Roewe, a part of SAIC Motor Co. China, has announced an all-electric version of its IMAX8 business van. The car is five meters long and offers up to 555 km of range. The company hopes it will strengthen its positions on the luxury market, which the gas-powered variant failed to achieve in two years.
The original Roewe IMAX8 comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine rated at 234 PS (231 hp / 172 kW), which an Aisin eight-speed automatic carries to the wheels. Its EV counterpart packs a single front-mounted motor capable of 245 PS (242 hp / 180 kW), which drives the front wheels directly.
A 90-kWh traction battery installed under the floor gives the minivan up to 555 km (345 miles) of WLTC-rated range. The top speed does not exceed 180 km/h (112 mph) for the EV, while the petrol version maxes out at 200 km/h (124 mph).
Other than the motor, the rest stays largely the same. There is a faux radiator grille with a different pattern at the front end, a new steering wheel – and that’s it. Second-row seats now offer power adjustments, ventilation and impressively large armrests straight from the factory.
Sales will begin in May, and all prices remain to be disclosed. The gas-powered IMAX8 starts from 188,800 Yuan (28,570 USD).