Days after the Chery Group revealed its Jaecoo plug-in hybrid models at Auto China 2024, it unveiled a sporty mid-sized Omoda 7 SUV in Wuhu, China.

Omoda

The Omoda 7 will be branded as the Omoda C7 in South Africa, the second model in its local line-up, following the C5’s debut in 2023. Though no timelines have been confirmed for its arrival, it is set to launch globally in early 2025.

Steve Eum, VP of design at Chery China, says the Omoda 7 is characterised by its “robust design cues and advanced, futuristic aesthetics”.

Referring to the inside cabin as a “mobile smart space”, Omoda kitted the vehicle with a ‘gaming style’ steering wheel, a massive 15.6-inch sliding smart screen that supports gestures, voice and button controls, four-zone voice interaction that responds to each seat and wireless charging pads for a smartphone.

Like a PC, but on wheels, it features a 2.5K screen resolution, 12GB+128GB storage, a 12-speaker system with 3D stage sound, plus two additional speakers in the headrest for calls and navigation and an eight-inch head-up display with a 2.3m projection distance.

It boasts an ‘intelligent’ fragrance system paired with an environmental noise cancellation system that has an elimination rate of 90% to create a ‘fresh and comfortable cabin space’, according to the company.

The Omoda 7 is equipped with front and surround-view cameras, ultrasonic radars and a 12-millimetre-wave radar that powers up to 18 advanced driver assistance systems in eight different road conditions.

While South African specifications and features are to be confirmed, the global reveal referred to a hybrid powertrain that balances performance and fuel consumption to deliver up to 1200km on a full tank and battery.

The company claims that a drive starting from Frankfurt to Geneva, Genoa, Florence and ending in Rome is possible on a single tank without refuelling or recharging.

According to Google Maps, the route between the three European countries is 1 486km long. The Omoda 7 powertrains are to be confirmed.

Omoda E5 and Jaecoo J6 EVs heading to SA

In addition to the J7 and J8 PHEVs coming to SA, unveiled at Auto China 2024 we were given an opportunity to briefly get behind the wheel of two battery electric models that are confirmed for the South African market – the Omoda E5 and the Jaecoo J6.

The limited time on a closed circuit in these vehicles included very short loops, going through a slalom, and straight lines with braking in the parking lot of an amusement park in Wuhu.

While not much can be concluded from these short stints, the one thing that stood out for both models is that it wasn’t an instant take-off, like I’ve experienced with other EVs. The Omoda E5 is the EV equivalent of the C5, which is expected to hit our shores in the second half of 2024. It has angular lines, a closed-off grille with a charging port above, and is overall, a good-looking car.

Global specifications indicate a front-wheel drive with Lithium-ion Phosphate batteries and a range of 430km (WLTP figures). It supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) bidirectional power to the home at 3.3kW speeds.

Omoda says the battery can recharge from 30-80% in 28 minutes. The futuristic cabin has massive screens running across two-thirds of the dashboard, decorative LED lighting, wireless charging, sufficient USB ports and power sockets.

The display features widgets on the middle screen for one-touch access to navigation, music, battery state and range, and vehicle settings.

The bottom panel lets you control apps, climate, or a connected phone. There are a bunch of physical buttons on the inside, including one to pop open the charging port, located on the front of the vehicle. It does not open from the outside like most EVs.

The Jaecoo J6, on the other hand, looks very much like a Land Rover Defender with its boxy design. Chery is selling the compact SUV under the iCar brand in China; however, it will be the J6 for international markets.

Not just a commanding presence with striking headlights, the J6 on the inside is plush and luxurious with a separate centre display from the driver’s instrument cluster.

The infotainment system appears to support third-party apps and an AI assistant that will also show you how the features work. Again, there is no confirmation on specifications for SA just yet, but the model we drove in Wuhu is the single motor 137kW variant with a 69.8kWh battery capacity.

There is a twin motor 208kW option kitted with the same battery; however, there is no confirmation on the WLTP range figures.

Omoda and Jaecoo unveiled and teased a range of new energy vehicles in Beijing and Wuhu between 25-29 April to a large contingent of local media.

The confirmed line-up for SA between 2024 and 2025 includes the Omoda C9, C7 and E5, and the Jaecoo J6, J7 and J8.

*Akabor was hosted by Omoda and Jaecoo in Wuhu, China.