According to automaker Jetour as quoted by CarNewsChina, the Zongheng G700 off-roader became the world’s first vehicle of its kind to cross the 1.2-kilometer (~3,950-ft) wide Yangtze River using the built-in Amphibious Mode.
The company claims that it took 22 minutes for the body-on-frame vehicle to cross the stream moving at 7 km/h (4.35 miles per hour). It had to contend with the oncoming flow of water approximately 5 km/h (3.1 mph) fast, so ended up traveling 1,480 meters (4,855 ft) from bank to bank in Wuhu, Anhui Province. It seemingly arrived in fine condition, although the video posted on CarNewsChina is low-resolution and doesn’t reveal the state of the interior after the crossing.
Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest one in the world. To cross it, the Zongheng G700 relied on its standard water propellers and a six-axis gyro stabilizer. The company also proudly points out a special body coating capable of withstanding up to 20 kPa of water pressure. The thorough sealing enables the SUV to stay amphibious for up to 40 minutes at a time, developing accelerations up to 8 km/h (5 mph) – quite impressive for a road vehicle many owners won’t ever take off the asphalt.
The G700 is sized 5,198 x 2,050 x 1,956 mm (203 x 80.1 x 76.4 inches) large with 2,870 mm (112.1 inches) between the axles and 320 mm (12.5 inches) of ground clearance. On the road, it relies on its 2.0-liter engine and a pair of electric motors driving one axle each for propulsion. With 761 PS (750 hp / 560 kW), it’s quite a fast ride. Once fully fueled and charged, it can travel 1,400 km (870 miles) in hybrid mode, the manufacturer claims.
In an earlier communication, Jetour revealed that buyers would be choosing from four trim versions with the Zongheng G700, priced from 349,900 to 429,900 Chinese Yuan. That’s approximately $49,000–60,400 in U.S. money. Interestingly, the main competitor – the Tank 700 Hi4-T – barely starts from 428,000 Yuan before options. Another rival, the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 8, comes priced from 379,800 Yuan. Neither can go amphibious.
