The Sinogold GM3 has been launched on the Chinese
car market. The GM3 is an electric MPV that looks far too much like the Citroen
C4 Grand Picasso, mixed with some Volkswagen Sharan. The dimensions of the
Sinogold and the Citroen are almost totally the same:
Size GM3: 4615/1845/1655 mm, and wheelbase is 2840 mm
Size Picasso: 4597/1826/1652 mm, and wheelbase is 2840 mm
Exactly the same wheelbase and almost the same
height and width. The Sinogold GM3 is a proper Chinese clone. But the Sinogold
GM3 is an electric, whereas the Citroen is petrol-engine only. Sinogold is a
new state-owned electric-car maker based in China’s Shandong Province. The GM3
is their first passenger car. Next up is an electric SUV followed by an
electric sedan.
The GM3 is powered by an electric motor located over
the front axle. Output is 163 hp and 250 Nm. Range depends on the battery; 300
kilometers on a 55 kWh and 405 kilometers on a 66 kWh battery (NEDC).
The company also says that with an average speed of
60 km/h range goes up to 400 kilometer for the 55 kWh battery and a massive 520
kilometers for the 66 kWh battery. This 60 km/h average speed measurement is
used by many Chinese automakers. Charging takes 8 hours on 220V or 40 minutes
with a fast charger for 80%. Price for all this pretty, after subsidies, starts
at 163.800 yuan and ends at 183.800 yuan.
List price of the C4 Grand Picasso, which is
imported into China, powered by a 165 hp 1.5 turbo petrol engine, starts at
229.800 yuan and ends at 253.800 yuan. But that is not the whole story. The
Citroen isn’t very popular so dealer prices are far lower than the list price:
179.800 to 203.800 yuan, and that brings the Citroen and the Sinogold very
close to each other.
The interior is high tech with a fully digital
central instrument display and a 12.3 inch touch screen. Great graphics with
lots of smoke and light effects. The power meter on the right is brilliant. The
touch screen looks almost old compared to the instrument panel. The drive
selector is mounted on the steering column, as if it was some crappy old
American minivan.