Dongfeng has introduced the Fengon E5, a new take on the Dongfeng Fengon 580 SUV that went into its second generation last fall. The car is 4.76 meters long and runs on a highly efficient hybrid powertrain. Rather than using a standard turbo engine, the Fengon E5 relies on a tandem between the engine, an electric motor and an automatic transmission. The engine can work in parallel with the motor for added thrust, but most of its time is spent producing power for the electric motor in serial hybrid (range extender) mode.
The hybrid system is called DE-i and was
designed by Seres Group (Sokon Group), a company partially
owned by Dongfeng and known as a manufacturer of electrified and fully electric
vehicles under its own branding. The 1.5-liter Fudi Power engine powering the
Fengon E5 is naturally aspirated and burns gasoline for 110 PS along with 135 Nm of torque.
The drive stays on the front axle at all
times. The main electric motor produces 176 PS and 300 Nm of torque. Most of the time, the motor drives the wheels while the
engine generates more power. When particularly fast acceleration is required,
however, the efficiency of the all-electric driving mode falls rapidly. This is
when the gasoline engine kicks in through a special clutch mechanism and a
single reduction gear. There is no gearbox. The system is not unique and is
used in Mitsubishi hybrids, among others.
The traction battery is mounted under the
floor and holds up to 17.5 kilowatt-hours of power. You can recharge it from a
wall socket or at a charging station. Once at 100% full, it yields up to 87
kilometers of all-electric range, enabling the manufacturer to claim
a record-low fuel consumption of 1.35 liters per 100 km (174 MPG for our North
American readers). With the gas tank and the battery maxed out, the range
reaches 1,150 km. The top speed never exceeds 165 km/h.
Sales in China are scheduled to begin in
Q1 2023.
