The Baojun Yep is not only SAIC-GM-Wuling’s first electric SUV, it’s also the first EV we’ve ever seen with a high-definition display on the back of it. Inspired by smartwatches, the optional feature is being promoted as a way for young drivers to express themselves on the road. The screen stretches across the rear tailgate of the Yep, and is a meter wide by 0.26 meters tall. It features a wide rectangle, a square, and a shorter portion that appears to double as the handle. Seen together, they kind of look like an Apple Watch (or similar smartwatch), and in one promotional photo, the rectangular portion of the screen displays what looks like a watch band to reinforce that impression further.
In addition to displaying a literal watch
face, the screen can also show screen-saver-like animations, emoticons, and
short messages. The automaker says that owners will be able to unlock
interaction games to allow them to share creative ideas. The feature is
intended to “help young-generation to express their personalities.” So far, no
information is available about how much the feature will cost, but let’s all
pray that the owners of the Yep don’t get rear-ended, because I can’t imagine
the repair bill will be very cheap.
The car that the screen is mounted to
isn’t very expensive. Car News China reports that it will start at
around 100,000 yuan (US$ 14,436), and you don’t get a
lot of SUV for that money. The Baojun Yep measures in at just 3,381 x 1,685 x 1,721
mm, making it just a little longer but narrower and taller than a classic
Mini.
Naturally, not much is needed to power the
crossover, and it receives a single electric motor at the back axle, which
makes 67 hp and 140 Nm of torque. It has a limited
top speed of 100 km/h, and its lithium iron phosphate battery can take
it 303 km per charge.
