At the Guangzhou Motor Show, the Wuling Starlight was completely declassified: a budget, but not a simple four-door. We are talking about a hybrid car 4.8 meters long with an electric power reserve of 70-150 kilometers and a price from 94 to 110 thousand yuan (equivalent to 13-15 thousand dollars). For comparison, the Kia K5 costs in China from 163 thousand yuan (~23 thousand dollars).
The Wuling brand of the SAIC concern is known for its cheap commercial and urban models. However, the first-born in the business sedan segment and the first model with a rechargeable hybrid power plant debuted in Guangzhou. Under the hood is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine (106 horsepower, 130 Nm) with a thermal efficiency of 43 percent. Fuel consumption is 4.0-4.1 liters per 100 kilometers.
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The equipment is up to par: the sedan has a leather interior, all-LED optics, a virtual instrument panel, a media system with a 15.6-inch touchscreen, electric mirrors, keyless entry, electrically adjustable front seats, a multifunction steering wheel and much more. The second row has plenty of legroom and a flat floor.
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So far, only hybrid versions with 9.5 or 20.5 kilowatt-hour batteries have been announced. Under the hood is a 177-horsepower (320 Nm) electric motor, which is not connected to the wheels and operates as a generator. The maximum speed of the Wuling sedan is only 145 km/h, but the range is up to 1,100 kilometers, and the engine is adapted for AI-92 gasoline. Purely electric versions will be available in the future.
SAIC’s strategy in the competitive segments of electric vehicles and gasoline-powered hybrids depends on the success of Wuling Starlight. However, export deliveries of Wuling cars are rare: “state cars” are mainly sold in the Middle Kingdom.
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