Aiways U6 debuts – EV SUV with coupe-like styling; 63 kWh battery, as much as 400 km vary; tuned by Prodrive

Aiways is a comparatively new automaker that was based in 2017 by Samuel Qiang, who was beforehand China gross sales chief of Volvo Automobiles. Within the years since its basis, Aiways has launched one electrical car (EV) known as the U5 that was produced and offered in China in 2019 earlier than exports to European markets commenced a yr later.

The corporate has now launched its second EV mannequin dubbed the U6, which will likely be open for orders later this yr. The U6 is an SUV with coupe-like styling that’s positioned above the U5, measuring in at 4,805 mm lengthy, 1,880 mm broad and 1,641 mm tall.

Each fashions share the identical wheelbase of two,800 mm, however the U5 is smaller general with a size of 4,680 mm, a width of 1,865 mm and is taller at 1,700 mm as a result of its common SUV physique. When it comes to competitors, the U6 competes in opposition to the Volkswagen ID.5, whereas the U5 takes on the ID.4.

Styling-wise, the U6 does bear a touch of the Polestar 2 in its general form, though the entrance and rear ends are reasonably distinctive. The previous options massive aspect intakes that mix with the automotive’s vertical LED headlamps which can be accompanied by LED daytime operating lights strips, whereas the decrease apron has one other distinguished consumption and flics on the corners to assist information the air.

Down the edges, the haunches are closely emphasised, as are the shark-themed C-pillars. Additional cases of aero parts embrace the flush door handles, protruding crease on the doorways and 20-inch aero wheels – Aiways claims a drag coefficient determine of 0.248.

As for the rear, it is vitally upright and sports activities a full-width mild bar that continues vertically down the car’s sides and integrates with the taillights that bear a squarish mild signature. Facet blades and a boot lid spoiler assist with the airflow as nicely, and the automotive will get a two-tone color palette to make it pop visually.

Inside, air vents run the width of the dashboard, interrupted solely by a skinny 8.2-inch show that reveals very important driving data. The principle entry level to car capabilities is the 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system stapled to the sprint, which can help Android Auto and Apple CarPlay from 2023, might be up to date over-the-air, and is paired with a Magnat 10-speaker sound system.

The bigger display screen is positioned above a perched wi-fi charger that’s trails all the way down to a low-lying storage space, which then continues upwards to a raised centre console with a novel twist-grip gear lever impressed by luxurious yachts.

Obtainable gear for the U6 contains an ambient lighting system, perforated leather-based upholstery, powered and heated entrance seats, seven airbags, the same old array of passive security techniques, a panoramic glass roof, keyless entry and begin, a powered tailgate, and a collection of driver help techniques (autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management with cease and go, lane conserving help with lane centring, blind spot detection, assisted parking and rear cross visitors alert, simply to call a couple of).

As for the electrical powertrain, the U6 packs a CATL-sourced battery with an vitality capability of 63 kWh, which is sweet for a variety of as much as 400 km following the WLTP cycle. A full cost utilizing the 11-kW onboard AC charger (Sort 2 connection) takes seven hours, whereas it’s 35 minutes to get from a 20-80% state of cost with DC quick charging (CCS2 connection) at 90 kW.

The battery juices a front-mounted electrical motor rated at 218 PS (215 hp or 160 kW) and 315 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of seven seconds and an electronically restricted high pace of 160 km/h. The U6 is constructed on the corporate’s Extra Adaptable Construction (MAS) platform and makes use of MacPherson struts on the entrance, whereas the rear will get a multi-link setup – tuning is finished by Prodrive, which is an organization well-known on the planet of rallying.