The massive success of the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV continues to attract ever more competitors into the mini electric vehicle segment. The latest car maker to join the fray is good old BAW. The company unveiled not one but two competitors: the 3-door BAW S3 and the 5-door BAW S5.
The BAW S3 is very similar to the Wuling in concept and in
size. It measures 3151/1498/1585 mm, with a 2050 mm wheelbase. Design is nice, albeit
a little predictable, with a honeycomb ‘grille’, large headlights, and a trendy
two-tone paint job. The car on stage was painted in a vague shade of pink that
is very popular in China at the moment.
Power comes from an electric motor with 27 hp, exactly the
same number as the Wuling and also the same as the Chery QQ Ice Cream. Torque
is 85 Nm. Top speed is 100 km/h. Range is 120, 170, or 200 kilometers depending
on battery.
The 5-door BAW S5 is quite a bit larger: 3498/1498/1580 mm, and
it has a distinctive design, especially at the front, with split headlights and
a racy front spoiler. The S5 uses the same motor as the S3 and there is even
more choice for the battery pack, good for 120 km, 150, 200, or 300 kilometers
of range.
The dash is the same in both cars. It looks very
high end for the segment with a twin 10.25 inch screen. One for the instrument
panel and one for the infotainment. Lots of hipness: The pedals have + and -,
the steering wheel has an oval shape and two colors, there is a net on the
passenger side instead of a glove box, and the seats are made of faux leather.
The drive selector sits on the center ‘tunnel’, just in front of the old-school
mechanical handbrake, which looks very out of place in the otherwise modern
interior.
The BAW S3 and S5 will launch on the Chinese auto market
within the first quarter. Price of the S3 will be close to the competition, and
the S5 will be some 10% more expensive.
