The Roewe iMax8 is a China-made MPV full of magic

The conceptual Roewe-branded SUV revealed in May now debuts as a production car named iM8, so let’s see what it brings along.

The car shares its overall styling with the RX5 Plus SUV. It has the same radiator grille, LED lights and refreshed Roewe badge as the prototype model, but gets rid of the sophisticated front bumper. It rides on 18-inch wheels.

The off-roader is 5,016 mm (16.46 ft.) long, 1,909 mm (6.26 ft.) wide and 1,788 mm (5.87 ft.) tall with 3 meters (9.84 ft.) separating the axles. These dimensions put it into the “mid-size minivan” category by China standards. A turbocharged two-liter four-pot propels it forward with 234 hp (174 kW) and 360 Nm (266 lb-ft) of torque, partnering with an Aisin eight-speed auto.

The center console houses a gear lever and hardware buttons arranged in a wing-like shape. The digital dashboard and main display both measure 12.3 inches across, and there is also a heads-up display with AR support.

If there is one thing Roewe likes to harp on about, it is how “magical” its latest minivan is. Things start with the Magic Box, a cabinet with tea and coffee services that automatically slides between the front and rear seats offering refreshments to whoever calls it using voice. Magic Screens mounted on the front seat backs show the second seat occupants the current time, temperature and route, as well as provide music player controls. Finally, the Magic Sofa in the back/third row can be folded, moved or removed altogether.