Maxus, which is a subsidiary of SAIC Motor, recently unveiled a new electric MPV concept at this year’s Auto Shanghai event. Meant to showcase the company’s new modular platform dubbed Maxus Intelligent Flexible Architecture (MIFA), reports in China indicate the MPV will enter production later in November, with sales set to begin in 2022. According to the Chinese automaker, the MIFA concept combines a “space capsule” with “oriental charm,” hence the design you see before you. It certainly is very imposing and futuristic, although this is still a show car and the production version will likely undergo some changes.
In any case, it doesn’t stray too far from
the people movers of today, with a blocky exterior that serves to maximimse
interior space. However, Standout cues on the outside include a wide-width
light bar below the Maxus script at the front, with the main headlamps tucked
into dugouts on the corners of the bumpers. The big, covered mouth between the
three-element lighting clusters sports a geometric pattern and MIFA script on
it, while chrome trim helps to frame the jawline.
Down the sides, Maxus introduces some
flair by giving the MIFA concept a two-tone paintjob, which is accentuated by a
Z-shaped design formed by the window line and C-pillar linked to the roof. Some
snazzy aero wheels, hidden door handles, wing cameras, off-coloured skirting
and light gold accents add to the visuals, as does the pattern on the rearmost
quarter windows.
Moving to the rear, we find a large
tailgate spoiler and taillights that extend horizontally and vertically into
the bodywork. The latter features a triangular-themed lighting pattern and is
bridged by another light bar above the prominent Maxus script. More hints of
the off-coloured accent is seen in the lower apron that contains a
diffuser-like element.
If you thought the exterior was
outlandish, the interior should be out of this world (pun intended) then.
Within the cabin, the MIFA concept’s entire dashboard is dominated by a curved
screen that extends into the doors. All vital information and controls are
accessed through this screen, including feeds for the side cameras. Touch
controls can be seen on the gold lip under the screen and there’s a visual link
to the centre console, which contains the gear lever and its wood trim base, as
well as another screen for other vehicle functions. Blade-like door handles and
a steering wheel that looks like it belongs on race cars are some of the
contact points inside, along with patterned upholstery.
It’s even fancier for rear passengers,
where there are two individual seats, with the one on the right side having a
foot rest in place of a front passenger seat. As with the rest of theme, the
seats feature painted metals, wood and what looks like recycled material for
the trimmings. An upswept panel between the rear seats houses controls for seat
adjustment, climate control and media playback.
This is an electric
vehicle, and Maxus is previewing the full capabilities of the platform with the
MIFA concept. It gets electric motors on both axles that together, provide 680 PS and 900 Nm of torque, allowing for a zero to 100 km/h
time of 3.8 seconds. These motors draw power from a ternary lithium battery,
although the company didn’t provide much in the way of details. Maxus did say
that the battery has an energy density of 300 Wh/kg and a range of 600 km is
possible. In the future, with solid-state battery technology, those figures are
said to go up to 360 Wh/kg and 800 km respectively.
Other features touted by Maxus include a
high level of autonomous driving that allows the MIFA concept to park itself
once passengers disembark, along with other self-driving functions. The
interior also gets an intelligent monitoring system that identifies the
preferences of passengers after they are acquainted with the system, and
developers can design apps that work with the infotainment system.
