A new GM electric vehicle has just gone on
sale in China but we can’t have it in the U.S. It’s
called the Chevrolet Menlo and it was first shown in November 2019 in
Guangzhou. Now, Chevrolet’s first EV in China is on sale in four variants,
initially in Beijing only. Prices range from RMB 159,900 to RMB 179,900
(US$ 22,740-$25,585) after China’s national subsidies for new energy vehicles.
Described as a “sporty-looking sedan” in
the press release, the Chevrolet Menlo takes inspiration from the FNR-X
all-purpose sports concept vehicle. It’s definitely a crossover, though GM
China likes to call it a “fashionable blend of crossover and sporty coupe
styling.”
Exterior highlights include the LED
headlights with integrated DRLs, the closed-off grille, sporty bumpers, LED
taillights and the ‘floating roofline’ achieved by means of a simple visual
trick on the C-pillars. The crossover rides on 17-inch dual-tone alloys.
Inside, we find a multi-layer dashboard
dominated by a 10.1-inch LCD touchscreen for the MyLink+ infotainment system
with OnStar and an 8-inch TFT LCD instrument panel. The multimedia interface
supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, Apple CarPlay and Baidu CarLife, as well
as functions like virtual car key, remote control and intelligent voice
recognition.
A multifunction steering wheel is also
standard, as are up to 28 storage spaces and 1,077 liters of cargo
space (with the rear seats folded down). Chevrolet also mentions an available
1.147-square-meter panoramic roof made of laminated glass that
provides sound and heat insulation while blocking 96 percent of UV rays.
Power comes from a new-generation pure
electric drive system shared with the Buick Velite 6 Plus. An electric motor
generates 148 HP and 350 Nm of torque thanks to
the electricity supplied by a 52.5 kWh battery pack. Chevrolet says electricity
consumption is 13.1 kWh/100 km, enabling the Menlo to cover up to 410 km on a full charge at constant speed per the NEDC regime.
The battery can be replenished to 80
percent of capacity within 40 minutes using a direct current (DC) fast charger.
The Chevrolet Menlo offers three driving modes (economical, normal and sporty)
and three energy recovery modes (light free recovery, medium efficient recovery
and strong energy recovery).
On the tech front, the Chevrolet Menlo
packs Bosch’s 9.3 Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Forward Collision Alert,
Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert, Automatic Parking Assist,
Following Distance Indicator, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
