The Chinese market continues to expand its offer, and in addition to sedans, SUVs, and compacts, there is room for increasingly competitive low-cost proposals. This is the case of the latest launch of the brand owned by the Chinese giant SAIC and the North American General Motor, which have launched a small economic electric car: The Wuling Hongguang MINI.
The first thing that catches the attention of Wuling is its careful design. It does not seem like the classic low-cost model with many elements to improve on the outside. An approach takes as a reference to the idea of Japanese Kei cars, where the interior space is maximized, in a model with three doors and four seats, but only 2.9 meters long. Ideal for moving around the city.
If we dispense with the rear seats, which can be folded, we will have a two-seater model with up to 740 liters of load capacity. Something to keep in mind that can get us out of more than one hurry when it comes to buying or transporting merchandise.
Other aspects that indicate that this type of vehicle is experiencing a leap forward in terms of finishes and quality are aspects such as mounting LED lights or disc brakes on all four wheels. A minimalist and straightforward interior where there is no room for too many flourishes.
On a mechanical level, Wuling Hongguang has a simple 20 kW (27 hp) motor that allows it to reach 100 km/h. For its part, the battery is a pack of 13.8 kWh, which according to the manufacturer, allows it to achieve a range of a little more than 100 miles under the NEDC cycle.
Best of all, we are not talking about a prototype for the future. It is already on sale in China where those interested can take a unit for just 29,800 yuan, which in exchange is less than 4,000 dollars. Deliveries begin this June. A real bargain for a product designed to move around cities, where parking space is minimal, and distances are shorter.