Chevrolet has released the uncensored photos of two
significant debuts for the Chinese market: the Menlo EV and the Blazer
seven-seat SUV.
The Menlo EV is Chevrolet’s first electric vehicle
to become available in China. For some reason, the automaker describes it as a
sedan, although the photo clearly shows it’s a crossover with a hatch. Taking
inspiration from the Chevrolet FNR-X concept, it looks somewhat similar to the
Buick Velite 6 EV as well – it even has an identical driving range too.
The Menlo
EV will cover 410 km on a full battery charge under NEDC
conditions, exactly the same as the recently-revealed Buick Velite 6 Plus. This
leads us to believe it features the same 52.5 kWh battery pack and 148 HP electric motor delivering 350 Nm of instant torque.
Chevrolet says the Menlo EV features the
new-generation MyLink+ infotainment system with functions such as a virtual car
key, remote control and intelligent voice recognition.
The second new model previewed by Chevrolet is the
Blazer, which in China comes with seven-seats as standard. Available in RS and
Redline variants, the Chevrolet Blazer is the brand’s new flagship SUV in the
world’s largest car market.
It follows closely the design of the Chevrolet
FNR-CarryAll Concept and differs from the U.S.-spec Blazer in the length
department. It’s almost 5,000-mm long, which means it’s
approximately 137 mm longer than North America’s version.
The added length is visible at the rear where the
third lateral window and the overhang are longer in order to make room for a
third row of seats. The wheelbase stays the same at 2,863 mm.
Chevrolet promises “class-leading roominess, robust and efficient performance,
and versatile and pragmatic advanced technologies.”
Both models will be on display at Auto Guangzhou
2019 (November 22-December 1) and will reach Chinese dealerships in the first
half of 2020.
