The compact dimensions make it ideal for urban commuting and parking in tight spaces, yet the interior still has up to 741 liters of space with the rear seats folded down. "The sales of the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV exceeded 15,000 units within only 20 days after it hit the market at the Chengdu Motor Show that kicked off on July 24, the first mini-sized EV. General information. Potential buyers will need to enter a lottery in order to buy one., Wuling says production could expand if theres enough demand.. Based in New York, New York, Derek loves to travel and is very much a window not an aisle person. However, there are currently no plans to sell the vehicle in Australia. A convertible variant of the Hongguang Mini EV - known as the Cabrio concept - was unveiled overnight at the Shanghai motor show. With sales commencing as early as September 2020. electric van, but we can't for the life of us remember if we've ever seen one in the wild. Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV - Electric Vehicle Specs The cars crashed at 64 km/h (40 mph) each, with a 50% offset, which turned out to be deadly to the red neighborhood electric vehicle, despite both being similar in size and weight (560 kg Wuling vs 568 kg red EV). Whether youre skiing in the backcountry or trampolining in the backyard, we have an activity tracker for you. f.parentNode.insertBefore( j, f ); 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; However, as a low-cost start to electric family transportation, the automobile is far superior to a scooter or motorbike. [17], The Macaron is equipped with a small electric motor that generates a more powerful 20kW (27hp; 27PS) and 85Nm (63lbft) of torque compared to the previously launched base trim while range remains unchanged. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (Chinese: MiniEV) is a battery electric city car manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020. Perhaps the local arm should consider Ford's idea of a much larger unit, the Master Z.E.? It wouldn't be cheap, but the Master's reputation for being loud when fitted with a diesel might tip a few buyers over the line. Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. Of course there are more out there and many of them will come from China. The production Mini EV Cabrio looks less premium than the concept. w[ l ] = w[ l ] || []; For short trips to the shops and back, the Ami is the perfect city runabout and might get a few belching dungers off the streets. The Mustang nameplate has been a giant success for Ford locally, and once buyers got over the high-riding SUV vibe of the Mach-E, I reckon we won't be able to get enough of them. Production will initially be limited to between 100 and 200 cars per month. Each features a slightly different exterior finish, different wheels, and different trim. The Cabrio is set to go into production in China in 2022, with a rebadged variant called the Freze Nikrob Cabrio being available in Europe. Wuling Mini outsells Tesla Model 3, as China dominates global top 10 EV GM reveals tiny, adorable electric convertible to be sold in China - CNN Australia needs these Electric Vehicles - WhichCar EV Superstar Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV Now On Sale In Thailand Rivian has two giant electric trucks, which will upset people who don't want these massive things bearing down on them, and the company says it has strong interest from local buyers. The electric motor that comes in this Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV is 20 kW. With the 40kWh battery, it has a healthy city driving range of up to 300km, which is probably a week's driving for a good number of businesses. j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? Derek Fung would love to tell you about his multiple degrees, but he's too busy writing up some news right now. It would be easy to compare the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV unfairly with pricier and better-equipped cars. Leading to the assumption . Wuling is tight-lipped about acceleration statistics, but the car isn't particularly sluggish because it's electric and has immediate torque. With our Prime Minister embarrassing himself at COP26 by walking down the steps from his plane waving a piece of paper guaranteeing net-zero by relying on technology that is either discredited (carbon capture and storage) or non-existent (TBA), it's up to the states to make electric vehicles appealing. The convertible electric microcar which was built as part of a collaboration between SAIC and General Motors could come onto the market as soon as 2022. But the Mini EVs diminutive size also makes darting in and out of traffic quite satisfying. SAIC Motor $4,500 Electric Car Reportedly Outsells Tesla - Insider Standard features in China reportedly include air conditioning, rear parking sensors, anti-lock brakes, and a stereo system. Tesla Teased A Wireless Home Charging Solution On Investor Day, Rad Power Unveils The RadRunner 3 Plus Electric Utility Bike, Scout Motors Will Build Electric Trucks And SUVs In South Carolina, 741 liters of space with the rear seats folded down, 2,917 millimeters long, 1,493 millimeters wide and 1,621 millimeters high, with a 1,940-millimeter wheelbase. Early models did not include a driver airbag, but later models such as the Mini EV Macaron include the feature as standard. No spare tire is given as well. 145/70R12 With such small tires, any potholes you encounter are keenly felt in the cabin. Chinese government incentives include extending subsidies on NEV purchases, expediting a clear-out of older polluting vehicles, reducing taxes on used-car dealers and promoting electric-car sales in rural areas. If you need a bit more capacity, the back seats simply push down and pull up via a strap. It can be charged using a 220V three-pin plug at a household and is equipped with a high-efficiency charging gun with easy storage. h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], Its curb weight is around 665 kg. new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' [8] Based on the NEDC driving cycle, the estimated energy consumption of the Mini EV is 8,1 kWh/100km. To further aid in the adoption of EVs, the Chinese government has announced measures to boost sales, from Automotive News: The government will encourage steady increases on spending on cars and abolish excessive restrictions on the sale of used vehicles, Premier Li Keqiang told the National Peoples Congress in Beijing on Friday. Charging cables fill up the space at the bottom of the boot. s.type = 'text/javascript'; Uncover exclusive deals and discounts with a VIP referral to Australia's best dealers, Tesla details Model Y suspension changes, more updates coming, Mazda's largest SUV here in August with hybrid-beating efficiency. 38 Photos Wuling - Hong Guang MINI EV specs: Two battery/range options 120 km (75 miles) of range using 9.3 kWh battery 170 km (106 miles) of range using 13.9 kWh battery top speed of 100 km/h. With no fast-charging capability, you really are stuck using the Mini EV as a city car. Apples tablet lineup is more confusing than ever. GM-backed $4,000 mini electric car has already received 50,000 orders It is a three-door electric microcar that, while not new in China, is the first to achieve widespread success. Car sales in China saw astounding growth until 2018, when sales dipped for the first time since the 1990s. new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' Notably, the upscale variant of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV will have a slightly larger body as the wheelbase grows from 76.4 to 79.1 inches. 2023 CarExpert Pty Ltd - ABN 71 636 729 836, Don't get ripped off, find out what others have paid, This week in news: 27 February to 3 March. This is enough to accommodate two 26-inch suitcases or a stroller. The Macaron and Cabrio versions are likely to strengthen the Hong Guang MINI EV's market share in China, where it has already surpassed Tesla as the best-selling electric vehicle. Baojun, on the other hand, is a Wuling sub-brand aimed at the car market and was earlier to micro EVs than its parent company, with both the Smart-like E100 and E200. The front and rear lighting also appear less premium, going from two circular LEDs that looked like the headlights on the Honda e to a blockier shape that looks more like the c-shaped lights on a a lot of modern trucks. Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. China is the worlds largest car market and it has some tricks up its sleeve to entice people to go electric. [11] The car has attracted a cult following in China, with owners frequently modifying their vehicles. [24], The Mini EV listed as the world's top selling plug-in car in January 2021. The EV has a lot more room in this arrangement. Given all the other foibles detailed here, that is probably not a bad thing. SHANGHAI - Wuling launched the Hong Guang MINI EV today. The bestselling Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) in China, the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV has found its way to Thailand. Its curb weight is around 665 kg. And, like any good motoring journalist, we will insist that not only must the VW Up! The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV is creating an awesome new market and as expected, other firms are following with similar models. VW is so far resisting calls to bring the Golf-sized ID.3 here to Australia, citing Government policy as a blocker. Adding to the safety, more than 57% of the Hong Guang MINI EVs body consists of high-strength steel. The ID.4's SUV-like approach is also likely to play well with Australians, and we know it's already coming so one imagines the local business just doesn't think the ID.3 will resonate with Australian buyers. Part of the reason for this is the simplicity of the design. Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Which iPhone Should You Buy (or Avoid) Right Now? It was difficult to open the doors of the Wuling, but the battery appears to be mostly intact with only some damage. But Ford has more. They're not cheap though, and here in Australia suffered from a bit of a Tiddly Cars from Toy Town image. The hardtop model starts at 28,000, or about A$6,177, and has a range of 169 km. } ()); This change is because the new version will have a . [9], A 26.5kWh model is due for 2022, with 280 kilometres (170mi) (CLTC) estimated range, an optional more powerful 30kW (40hp; 41PS) motor, and an improved interior. The results: left - driver, right - passenger in the rear: Well, if this is the result of a 50% frontal crash with a light neighborhood electric vehicle, it's scary to think what would happen if it would be a standard car (1,200-2,400 kg). First, there's the Mustang Mach-E, a car that made so many people incredibly mad until they started selling like mad (for an EV). Ford's first EV locally at least as far as we know is a shrewd pitch to the tradespeople of Australia. The overall looks of the car seem to be very simple and boxy. Check out this review from the Wheelsboy YouTube channel: Despite its cheap price, it also comes with a suite of handy features like radar for reversing, antilock brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is so cheap, because it's made - WapCar Samara said that one of his key goals for GM would be to transform operations in Europe into an agile mobility startup. Globally, GM is investing $35 billion dollars in electric and autonomous vehicles by 2025, he said at the time, and we will focus closely on what customers need market by market, and where we will leverage our global investments in the areas of EVs and AVs to compete and win.. Chinese "Macaron" EV is as Tiny and Cute as Its Name Suggests Nissan's Leaf is the company's only electric passenger car here in Australia and our suggestion here is not going to add to that list. EV Charging explained: Home and public charging, power levels and plugs, Australia's EV policies: What's happening in each state and territory in 2021 UPDATED, No ICE reduction target included in Australia's net zero 2050 plan. w[ l ] = w[ l ] || []; We will keep our own label, Freze [formerly Frese], and this car will be not just be a rebadged Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, like it was under the Nikrob label, but it will be a [new body] car.. A battery-powered motor lets you enjoy most of the benefits of biking, minus the sweat. h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], Dismiss, Left Hand Drive Only (steering wheel on left), (shipping, duties, taxes in your country additional), Exterior dimensions: 2,917 mm long x 1,493 mm wide x 1,621 mm high, Maximum power:13 kW(4 seat) / 9.2 kW (2 seat), Range:170 km on a single charge (4 seat) / 120 km (2 seat). Nikes most popular racing shoe is getting a reboot, The bird flu outbreak has taken an ominous turn, New Zealand faces a future of flood and fire, Explore AI like never before with our new database, Want the best tools to get healthy? As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. RELATED: This Heritage Series Grandeur EV Celebrates Hyundai's 1986 Flagship Sedan. New EVs wow Shanghai auto show, but few are coming to Australia Yamamoto discovered that the parts were largely off-the-shelf and consumer-grade, rather than automotive grade. In December, GM announced that Mahmoud Samara, a VP for Cadillac North America, had been made president of GM Europe. It also weighs a . Lots of people ask why there aren't any small EVs on the market (we quickly explain there are several), and the talk quickly turns to price. Owner Shares The Good And Bad, US: Ford Significantly Increased BEV Sales In February 2023. Luckily as youre unlikely to ever get the Mini EV much above 50 mph this never becomes too much of a problem. Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. Here you can see more details about the technical specification of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. The Mini EV is actually higher than it is wide due to its 1,621 mm height; thus, headroom is adequate. The Macaron is a customized model with three unique paint colors and additional standard features. First, the driving position is very high and the seats are non-height-adjustable. The Mini EV Macaron: A version of the normal Mini EV introduced in April 2021. Astonishingly, the company is reportedly making less than $14 profit on each car. [25], "Popular Wuling EVs to hit global markets in 2022", "SGMW to unveil Wuling brand's first two-seater NEV model 'NanoEV', "The tiny Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV costs just P200,000", "Tiny Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Has Locked In 50,000 Orders", "China: Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Sets Massive Sales Record", "This Adorable Four Seat Electric Hatchback is Selling Like Crazy in China", "Check Out This Must-See Review Of The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV", "Wuling Mini EV gets a long-range version of 280 km range", "GM scores a bestseller in China with $4,200 electric micro car", "Dongfeng Fengguang MINI EV official images released", "Worry For The Wuling MINI EV (or not): BAW S3 & S5 Mini EVs Unveiled", "New Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Macaron Launches In China", "Wuling Launches Hong Guang MINIEV Cabrio in China", "Chinese/U.S. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars. With a modest 80kW, but reasonable 280Nm, the E-NV200 would be extremely cheap to run. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. All rights reserved. Earlier this month five Chinese. This screenoffers basic information such as speed, range, and electricity consumption, along with a natty 3D rendering of the Mini EV. Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Review: Cheap Electric City Car - Wired '&l=' + l : ''; low-cost start to electric family transportation, This Heritage Series Grandeur EV Celebrates Hyundai's 1986 Flagship Sedan, Why We Would Completely Approve If Pagani Built This V12 Huayra Concept SUV, The Car That Inspired The 240Z: The Datsun 2000 Is Back With A Sharp New Design, EXCLUSIVE: This Brand-New Mitsubishi EVO XI Render Gives New Life To The Japanese Compact Sports Car Scene, Oh, The Bargains To Be Had At This Supercar Dealership In Dubai, Why The Mid-Engined Ford Mustang Would Be More Than A Match For The C8 Chevrolet Corvette, 10 American Engines That Can Take A Beating And Keep Going Strong Past 200,000 Miles. However, in the case of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, things look much better. China's best-selling EV is tiny and incredibly affordable, and will soon become one of the few convertible EVs available today, or ever. He travels frequently and always seeks out the best driving roads to really test a car's limits. One of China's biggest automotive companiesin 2021 it. It also comes with the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and reversing radar. And who doesn't want to see F-Series based ambulances again? Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio convertible concept revealed in Discover the city streets in a MINI Electric Hatch or MINI Countryman Hybrid with a 5.99% p.a comparison rate on a 36-month MINI Flex agreement*. Once in the drivers seat, you immediately notice two issues. It was developed by General Motors, Wuling Motors and state-sponsored SAIC Motor. body #page { Mahindra eXUV300 Expected Launch Date & Estimated Price, Mahindra eKUV 100 To Be Launched By End Of 2022, 2023 Mazda MX-30 Crossover SUV Mazdas First Electric Car, Maserati GranTurismo Folgore EV All-Electric Super Sports Car, Mahindra XUV400 EV New Electric compact SUV. Given all of its other flaws, that's probably not a terrible thing. We don't mean the $4500 Wuling Hongguang Mini EV that Youtube dutifully trotted out as a Tesla killer in the last couple of months, but a whole bunch of Geely Group cars wearing various badges including Lynk & Co. Get in the comments and let us know which ones we missed or how wrong we were about the ones we haven't. Whether you want a new keyboard or a robot vac, theres something for everyone. According to Nikkei Asia, 112,000 units of the Hong Guang Mini EV were sold in China between July and the end of 2020, making it the country's second best-selling EV after the Tesla Model 3. Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio: Tiny drop-top revealed GM's Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Gets New Upscale Trim Level The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car body is a Hatchback. A shame, but if it could land at a mid-$30k price point, French car fans are just mad enough to do it. The car costs around $US4,400 ($5,716), compared with the $US38,000 ($49,362) that a Tesla Model 3 costs in China at current exchange rates. At the end of last year, professor Masayoshi Yamamoto at Nagoya University took apart a car shipped to Japan to see how it was possible to produce the vehicle so cheaply. It is legal to drive on public roads, despite its wheels being just 12 inches in diameter and having a peak speed of only 62 miles per hour. Aesthetically, the production vehicle is unlikely to change dramatically from its concept form. Get weekly updates with the latest car news and reviews. Dartz's decision to redesign the car's body highlights one of the obvious problems with selling the Chinese car in Western markets: safety. /* Look out Tesla, SAIC's $4,500 electric car takes China by storm This one is a proper long shot, but we stand by it, no matter what you say even if it is entirely reasonable. /* ]]> */ Slightly more substantial than the Ami, and rather more expensive, is Smart's ForTwo and ForFour which could probably land here well under forty grand. Welcome to part one of three price-based EV buying guides, this one focused on the most affordable electric cars available in Australia today. It was first manufactured and delivered sometime in July 2020. Can seat four. s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); China Sends a Warning to the U.S. About Domestic EV Battery Production, Global EV Adoption Hits New High of 20 Million Thanks to Tiny Electric Cars, Electric Cars Sold In Record Numbers Globally In 2021, A Serious Threat to Tesla Emerges in Nissan. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. According to Autohome, the micro electric two-door is slated to hit showrooms in 2022 and (at least initially) will be sold exclusively in China. Privacy Policy. Under the extreme cold and high temperatures of -25 to 45 C, the vehicle has completed 28 tests over 300,000 kilometers. MINI Electric - Electric Vehicles Australia | MINI AUSTRALIA Renault had a go with the Kangoo Z.E. You dont get airbags, and the passenger doesnt even get a seatbelt reminder. Powering the rear wheels is an electric motor delivering 27 hp of power and 85 Nm of torque. Look out Tesla, SAIC's $4,500 electric car takes China by storm. Trendysort of. Both of these only seat two people, and the E200 is also sold in a slightly restyled manner as the Wuling Nano, with a more powerful motor and longer ranges. [5] Overview [ edit] Rear view [18], In 2021 Lithuanian company Nikrob UAB announced a rebadged version of the Mini EV called the FreZe Nikrob with knock-down assembly in Vilnius, Lithuania. As of January2022[update], sales since inception have passed 500,000 units, and the Mini EV has become the best-selling electric car in China. After hitting the market in July 2020, GM reports that over 270,000 models have been sold. NEDC Range (km) 170 (13.8 kWh) & 120 (9.2 kWh), Cutting Edge Mini City EV the Hong Guang MINI EV has a practical small on the outside, big on the inside design, Be the first to review Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); While there is a hatch at the back, there is no real trunk to speak of. '&l=' + l : ''; MORE: Everything micro carsMORE: Everything ChinaMORE: Everything 2021Shanghai motor show. In September, only its 4 th month on the market, the Hong Guang Mini EV racked up sales in excess of 20,000, propelling it to the top of China's electric vehicle market," Kang said. The same cannot be said for the steering, which is generally imprecise. However, cramming folks into those back seats isn't exactly pleasant. The Mini EV has a top speed of 62mph, and on an expressway, we managed to reach just over 50mph an experience that was much less unnerving than expected. Produced by SAIC-GM (GM) -Wuling, a company partially owned by General Motors, the Hong Guang Mini EV sells at a starting price that's equivalent to about $4,400. So successful is Wulings Mini EV that not only are Chinese producers rapidly coming up with copycat cars, Wuling itself is busy making different versions of the vehicle, including a forthcoming cabriolet and a long-range version. The Wuling MINI EV from GM costs between $4,000 and $6,000. A new all-electric car that is tiny in both size and price has again outsold the Tesla Model 3 in China on a month-by-month basis, with sales of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV almost doubling those of Telsa's hugely popular global best-seller in January 2021. The Wuling Hongguang MINI EV Has A Rival: The Chery QQ Ice Cream Is It is a three-door electric microcar that . The Mini EV is equipped with a 9.2kWh battery capable of a NEDC range of 120km (75mi) or a 13.8kWh battery capable of a NEDC range of 170km (110mi). Change These Settings on Your New Samsung Phone. The Mini GameBoy Edition is outfitted in four different variations: Hurricane Phantom, Jungle Traveler, Star Rover, and Party Sweetheart. Demand for this tiny BEV . Now you can get the top stories from Gizmodo delivered to your inbox. window.dm = window.dm ||{ AjaxData:[]}; However, with only a slow charger interface, refilling the latter takes nine hours. The Macaron is sold as a more premium and personalized variant that features redesigned darkened LED headlights, two-tone alloy wheels and exclusive body colors. img#wpstats{display:none} [4] Retail deliveries began in China in July 2020. You must appreciate that for many buyers, this will be their first car or their only option, and its infinitely safer than piling a family onto a motorbike or electric scooter. The four-seat Hong Guang Mini, which has top speeds of 62 mph and an estimated cruising range of 120 miles, is being made as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Liuzhou Wuling Motors, and. Tiny new electric car beats Tesla Model 3, again, in China - The Driven Unfortunately, Wheelsboy says youll never forget how cheap it is. Cheap Minicar Might Spur Europe's Electric Car Mass Market", "GM's All-New Wuling MINI EV GameBoy Edition Revealed", "Wuling Hongguang MINI EV Game Boy Edition Arrives At The Dealer In China", "Chinese 3,200 budget electric car takes on Tesla", "China: Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Amazes With 35,000+ Sales In December", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wuling_Hongguang_Mini_EV&oldid=1137755227, 15kW (20hp; 20PS) or 20kW (27hp; 27PS) or 30kW (40hp; 41PS), This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 07:37.