, and 1,595 or 1,600mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,735mm, and gets a choice of 17- or 18-inch wheels.
Power comes from a 120kW motor, likely on the rear axle but not confirmed.
Voyah Passion L
Spy images of the Voyah Passion (Zhuiguang) L appeared earlier this week and MIIT has now unveiled the real thing before Voyah followed up with somewhat more attractive official images.
The new model appears to be a larger version of the existing Passion, measuring around 4.5 centimetres longer at 5,125mm, and is 1,985mm wide, 1,522 or 1,505mm tall dependent on air suspension, and gets a wheelbase of 3,010mm.
It’s designed to be somewhat more prestigious than the existing passion, getting a huge chrome grille with light-up logo, big dish alloys, and a two-tone paint job often used on high-end executive cars in China.
Badging shows that the prominent lidar atop the windscreen is part of a package that use Huawei’s ADS system, and we do now know the Passion L will be available as a PHEV, with an electric-only range of 327km on the WLTC cycle, fuel consumption of 5.67-litres per 100km, and a 63kWh battery, with power coming from a 150kW front motor and 230kW rear motor.
XPeng X9 EREV
XPeng’s first EREV will be its MPV, the X9, with the first images of that revealed by MIIT showing a model with a slightly more angular lower bumper treatment at the front, but otherwise unchanged styling.
Measuring 5,316mm long, 1,988mm wide, and 1,785mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,160mm, the X9 EREV will be available originally as a seven-seater but a six-seater may become available in future.
Sadly, we don’t have any battery information yet, but we do know it’ll get a 210kW motor, likely on the rear axle, and 19- or 20-inch alloys.
Yangwang U9 Nurburgring Edition
Xiaomi must have poked the bear with their recent Nurburgring lap time because Yangwang has turned up to the knife fight with a rocket launcher.
While we’re yet to hear of any such lap time challenge from the brand, though a rumoured 7 minute 17 second time has been doing the rounds, the U9 Nurburgring Edition has been revealed by MIIT with, wait for it, just under 3,000 horsepower.
This eye-watering figure comes courtesy of four electric motors boasting 555kW each, one for each wheel, which might be why the U9 gets a rear wing that wouldn’t look out of place on a Formula One car, and a monster diffuser.
If it’s even important, it measures 4,966mm or 4,991mm long, 2,029mm wide, 1,311 or 1351mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,900mm, and features Yangwang’s Disus-X suspension, which is both air and pneumatic at the same time.
Zeekr 7X Update
The Zeekr 7X hasn’t even been on the market for a whole year but is already getting updates with those revealed by MIIT being predominantly on the power side, though it’s likely it’ll get updates like Geely’s H7 ADAS system.
For now, we can see that it has become more powerful, with a 215kW motor on the front axle and 370kW on the rear axle, for 585kW in total, up from the 475 previously.
On the dimensions front, it’ll measure 4,825mm long, 1,930mm wide, 1,666 or 1,656mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,925mm, with wheel options of either 19-, 20-, or 21-inches.
Zeekr 9X
Much about the Zeekr 9X was revealed during the recent Tech Day but we have a few more details courtesy of the MIIT filings, including that the hefty grille on the front will be available in either black, chrome, or body-coloured.
It measures 5,239mm long, a single millimetre shorter than the Lynk & Co 900), 2,019 or 2,029mm wide, and 1,819mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,169mm, and comes with suitably massive alloys of 20-, 21-, or 22-inches.
As a plug-in hybrid, that operates predominantly as an EREV, it gets large batteries and a lot of electric-only range, with between 280 and 302km on the WLTC cycle with the larger 70kWh battery, and between 220 and 235km with the smaller 55.1kWh battery.
All versions get a 2.0-litre engine from Aurobay, and fuel consumption is between 6.78-litres and 7.45-litres per 100km depending on the battery chosen and wheels used.
Zeekr 001 Update
Finally, the Zeekr 001 has seen its fair share of updates over its lifetime and it looks set to get one final one before an all-new version of the 001 which will likely head our way next year.
The standard 001 comes just before an expected update to the 001FR in the coming months, and like that car the standard version also gets a power boost as its primary update in the filings, with the 001 now boasting 370kW in the rear-driven single motor version, and 680kW of power in the dual motor version, up from 580 previously.
This will almost certainly see the 001 get a sub 3-second 0-100kph sprint, while the car will also get an update to the ADAS system to Geely’s H7 system, with turquoise lights in the mirrors, and a tow ball, which will make the car more appealing in Europe.
There’s also a sizeable rear spoiler, similar to that on the FR, which will be an option, while alloys will be either 19, 21-, or 22-inches in size.
Extras
Ora Funky Cat
The Ora Funky Cat has recently received updates in China and it looks like these might be set to head to international markets with the GWM badging on the back.
There aren’t any highlight figures from the filings so we’ll just share what we have, with the Funky Cat getting a 126kW motor on the rear axle, as well as 18-inch alloys.
It’ll measure 4,242 or 4,253mm long, 1,825 or 1,848mm wide, and 1,632mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,650mm. We suspect the differences in length and width will be between the standard and the GT variants that come with a bodykit.
Toyota Wildlander
Toyota’s Wildlander has been brought into line with the latest Toyota styling, with C-shaped daytime running lights, a more angular overall appearance, and a more mechanically-styled rear.
It remains a plug-in hybrid, but we don’t have any motor details, so for now we can say it measures 4,600mm long, 1,855mm wide, 1,680mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,690mm, and gets stylish 20-inch alloys as well.
Geely Galaxy 8 Updates
The Geely Galaxy now seems to be called simply 8, rather than E8 and L8, with EV and EM-P badging added to the back.
We can’t see any obvious unreported updates to the 8 EV, with the single motor version still getting the updated 250kW motor on the rear axle.
The EM-P variant gets an unknown amount of power from its twin motors, but we do know it gets a 28.3kWh battery, good for up to 161km or electric-only range on the WLTC cycle, and fuel consumption of 4.66-litres per 100km.
