Dongfeng bringing a real bruiser: the MHero 1 SUV. The party kicks off in Switzerland by April, with Germany and other European countries likely to follow suit soon after. This move by Dongfeng mirrors the recent European arrivals of fellow Chinese brands Hongqi and Xpeng, both of which have launched their own SUV offerings on the continent. The MHero 1 seems determined to carve out a niche in this increasingly crowded space.
For the sharp-eyed readers out there, the
name MHero 1 might not ring a bell, but its appearance might trigger a sense of
déjà vu. And you wouldn’t be wrong. That’s because we’ve previously introduced
it to you under a different nameplate, the Mengshi M-Terrain. Nomenclature
aside, the core remains the same – an angular behemoth with sharp lines and
creases, resembling an unholy fusion between a GMC Hummer EV and a Toyota FJ
Cruiser.
The MHero 1 will look to conquer the
European market with its military-style design, and its impressive performance
figures. Between the angular body panels, the external door hinges, and the
invocation to “Never Back Down” on an interior trim piece, the vehicle wouldn’t
look out of place in a Hollywood war movie. Or perhaps more appropriately, a
follow up to Sacha Baron Cohen’s flick, The Dictator.
Those looks are paired with a Smart
Off-road architecture that offers rear-wheel steering, and up to 90
cm of fording depth. The MHero 1 also offers up to 33.5 cm of
ground clearance, an approach angle of up to 36.8 degrees, and a departure
angle up to 37.5 degrees (in off-road mode). Under the hood, its four-motor
powertrain delivers 1,073 hp and 1,400 Nm of
torque. This power isn’t just for off-road adventures; it also propels the SUV
from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds on the street.
That’s not quite enough to outdo the
absurd 1,000HP GMC Hummer EV, which accomplishes the same feat in 3 seconds,
but then again, you’re unlikely to encounter GM’s electric beast roaming the
tight streets of Europe, as it isn’t officially sold in the continent. Back to
the MHero1, its electric motors are fed by a 142.7 kWh battery pack that offers
up to 450 km of range on a single charge. It takes the MHero 1
exactly 47 minutes to go from 30 percent to 80 percent state of charge.
