This is the Hawtai Shengdafei 7, a new mid-size SUV
for the Chinese car market. The Shengdafei 7 is basically a dressed-up variant
of the ancient Baolige (Boliger), which in turn was largely based on the
platform of the first-generation Hyundai Sante Fe.
Hawtai used to manufacture the Sante Fe for the
Chinese market under a license agreement with Hyundai. When the agreement
ended Hawtai continued with its own variant, and they also took the Chinese
name for Santa Fe; Shengdafei.
Power comes from an equally ancient 2.0 petrol with
136 hp and 177 Nm, mated to a five-speed manual. A new 1.5 turbo will be added
to the lineup later. The Shengdafei 7 seats five and is ust over 4.6 meters
long.
It might be old and under-powered, but it is
very cheap: price starts at US$ 12,000 and ends at US$ 14,300. The Shengdafei 7 is
also notable because it is the Only new Chinese car we have seen in a very long
time without a touch screen.
