Chery launches a new PHEV

Chery’s eco-friendly Fulwin lineup is greeting its latest member – a mid-size sedan called the A8L. The rechargeable hybrid is already available in China in five modifications priced from 109,900 to 149,900 Yuan.

During the premiere, Fulwin brand rep said the car had set an absolute world record in terms of range by covering 2,369 kilometers and 915 meters (~1,472.6 miles) without refueling or recharging.

From the technical perspective, the Fulwin A8L is a hybrid counterpart to Chery’s own Arrizo 8 petrol car. It’s not the first one, either: the recently released Fulwin A8 and Fulwin A8 Voyage Edition (formerly known as the A8 Pro) were all based on the Arrizo 8 platform.

Compared to those cars, the newcomer sports a distinct radiator grille design, its own bumpers and headlights, but otherwise looks similar. It’s also similarly sized at 4,790 x 1,843 x 1,487 mm with 2,790 mm between the axles.

A peek inside reveals two standalone displays sized 10.25 and 15.6 inches large – a move away from the single large display unit in earlier models. The transmission selector now sits at the steering wheel instead of on the console. Depending on the trim, you get power seats, heating and ventilation, a 50kW wireless phone charger, an 8-channel Sony audio system and up to 10 airbags. The top trim comes with L2+ self-driving capabilities.

Power for the wheels comes from Chery’s latest PHEV powertrain known as the C-DM 5.0. It is available in two variants. One combines a naturally aspirated 1.5-liter engine rated at 102 PS (101 hp / 76 kW) and 125 Nm (92 lb-ft) of torque with a single electric motor capable of 204 PS (201 hp / 150 kW) and 310 Nm (229 lb-ft). In this case, the battery stores up to 9.53 kWh of electricity and delivers 70 km (43 miles) of CLTC-rated electric range.

The other version uses a turbocharged engine of the same volume to push 156 PS (154 hp / 115 kW) and 220 Nm (162 lb-ft) to the wheels. It also benefits from a much bigger 18.67-kWh battery pack. As a result, it covers 145 km (90 miles) in all-electric mode and can exceed 2,100 km (1,305 miles) on a full tank in most scenarios. Chery says the fuel economy comes up to 4.2 liters per 100 kilometers, or 56 MPG.