Witnessing the success of the Wuling HongGuang Mini EV, which is the best-selling electric vehicle in China, Dongfeng thought it would be a good idea to copy its recipe and announced the FenGuang Mini EV. Despite the similarities in the design, specs, and name, the two vehicles are completely unrelated as SAIC’s Wuling and Dongfeng are competitor brands.
The Dongfeng FenGuang Mini EV adopts a
two-box silhouette with vertical sides and rear end in order to make the best
out of its compact footprint. The microcar is 2,995 mm long,
1,495 mm wide, and 1,640 mm tall, with a wheelbase
of 1,960 mm, all slightly larger than its main competitor.
Overall, compared to the Wuling, it has
nearly identical proportions, tiny wheels, and very similar lines on the
fenders, however, a few details differentiate it from its obvious source of
inspiration. Those include the black trim on the front bumper, the wider
grille, the sculpted doors, the different windowline, and the taillights
merging with a black trim piece that extends on the profile.
In terms of powertrain, a single electric
motor is producing 34 hp, which is enough for a lightweight vehicle
that will be used in urban environments. This also means that the FengGuang
Mini EV will likely outperform the HongGuang Mini EV that has a 27 hp motor. What we don’t know yet is the specifications of the battery pack and the
estimated range.
The Dongfeng FengGuang Mini EV will debut
in the first quarter of 2022 with an affordable price that is expected to start
from around US$ 5,000. Besides the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, other competitors
include the Chery QQ Ice Cream, the Baojun E300 EV, the Baizhi Daxiong, and the
slightly larger Changan Benben E-Star. We are not sure if Dongfeng will be
interested in exporting the microcar following the example of the Dartz FreZe,
although this seems highly unlikely.
