JETOUR IS SA BOUND
Speculation about the possible local introduction of Jetour, a marque of Chinese manufacturer Chery, already started two years ago, and now it seems its arrival – adding to the already established Omoda and Jeacoo brands in South Africa – is imminent, starting with the launch of the Jetour Dashing midsize SUV.
The name Jetour is derived from the word Jiétú, which means “victory road” in Chinese, and the marque, producing mainly crossovers and SUVs, came into existence in 2018 – three years before the establishment of Omoda and Jaecoo – and the Dashing range (its name is derived from the Chinese word Dàshèng that literally means “monkey king”) was first introduced in 2022.
A Dashing Entrance
In April this year, Jetour confirmed it was preparing to produce right-hand drive vehicles to enter right-hand drive markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia, and now South Africa, with the Dashing, the first vehicle to be based on Jetour’s so-called Kunlun architecture and available in both petrol and PHEV plug-in hybrid configuration, as the first model to be introduced here.
The conventional petrol version of the crossover SUV (a facelift was already previewed last year) is available with two engine options from the Chery Tiggo range – a 1.5-litre turbo engine delivering 115 kW and 230 Nm of torque coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed DCT, or a 1.6-litre turbo mill developing 145 kW of power and 290 Nm of torque.
The PHEV version of the Dashing is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbo engine and a three-gear Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) delivering 240 kW and a peak torque of 565 Nm with a pure electric cruising range of 100 km, but it remains to be seen whether this model will be introduced locally.
Inside, the Dashing features a central 15.6” infotainment screen that supports AutoNavi, Tencent, and Baidu Maps, an 8” LCD screen, a head-up display, a flat-bottom steering wheel, a voice recognition system, a wireless charging pad on the centre console, and driving assistance function.
A Tank Contender?
Another model Jetour may be considering for local introduction to rival the Tank brand from GWM is the mid-sized T2, known as the Traveller in China. Launched last year, the T2, with its boxy styling, was designed by a team under former Porsche designer Hakan Saracoglu. According to Jetour, this model has an approach angle of 28 degrees, a departure angle of 30 degrees, a ground clearance of 220 mm, and a claimed wading depth of 700 mm.
It is equipped with a BorgWarner transfer gearbox, an electronic limited-slip differential, a MacPherson strut front suspension, and a multi-link setup at the rear. Powertrain options include a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated with a seven-speed DCT with two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with seven-speed dual-clutch and four-wheel drive, and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol mill with eight-speed automatic torque converter.
Jetour introduced a plug-in hybrid version of the T2 called the Jetour Shanhai T2 in April, and revealed plans to introduce an extended-length, three-row version of this model in China later this year. The precise launch dates and the specific models earmarked for South Africa were not yet known at the time of publication.
BAIC IS BACK
On a recent visit to the BAIC plant in Coega, close to Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province, to view assembly of the Beijing X55 and to experience the updated version of the BAIC B40 Plus with an eight-speed transmission, the management of BAIC South Africa confirmed that new BAIC models will be introduced to the country next year.
Besides acknowledging that negotiations are underway to assemble Foton bakkies in Coega, the management team indicated that two other BAIC models in the BJ range – to be badged B30 and B60 locally – will be introduced here to bolster the BAIC product offering in the country. Although no timeline was given, the introduction of the B30 and B60 models will most likely be next year, as production of right-hand drive models is still ramping up.
The BAIC B30
Derived from the Senova X65, the bigger brother of the X25 produced locally for some time, the B30 is a compact CUV comparable in size to a Jeep Renegade and as such, it slots in beneath the B40 Plus. The B30 was first introduced in 2015 as the BAIC BJ20 but received a significant facelift in 2020 and was renamed BJ30 (B30 in South African nomenclature).
It was the first model to utilize BAIC’s updated product naming system, using 2, 4, 6, and 8-sequenced numbers for serious off-roaders, and 3, 5, 7 and 9 monikers for urban off-road models. Although the quite attractive B30 features a completely redesigned front and rear, it still uses the same powertrain as its predecessor – a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine producing 112 kW and 210 Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT.
The second-generation B30 was introduced earlier this year, but it is unclear whether this model or the earlier derivative is considered for local introduction, as the B40 Plus, now available locally, was already superseded by a heavily revised second-generation model last year.
Be that as it may, the second-generation B30 is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol turbo engine delivering 138 kW, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. A range-extended hybrid version with a 1.5-litre turbo engine mated to a two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) is also available but most likely will not be considered for local introduction.
The BAIC Flagship
As a full-size SUV, the new BJ60 is the biggest off-road vehicle developed by BAIC and is available as a five-seater and seven-seater. First introduced in 2022, the B60 (as it might be named here) will be the flagship in the BAIC range if launched locally, competing with models such as the Toyota Land Cruiser, Haval H9 and GWM Tank 500.
With styling reminiscent of the Jeep Wagoneer in front and mimicking the previous generation Land Cruiser at the rear, the indications are that the B60 will be powered by a mild hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2,0-litre petrol turbo engine and 48V battery as standard across the range.
No further information is available, but according to BAIC, the four-wheel drive B60 will be able to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in under six seconds and have a maximum range of 1,000 km. Besides the two SUVs, BAIC South Africa is also considering introducing a full-electric Beijing sedan model based on the now-defunct Senova range.
Report by FERDI DE VOS
