Mitsubishi Outlander rival leads Chery plug-in hybrid push in Australia
Chery Australia has confirmed it will launch plug-in hybrid versions of its small Tiggo 7 Pro and mid-size Tiggo 8 Pro SUVs.
The company hasn’t confirmed launch timing other than saying they will arrive “in the near future.”
Petrol versions of the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro, as well as a more powerful 1.6-litre version of the Omoda 5, are still on track to launch in the second half of this year.
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The Tiggo 7 Pro e+ and Tiggo 8 Pro e+ both use a three-speed Direct Hybrid Transmission (DHT) with three physical gears and three engine operating points with adjustable gear ratio.
Two electric motors, an engine controller and a gearbox are integrated together and coupled to a “hybrid-specific” 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Chery claims that the “world’s first DHT technology” includes three motors, three gears, nine work modes and 11 speed ratios, and offers a combined driving range of almost 1000km. Brake Energy Regeneration helps to recharge the battery.
The seven-seater Tiggo 8 Pro e+ uses a 19.27 kWh ternary lithium battery and a total system output of 240 kW of power and 545 Nm of torque.
It has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds and an electric range of 75km on the WLTC cycle with a curb weight of 1769kg – just 57kg more than a Tiggo 8 Pro with the 2.0 -litre turbocharged four-cylinder.
A vehicle-to-load function also allows you to provide up to 3.3 kW of power for devices.
Inside, the Tiggo 8 Pro e+ features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Other features include color-adjustable ambient lighting, a surround-view camera, an eight-speaker Sony sound system and a panoramic sunroof.
A range of active safety and driver assistance features are also available, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
The Tiggo 8 Pro is similar in size to a Skoda Kodiaq and fits over the 4.5m Tiggo 7 Pro with which it shares its platform and which spans the small and medium SUV segment.
The Tiggo 7 Pro e+ shares its 240 kW/545 Nm plug-in hybrid powertrain with the Tiggo 8 Pro e+ and offers a claimed electric range of 80 km in the WLTC cycle.
The claimed 0-100 km/h time is seven seconds.
The Tiggo 7 Pro e+ features Matrix LED headlights and low-drag wheels, while inside is a 24.6-inch dual-screen device.
Its bigger brother’s vehicle-to-load functionality also comes standard, while Chery claims there are up to 18 level 2.5 intelligent driver assistance features.
The Tiggo 7 Pro e+ will make Chery the rival of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, while the Tiggo 8 Pro e+ will compete against the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
The brand also promises to unveil its first electric vehicle Down Under, with an EV version of the Omoda 5 due next year.
MORE: All Chery Tiggo 7 Pro MORE: All Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
