Chery has launched its Tiggo 8 Pro e+ SUV with two motors and an engine in Brazil, with other countries set to follow soon.
The DHT powertrain the vehicle runs on utilizes a 15.-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, a special three-speed transmission and a couple of electric motors. Thanks to a sophisticated powertrain design, drivers can activate the motors separately from each other or simultaneously, drive one axle or both, and even use the engine as a power generator for the electric system (so-called ‘range-extender hybrid’, or REX). There are as many as nine selectable modes.
As a result, the car can cover 100 km (62 miles) on electric power alone. In the most efficient hybrid mode, it consumes a single liter of fuel per 100 km, which translates into 235 miles per U.S. gallon. Sprinting rom zero to 100 km/h takes 7 seconds.
The manufacturer neglected to mention any power numbers, but pointed out that the gearbox was designed to withstand torques of up to 510 Nm (376 lb-ft). Whether the actual peak torque is anywhere near that number is unknown.