Chery beat Mercedes and Lucid with cW miracles

The appearance of the model of the future concept is reminiscent of fish. Not by accident at all. Chinese developers used not only artificial intelligence in their computer calculations, but also nature. After more than 2,000 rounds of optimization on the computer, the coefficient of air resistance emerged for the electric test car which sets a record of 0.168. Never before has a car from an Asian manufacturer had such a good towing quotient.

This means that the Chery model is still below the previous record of 0.17, which Mercedes-Benz set last year with the Vision EQXX concept car. Lightyear 0 (0.175) and the production model Lucid Air (0.197) also had to admit defeat to a rival from China. The manufacturers of all four companies took similar methods to reduce the car’s aerodynamics. According to their own words, the Chinese were inspired by the shape of the tuna when working on the details. Based on the folding of its dorsal fin, Chery manufacturers developed, among other things, special air control elements.

Through the wind
With a drag coefficient of 0.168, the Chinese have set a new record. However, there are no plans to mass produce the concept car. Photos/Drawings: Chery

“With this concept, we are showing what is currently possible with regard to a range of battery-electric models,” says Jochen Tüting, managing director of Chery’s development center in Raunheim, Hesse. There are no plans to put the model into series production; However, the knowledge gained from the research should enter the next generations of Chery cars – for example with the two new brands Chery Omoda and Jaecoo.

Aerodynamics is becoming important again

“As a traditional car manufacturer, we are a technology-driven company with more than 5,500 manufacturers worldwide,” explains Jochen Tüting. “By introducing this aerodynamic concept, we are giving insight into our constant efforts to create innovative technologies for the benefit of our customers.”

China’s Chey Group has been China’s best car supplier for 20 years. In 2022 alone, more than a third of the more than 1.2 million cars produced were exported around the world.

Finns like us The developers of the concept car were inspired by nature when creating the body. — **Finnish like tuna**
The developers of the concept car were inspired by nature when creating the body.

Air resistance is one of the most important factors when it comes to car performance and energy consumption. Due to the trend towards electric vehicles, aerodynamics, which had been neglected for many years, has become more important again, because the low air resistance ensures an important increase in the range of kilometers.

15 new electric cars

Chinese car company Chery has big plans for the coming years. Around 40 new cars from various brands are planned worldwide in the next two years alone. Clean combustion engines are no longer an issue with 15 electric models and 24 hybrid versions currently in development. And the aerodynamics results of the new cW king are likely to be found in one or two electric cars from brands like Omoda or Jaecoo.

SUV for less than 30,000 euros Omoda 5 will enter the German market at the beginning of summer. Originally, however, with a classic combustion engine. — **SUV for less than 30,000 euros**
Omoda 5 will enter the German market at the beginning of summer. Originally, however, with a classic combustion engine.

The global production network of 14 locations is to be expanded to include new production facilities around the world in the coming years. Chery operates the largest safety and crash test center in Asia at its headquarters.

Chery initially starts in a normal way

In Germany, the focus is mainly on the Omoda 5, which is already offered as a compact class sedan with a length of 4.64 meters in regions such as South and Central America or Russia. Omoda C5 SUV / O5 is a compact class crossover on the same basis, which is offered as an electric model only with 150 kW / 204 hp and a 1.5 / 1.6 liter gasoline engine. Here it produces 108 kW / 147 HP or 145 kW / 197 HP.

The 4.40-metre-long Omoda 5 is intended to compete against Chinese import competition alongside European models from Peugeot, Renault or Cupra, although it is only offered as an all-wheel drive vehicle with a petrol engine in selected markets. All other variants are front-wheel drive with an electric motor, a CVT automatic or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The basic price of the model, which will enter the market in the summer, is less than 30,000 euros. This summer, the Jaecoo 7, an SUV with an angular off-road design, will follow, which will be based on the same platform and will also be available with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a plug-in hybrid variant.