Chery has formally launched its A8 plug-in hybrid sedan in China. Available in 4 variants, the A8 positioned under the Fengyun range of new energy vehicles (NEVs) is priced in the range of 119,900 – 149,900 yuan ($16,700 – $21,000) making its base price even less (approx PKR 47.03 lac) than that of the Suzuki Swift GLX hatchback (PKR 49.6 lac) in Pakistan.
The Chery Fengyun A8 measures 4,780 mm long, 1,843 wide, and 1,487 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,790 mm. These dimensions make it larger than the new 11th gen Honda Civic we have here which measures 4,674/ 1,801/ 1,415 mm with a 2,736 mm wheelbase.
The styling features a large trapezoidal mesh grille up front connected to slim LED headlamps. The side profile shows a fastback-like silhouette with a sloping roofline and an additional rear quarter glass. The rear shows slim full-width tail lamps, hidden exhaust pipes, and a large diffuser element on the lower section of the bumper. Wheels are either 16-inch or 17-inch depending on the trim.
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Inside, the dashboard gets a 12.3-inch instrument panel, a 12.3-inch central control screen powered by Chery’s Lion 5.0 operating system, and a four-spoke flat-bottom multi-functional steering wheel. The central tunnel features a chunky gear lever, rotary mode selector, and wireless charging pad.
All variants come standard with navigation, OTA updates, Bluetooth, remote control through the app, and karaoke functions. Both CarPlay and HiCar are also supported. High-end variants come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip as well as a Level 2 advanced driving assistance system that supports front and rear collision warning, automatic emergency braking, full-speed range adaptive cruise control, and lane merge assist.
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Power comes from Chery’s Kunpeng Super Performance Electric Hybrid C-DM system consisting of a 5th-generation ACTECO 1.5TGDI hybrid engine (115 kW(154hp)/220 Nm) and a permanent magnet synchronous motor (150 kW/310 Nm), mated to a DHT150. The comprehensive system power and torque are 265 kW (355 hp) and 530 Nm. The Fengyun A8 can sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in just under 7 seconds.
In addition, its 18.3 kWh lithium battery pack provides a pure electric cruising range of 127 km (CLTC) and more than 1,400 km comprehensive range (WLTC), according to Chery. Under fast charging, it takes 19 minutes to replenish the battery from 30% to 80%, while slow charging takes around three hours.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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