But as a cheap introduction to electric family motoring, the car is infinitely safer and better than a scooter or motorbike. The battery is barely bigger than your phone's at 5.5kWh and the top speed roughly comparable to jogging, but if you've seen Sydney or Melbourne Saturday traffic 45km/h is a distant dream. The production Cabrio is essentially a toned-down version of the concept unveiled last year. Id love to get my hands on one of these cars, but we arent likely to see these here for a long time, if ever. GM unveils Wuling Hong Guang Mini cabrio This cute little cabrio makes our top billing not only because it is super-cute, but also because it is the newest version of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini that sells in China for less than $A8,000, and in February outsold the ever-popular Tesla Model 3 there. Whether youre skiing in the backcountry or trampolining in the backyard, we have an activity tracker for you. Charging on a 220V supply takes 6.5 hours for the smaller battery and a full 9 hours for the 13.8 kWh pack. General Motors (GM) has released new, colorful versions of China's best-selling electric car, the tiny Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. Demand for this tiny BEV . The Macaron is a customized model with three unique paint colors and additional standard features. Its curb weight is around 665 kg. Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. }; s.type = 'text/javascript'; The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is the result of a three-way joint venture. WIREDs is in avocado green, but the model is also available in lemon yellow and white peach pink. One must resist the car's urge to travel in a straight line over 30 mph. 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; The Hong Guang MINI EV has a top speed of about 100 km/h, seats four and looks like a Japanese kei car. The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, introduced by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture (between SAIC, GM and Liuzhou Wuling Motors), is no one of the most popular EVs in China. All the Settings You Should Change on Your New Samsung Phone, Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs, What to Do When Netflix Wont Let You Share Your Password, The 12 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride, The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid). With sales commencing as early as September 2020. I imagine it wont be that different from the roofed models. Peter Anderson spent his high school years reading car mags in the back of class, and is mostly unable to count past the 18 fingers he has. One of China's biggest automotive companiesin 2021 it. Everything You Need to Work From Home Like a Pro. * MINI Finance, Australian Credit Licence 392387. The 116 Absolute Best Black Friday Deals Right Now. 38 Photos Wuling - Hong Guang MINI EV specs: Two battery/range options 120 km (75 miles) of range using 9.3 kWh battery 170 km (106 miles) of range using 13.9 kWh battery top speed of 100. When compared to one of the cheapest EVs on the market in the United States, the almost $28,000 Nissan Leaf, it's simple to understand why. The model is equipped with the BMS intelligent battery management system, as well as low-temperature pre-heating technology and battery insulation. Thanks to the folding fabric roof and rollover hoops, the cabrio version is strictly a two-seater, though. The electric motor that comes in this Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV is 20 kW. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle, outselling Tesla and all others. Weve mentioned this car a few times in the past, but its made some amazing progress. According to Statista, the average person in China makes $US13,900 ($18,056) a year. The BYD Han EV, which could arrive in Australia some time soon, sold 9,298 units, followed by GW (Great Wall) ORA Black Cat and GAC Aion S, both selling 6,092 units. But Ford has more. }; [10], In 2020, the Mini EV had a price starting at US$4,162, and topped out at US$5,607 for a fully-loaded model, making it China's cheapest electric car. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. The four-seat Hong Guang Mini, which has top speeds of 62 mph and an estimated cruising range of 120 miles, is being made as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Liuzhou Wuling Motors, and. SHUHEI YAMADA, Nikkei Asia Tech chief editor December 20, 2021 11:23 JST. Wuling is tight-lipped about acceleration statistics, but the car isn't particularly sluggish because it's electric and has immediate torque. Every pothole is felt with such small wheels, which is made worse by the badly cushioned seats. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a demo store for testing purposes no orders shall be fulfilled. A single electric motor sends 13kW to the rear wheels, and voltage is drawn from a 9.2kWh lithium-polymer battery, permitting a claimed range of 120km. A dual waistline along with obvious arches for the 12 inches wheels accent very boxy looks. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car body is a Hatchback. Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV has overtaken Tesla Model 3 as the world's most popular electric vehicle for the first time, according to the EV Sales blog. Not only did Wuling sling 15,000 units in only its first 20 days on the market, but its currently beating Tesla Model 3 sales almost two to one, InsideEVs reports. The Peugeot e-Expert has a silly name and isn't much to look at, but has an impressive driving range for a commercial vehicle (330km WLTP) and decent power and torque. The Hong Guang MINI EV has a top speed of about 100 km/h, seats four and looks like a Japanese kei car. Despite its ultra-compact dimensions, it somehow boasts 741 liters of storage space (with the rear seats folded) and 12 storage compartments. [17], A convertible concept version of the Mini EV called the Mini EV Cabrio with a folding soft top was unveiled during the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, with the vehicle body design based on the Mini EV Macaron. window.dm = window.dm ||{ AjaxData:[]}; Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. Theres a choice of a 9.3kWh or 13.8kWh battery pack. s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); Australia's list of on-sale electric vehicles is growing at a glacial pace. Adding to the safety, more than 57% of the Hong Guang MINI EVs body consists of high-strength steel. The hardtop model starts at 28,000, or about A$6,177, and has a range of 169 km. It was founded in 2007 in the city of Liuzhou, near the border with Vietnam. Ford's first EV locally at least as far as we know is a shrewd pitch to the tradespeople of Australia. '&l=' + l : ''; Rivian has two giant electric trucks, which will upset people who don't want these massive things bearing down on them, and the company says it has strong interest from local buyers. The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV sells in China like hot cakes, as it fulfils the basic transportation needs at affordable price of 28,800-43,600 CNY ($4,521-$6,844). Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. The front suspension is McPherson and the rear one is Multi-link dependent type. Stepping up into the niche is the smallest mass-market EV, and one of the best selling EVs of all time: the Wuling Hongguang Mini. The front and rear lighting also appear less premium, going from two circular LEDs that looked like the headlights on the Honda e to a blockier shape that looks more like the c-shaped lights on a a lot of modern trucks. Get weekly updates with the latest car news and reviews. /* ]]> */ h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], [CDATA[ */ Copyright Drive.com.au 2023ABN: 84 116 608 158. It's a small vehicle, without fancy safety systems, but the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture envisioned a front crumple zone. However, there are currently no plans to sell the vehicle in Australia. j.async = true; s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); The GT versions pack a staggering dual-motor set up with 358kW and either 814Nm or 860Nm. They're both short on driving range and in the ForTwo's case, size, but these are resolutely urban vehicles. Here you can see more details about the technical specification of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. Avocado Green, Lemon Yellow, and White Peach Pink are the colors created by Wuling in partnership with Pantone Universe. w[ l ].push( { Could General Motors at least apply lessons learned from producing this super-cheap EV to other markets? j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? China is the worlds largest car market and it has some tricks up its sleeve to entice people to go electric. Bizarrely, it's the EV we're most asked about after Tesla, despite its much lower profile. With no fast-charging capability, you really are stuck using the Mini EV as a city car. Nissan's Leaf is the company's only electric passenger car here in Australia and our suggestion here is not going to add to that list. Wuling's Mini EV, made in partnership with General Motors, outsells Teslas Model 3 in China and costs less than adding CarPlay to a Ferrari. While there is a hatch at the back, there is no real trunk to speak of. 25,778 MINI EV's were purchased in China in January alone, compared to . Or the same as a specced-up V8 Ram. State-backed SAIC-GM-Wuling, a company partly owned by GM,. One-pedal driving is not really possible, as the car simply takes too long to slow downprobably because it only weighs 700 kg (1,543 lbs). Speaking of value, prices for the Mini EV originally started at RMB28,800 ($4,389), while the 13.8-kWh luxury Macaron version we tested retailed for RMB43,600 ($6,645) until recently. low-cost start to electric family transportation, This Heritage Series Grandeur EV Celebrates Hyundai's 1986 Flagship Sedan, Why We Would Completely Approve If Pagani Built This V12 Huayra Concept SUV, The Car That Inspired The 240Z: The Datsun 2000 Is Back With A Sharp New Design, EXCLUSIVE: This Brand-New Mitsubishi EVO XI Render Gives New Life To The Japanese Compact Sports Car Scene, Oh, The Bargains To Be Had At This Supercar Dealership In Dubai, Why The Mid-Engined Ford Mustang Would Be More Than A Match For The C8 Chevrolet Corvette, 10 American Engines That Can Take A Beating And Keep Going Strong Past 200,000 Miles. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle. [12][13] The popularity has been compared to that of kei cars in Japan. [14] The vehicle has been such a success that it has inspired a number of copycats and competitors, including the Chery QQ Ice Cream, Dongfeng Fengguang MINI EV,[15] and BAW S3. It can be used on normal roads without restriction, although its wheels are only 12 inches and its speed tops out at just 62 mph (100 km/h). You already know where this is going the Honda E. We're obviously not privy to the behind-closed-doors discussions that go on at car companies, but the local arm's decision to pass on one of the coolest cars on the planet, EV or not, is bizarre. Posted on April 19, 2021. /* Haplogroup G Origin, Ml Dias Recharge Codashop, Johnny Nelson Family, Madisonville, Ky 4th Of July 2021, Sophie Raworth Dresses 2021, Articles H