Meet the Sehol A5 Plus, an A5 that isn’t an Audi

Sehol, a Chinese car brand founded by the VW-JAC joint enterprise and formerly known as Sol/Sihao, has brought a liftback named A5 Plus to the Shanghai Auto Show. Just like the marque itself, the car isn’t exactly all new.

In fact, the Sehol A5 Plus is a new generation of the JAC Jiayue A5 that debuted two years ago (watch the video for a reminder). Differences include new bumpers, headlights and a rear wing, among other things. At 4,780 mm long with 2,770 mm of wheelbase, the car is 8 mm longer and has an extra 10 mm between the axles, but its width (1,820 mm) and height (1,492) are identical to those of the JAC Jiayue A5.

The steering wheel inside is new, the gear stick and center console buttons have been moved, and the tablet-like touchscreen is now larger and accompanied by a row of buttons below it.

Gone is the old 1.5-liter turbo-four engine rated at 150 PS (148 hp / 110 kW) and 210 Nm (155 lb-ft), which used to be available with six-speed manual and CVT transmission options. A new 1.5-liter engine hooks onto a seven-speed DCT box instead, and its power output remains unannounced.

There is also an all-electric version of the car named Sehol E50A, which produces 193 PS (190 hp / 142 kW) and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft). Its 64.5-kWh battery gives it up to 530 kilometers (329 miles) of NEDC-rated driving range.

Sales start in August. The old A5 can still be purchased starting from 78,000 Yuan for the stick-shift version (98,800 Yuan for CVT).