This Chinese electric compact SUV accelerates very hard, but it is a problem

Brief news:

Automobile: the Seal U, bold Chinese SUV but cautious

Byd, the manufacturer of Shenzhen who has become the nightmare of European brands on the Chinese market, is about to launch a major operation on the old continent.

Posted on July 30, 2023 at 11:00 a.m

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Byd, the Chinese number one in the automobile, is already a scarecrow. The manufacturer of Shenzhen, whose name is the acronym of Build Your Dreams (“Build your dreams”), has become the nightmare of European brands on the Chinese market, where it has delighted market share in recent years. Today, he is about to launch a major operation on the old continent.

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After announcing the arrival of five electric models in France (four of which are already available in the catalog), Byd has just added a sixth. Derived from the seal sedan (“seal”, in English), the Seal U, which we were able to briefly drive in China on a test circuit, implicitly poses as a replacement solution to the Tesla Model Y, car now the Better sold in Europe. Bold but prudent, this SUV with relatively imposing dimensions (4.78 meters long) seeks to show white paw to succeed in its beginnings in our latitudes.

His style is quite neutral without being cute and we can attribute the merit of avoiding grimacing mannerism of certain other electric models, Chinese or not. The interior opts for a very classic presentation, with seats and panels (real) black leather. It looks like the interior of a thermal model. The large 15.6 inch screen has the particularity, as is the case on other models of the brand, to rotate on itself to be used in portrait or landscape mode. The assemblies and the materials are of quality – byd knows itself expected at the turn – while the space in the rear seats is generous and the trunk barely less. Models intended for the Chinese market can optionally receive special karaoke equipment installed in the middle of the rear seat.

We were especially curious to drive the Seal U. This model, which will be officially unveiled in early September at the Munich show, has not yet delivered all its technical characteristics or its price, which should logically be fixed a little below 50,000 euros to win the ecological bonus of 5 Euros. Performing a few laps allows you to get a more precise idea of ​​it. Quickly, we understand that the manufacturer sacrificed driving pleasure on the altar of autonomy.

Too cautious approach to customers

The two available batteries are of strong capacity (71.8 and 87 kilowatt hours) and should allow to travel up to 500 kilometers between two complete refills, which places the Seal U at the top of the range with regard to the competition. The technologist used is lithium-fer-phosphate, which allows prices to be drawn down (there is no cobalt and few rare metals), but does not present a particularly high efficiency because it requires loading The Boat Question Weight. Byd did not communicate on the mass of the Seal U. However, he specifies that the model has 560 kilos of batteries, which is much.

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This Chinese electric compact SUV accelerates very hard, but it is a problem

A compact SUV capable of reaching 100 km/h in almost three seconds, it’s impressive, isn’t it ? However, these performances should be considered with caution, especially since this electric car is planned for Europe.

Brief news:

• Zeekr, a new brand of electric cars from the Geely group, announces the release of the Zeekr X, a “new versatile luxury SUV”, available in Europe in the coming months.
• The Zeekr X uses technical architecture Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) from the Geely group and has an electric propulsion power of 115 kW at the front and 200 kW at the rear, with an acceleration time from zero to 100 km/h in less than four seconds.
• The security and stability of the ZEKR X could be questioned because of its impressive performance, as was the case with the SUV #1 Brabus, which encountered difficulties during the “Moose test” given various factors such as that an insufficiently reworked chassis, an ESP too permissive or unsuitable tires.

Electric compact SUVs are increasingly attracting for several reasons. First, their reduced size and maneuverability make them easier to park and drive in urban areas. In addition, the electric side provides impressive performance.

Zeekr, a new brand of electric cars from the Geely group, announced on Weibo the release of its latest model, the X, positioning it as a “new versatile luxury SUV”. The car will be unveiled on April 12, 2023, with availability which is officially planned for Europe, but without more details.

The same SEA architecture as smart #1 and the future Volvo Ex30

The Zeekr X, like the future SUV Ex30, uses the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) technical base of the Geely group. As a reminder, this modular platform allowing various architectures, it already equips the new Smart #1, which will compete head -on with the electric SUV, and will also be present on future Polestar models. Smart #1 is a compact SUV, whose design was designed by Mercedes.

Just marketed in France, this 100 % electric urban SUV incorporates a 66 kWh battery with WLTP autonomy of 440 km. The Brabus version offers less autonomy, with it uses an all -wheel drive with an engine at the front and an engine at the rear for a total of 315 kW (428 hp) and 543 Nm. This combo allows you to shoot 0 to 100 in 3.9 seconds. The smart #1 starts at € 39,990 excluding bonuses and it takes € 47,490 for the Brabus version.

The Zeekr X has, meanwhile,An impressive electric propulsion power of 115 kW at the front and 200 kW at the rear, with an acceleration time from zero to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. The car will therefore integrate the acceleration club from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds, although the exact figure will be announced at the press conference.

” Without mastering the power is nothing “

The Zeekr X will therefore do as well, see better, as the Smart #1 in version Brabus. It is precisely at this level that the problem arises. The Spanish experts of KM77, specialists in the momentum, have already been surprised by the reactions of the 1,900 kg SUV, the #1 Brabus, during the avoidance maneuvers. The vehicle had difficulties during the “moose test”, not reaching the reference speed of 77 km/h without touching the cones. Its best speed was 65 km/h, while a large 3-autonomy model reached 83 km/h and a Renault Mégane E-Tech Electrique succeeded in the test at 74 km/h.