Roewe, a part of SAIC Motor Co. China, has announced an all-electric version of its IMAX8 business van. The car is five meters long and offers up to 555 km of range. The company hopes it will strengthen its positions on the luxury market, which the gas-powered variant failed to achieve in two years.
The original Roewe IMAX8 comes equipped
with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine rated at 234 PS, which
an Aisin eight-speed automatic carries to the wheels. Its EV counterpart packs
a single front-mounted motor capable of 245 PS, which drives
the front wheels directly.
A 90-kWh traction battery installed under
the floor gives the minivan up to 555 km of WLTC-rated range. The
top speed does not exceed 180 km/h for the EV, while the petrol
version maxes out at 200 km/h.
Other than the motor, the rest stays
largely the same. There is a faux radiator grille with a different pattern at
the front end, a new steering wheel – and that’s it. Second-row seats now offer
power adjustments, ventilation and impressively large armrests straight from
the factory.
Sales will begin in May, and all prices
remain to be disclosed. The gas-powered IMAX8 starts from 188,800 Yuan (US$ 28,570).
