Fresh pics of the production-ready eQ5 SUV have arrived! And no, this isn’t an Audi. This is a China-made, Chery-branded electric crossover SUV that had been scheduled for April launch, but had to wait until mankind sorted out its pandemic nuisance.
Pininfarina, which is currently headed by ex-Chery Design Director Kevin Rice, designed the vehicle with strong Exeed LX and Lynk & Co vibes. The former is likely not a coincidence – the eQ5 is technically similar to the LX series, but the latter could be a curious coincidence.
The SUV utilizes a new unitized architecture called Chery LFS, which combines aluminum and magnesium alloy components for efficiency. It rides on 20-inch wheels and has “Chery” captions instead of logos on its tailgate and steering wheel. The wheelbase amounts to 2,830 mm, although a few months ago multiple Chinese media reported different dimensions (WB: 2,805mm, L: 4,630mm, W: 1,910mm, H: 1,655mm). The battery stores up to 70 kWh and yields up to 510 kilometers (317 miles) of NEDC range.
Crack open the door to be greeted by a pair of 12.3-inch displays, leather finish, carbon fiber details, and a panoramic glass roof with a hatch. The climate control unit is removable, and the gear joystick is electronic.
Chery says nothing about the engine. Earlier rumors spoke about an all-wheel drive and two specs to choose from: 1) 163 hp (122 kW) and 250 Nm (183 lb-ft); and 2) 177 hp (132 kW) and 280 Nm (207 lb-ft).
The SUV will be present at the Chengdu Motor Show starting on July 24, 2020.