Roewe, a Chinese automaker and part of SAIC Group, has held an official presentation of the second-gen RX5 crossover. The new car is larger, sports new styling cues, and features an ultra-wide display in the cabin that you can slide along the dashboard. Whereas the first generation of the RX5 was barely larger than the Volkswagen Tiguan, the new one comes closer to the more premium segment of the market being 4,655 mm long, 1,890 mm wide and 1,655 mm tall with 2,765 mm of wheelbase.
Styling highlights include a large
radiator grille slightly reminiscent of Lexus grilles, black plastic trim all
around the lower body, concealed door handles, and video cameras mounted on
front fenders. Such cameras are usually integrated in side view mirrors, making
the new Roewe RX5 a notable exception.
Found inside the cabin are a gear lever
with a glass knob on top, a floating center console display, and a single
screen serving as the dashboard and the infotainment display. The latter part
measures 27 inches across and can be moved left or right by up to 30 cm.
Power comes from a 1.5-liter turbo engine
rated at 188 PS and 300 Nm of torque, which
drives the front wheels through a seven-speed DCT. All-wheel drive is nowhere
to be found, but Roewe promises to release a hybrid version of the car with a
79-PS electric engine slotted in between the IC engine and the
gearbox.
Sales in China are scheduled for the
second half of the year.
