Bucket Seat: OMODA and JAECOO PHEV efficiency endurance drive

OMODA and JAECOO are embarking on an electrified adventure with the all-new C9 and J7 plug-in hybrid SUVs, which are due in South Africa later this year. 14 PHEVs (4 C9s and 10 J7s) will set off a long-distance trip between Cape Town and Gqeberha to prove their efficiency, combined petrol-electric range, and comfort and driving experience over several days.  The objective? To travel more than 1,100 km - without charging or refuelling any vehicles along the way. While this may seem like a tall order in many SUVs, the C9 and J7 PHEVs boast exceptional range thanks to their electrified drivetrains. 

28 journalists and guests from Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia will depart Cape Town in electrified SUVs. Over four days, they will travel to the Addo Elephant Park, enjoying a specially curated trip themed after the natural beauty of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.  The trip starts on 22 February in Cape Town, with the range drive beginning the following day. The drive is set against an Ocean/Beach theme. As the convoy of electrified OMODAs and JAECOOs heads towards Gqeberha, drivers and passengers will be immersed in a Forest, Flora, and Fauna theme inspired by the natural beauty of the Garden Route. On the final day, 25 February, the journey will take on a Bush and Safari theme, concluding at the iconic Addo Elephant Park.

“Our upcoming endurance drive is more than just a long-distance journey—it’s an opportunity to demonstrate the impressive efficiency, performance, and comfort of the OMODA C9 and JAECOO J7 plug-in hybrids,” commented Tony Liu, CEO of OMODA & JAECOO South Africa. “Covering over 1,100 km without refuelling or recharging highlights the capability of our electrified drivetrains while giving drivers a chance to experience the beauty of South Africa’s diverse landscapes from behind the wheel of cutting-edge vehicles.” The J7 PHEV is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 3 DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) that integrates an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 255 kW and 525 N.m of torque. An 18.3 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery provides a WLTP-estimated all-electric range of 90 km, providing a driving range of 1,200 km. When connected to a DC fast charger, the battery can be recharged from 30-80% in just 20 minutes. 

The range-topping C9 PHEV takes performance to the next level. While the standard C9 is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine, the PHEV variant features a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine that, together with a 3 DHT and three electric motors, delivers a remarkable 440 kW and 915 N.m of torque. This enables the C9 to accelerate like a performance car while maintaining the refinement and composure the C9 has become known for. The WLTP-estimated all-electric range is 150 km, pushing the total range to 1,100 km. When plugged into a DC fast charger, the C9 PHEV can replenish its battery pack from 30-80% in 25 minutes. 

Bucket Seat: SA Festival of Motoring 2024

Today see's the start of SA's biggest motoring festival, the South African Festival of Motoring taking place at the home of motor racing, Kyalami International Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg. Today they hosted a media day, so the journo's could get up close and personal with what is on display for festival goers, unfortunately I couldn't attend myself but if you are planning or still deliberating on attending this weekend, this post is to give you a snapshot of what you can expect. There has been a host of new car reveals and that is essentially what we will be focusing on today. 

Biggest news of the day, well morning was from Ford South Africa who lifted the covers of their all new Mustang GT. This one caught many by surprise as the car itself was only due later on in the year. Ford SA has already confirmed that we will also be getting the Dark Horse edition of the car. The Mustang boasts that iconic 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 motor which delivers 328kW and 540Nm of torque, with the Dark Horse squeezing out 372kW. The updated interior see's a lot of technology advancements with a huge curved display and a neat remote rev function which can start the car and rev it from the key. No official word on pricing has been given yet but it's definitely North of R1.2 million. 

Next up, we move over to the Germans, Volkswagen SA showcased their updated T-Cross. While the general styling remains the same with revised bumpers for the front and back, the main changes come in the lights, with the headlights getting IQ Matrix LED's and the rear featuring Matrix LED lights. On the inside, there set up has been revised giving it a more mature look and feel. The infotainment has been upgraded to an 8-inch touch screen display and the instrument cluster now being fully digital. Wireless charging and App Connect is now standard throughout the range and VW has introduced a lot more soft touches on the dash and door inserts. Pricing starts at R462,200 for the Life 1.0 TSI 85kW model with 3 lower engine derivatives still making their way to the shores. 

VW also has on display some other cool cars, like their long wheel base ID Buzz, the new Toureg and the soon to be launched new Tiguan! So lots to see from them. 

Suzuki launched their latest edition of the the much loved Swift. Featuring modern styling and an all new 1.2 liter, 3-cylinder petrol engine that promises more efficiency but still delivering decent power at 60kW and 112Nm. There will be 3-trims to choose from, GL, GL+ and the range topping GLX which features CVT automatic gearbox, folding side mirrors, keyless entry, push button start, rear PDC's, 7-inch infotainment screen and reverse camera. 

With the influx of Chinese brands to the market, it wouldn't be right not to feature at least one exciting model showcased and it had to be the Jaecoo J6. This attractive retro looking SUV stole the lime light from the rest with its out there design and robust statue, the J6 commanded attention when it was showcased today. With it being confirmed for SA shores, the J6 will be the brands fully electric offering, with the brand also planning to launched a plug-in hybrid version of the popular J7. Jaecoo seem bullish about the J6 and if pricing is decent, it could see them lead the EV race from the Chinese point of view in SA. 

Speaking of Chinese EV's, that brand everyone knows off but hardly hears much of, BYD also displayed their latest model to the country, the Seal. A fully electric sedan, yes a sedan not an SUV, it almost seems like a breath of fresh air to say that. They have that on display for show goers. There are many other offerings for you to see at this years SAFOM, big names such as Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley also have displays and Volvo having a stellar line up too, with a mixture of their PHEV's and their EV's with the CX30 leading the showcase but also a special edition "Adventure Beast" version of the XC90 is on display at the off-roading exhibit. It seems like a bumper line up is in store at this years festival, and not forgetting the fun on the track so if you're a petrol head or just someone looking to do something fun this weekend, best set your Google maps to Kyalami. Tickets are available via the website and start from R275 for adults and R75 for kids aged 4-12.

Bucket Seat: JAECOO J7

The influx of Chinese motoring brands to the market is no surprise given their track record of making good looking, well built and more importantly affordable cars that are loaded with technology that cost you and arm and two legs with most of the European brands. While reliability and longevity were questions that came up before when people considered these Chinese alternatives about 4 years ago, with most people being satisfied their cars didn't fall to pieces yet, it's given the consumer more confidence in purchasing these brands. One brand that has been doing particular well over the past few years is Chery, with it introducing it's sub brand Omoda last year, it got more and more people taking interest in their offerings, last week so Chery launch another sub brand from their stable, JAECOO, with their introductory model, the J7. A lot of hype has been created around this particular model with the brand teasing images and video of it since late last year. Now with the official launch, it has people queuing up to see what it has to offer and boy it didn't disappoint!

The highly anticipated JAECOO J7 has officially launched in South Africa, hitting the market as the very first model from the newly established urban off-road SUV brand. Endowed with cutting-edge design and forward-thinking technologies, the J7 is poised to take the local market by storm, with the three-strong range priced from just R549 900.

Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager Chery / OMODA & JAECOO South Africa, says the new J7 perfectly embodies the brand’s “From Classic, Beyond Classic” philosophy and is as such the ideal model to introduce the innovative new marque to the country. In addition, South Africa is both the first right-hand-drive market to launch the J7 as well as the first in Africa.

“As South Africa’s first taste of JAECOO, the new J7 has an important role to play. Boasting high levels of sophistication and performance – not to mention a modern yet classic design aesthetic – the J7 will appeal to customers who love the great outdoors but are not prepared to compromise on either comfort or standard specification,” Liu said.

All three derivatives in the J7 range are powered by an efficient turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine producing generous peak outputs of 145 kW and and 290 Nm, and mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard. In the case of the base Vortex and mid-spec Glacier variants, drive is delivered to the front axle, while the range-topping Inferno features all-wheel drive, incorporating the brand’s advanced new All Road Drive Intelligent System (ARDIS).

The inclusion of ARDIS in the Inferno derivative completely redefines the off-road driving experience, allowing effortless navigation through mud, sand and several other types of terrain. This means drivers – who furthermore benefit from a 21° approach angle, a 29° departure angle, 200 mm of ground clearance and 600 mm of wading depth – needn’t worry about encountering varied surfaces.

The proprietary ARDIS intelligent off-roading system includes as many as 7 driving modes, allowing the JAECOO J7 to adapt to a wide variety of surfaces by dynamically adjusting the vehicle’s responses in real time. So, whether navigating urban streets or muddy terrain, the system handles each driving scenario with finesse and capability.

Specification levels are extremely generous across the line-up. Belying its entry-level positioning, for example, the Vortex grade includes items such as power-adjustable front seats, an electric tailgate, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 360° panoramic camera system, wireless smartphone charging, 18-inch alloy wheels (framing red brake callipers), LED headlamps, front foglamps, automatic windscreen wipers, 7 airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), front radar and several added safety features.

Meanwhile, the mid-tier Glacier model (R599 900) upgrades to 19-inch alloys and a 14.8-inch touchscreen, while also gaining items such as innovative inter-seat airbags, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats (with a memory function), a head-up display, an integrated dashcam and a raft of extra driver-assistance features. The latter includes items such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-departure warning, intelligent high-beam control, rear cross-traffic assist and more.

Finally, the flagship all-wheel-drive Inferno (R679 900) ships with the aforementioned ARDIS system, along with extras such as a heating function for the leather-trimmed steering wheel as well as privacy glass.

Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager for OMODA & JAECOO South Africa, predicts that the J7 will spark a new urban off-roading trend among local buyers.

“The JAECOO J7 offers outdoor-loving customers something entirely new: far more toughness than a typical urban SUV but also more comfort and technology than traditional off-roaders. Add lofty levels of standard specification, a potent powertrain and highly competitive pricing, and you can see why we believe the J7 will take the local market by storm,” said Gahagan.

The J7 was launched in South Africa on 12 April 2024 at St John’s College in Johannesburg. After the day’s activities, invited guests – including brand ambassadors such as actor Senzo Radebe – attended an event hosted by MC Anele Mdoda. Thanks to an exclusive pre-launch drive of the J7, Anele was ideally positioned to play host, having been one of the very first people in South Africa to experience this exciting new vehicle from behind the wheel.

Later, JAECOO guests were treated to a music festival that included entertainment from DJ Mörda (aka Murdah Bongz), who had the crowd on its feet with his mesmerising dance moves and captivating stage presence.

Earlier, Khavhagali Vhalinavho from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presented a talk on environmental protection. Liu explained that this topic is a key part of JAECOO’s broader sustainability vision.

“Right from the conception of the JAECOO brand, we knew we wanted to create a more environmentally friendly off-road experience than is typical, providing the urban elite with not only a more comfortable but also a greener travel adventure. The protection of the great outdoors is important to our customers, so it’s important to us. That’s why we’ve chosen to partner with IUCN,” concludes Liu.

Pricing

JAECOO J7 1.6T Vortex FWD 7DCT – R549 900

JAECOO J7 1.6T Glacier FWD 7DCT – R599 900

JAECOO J7 1.6T Inferno AWD 7DCT – R679 900

All 3 versions of the JAECOO J7 come standard with a 5-year/70 000 km service plan and a 5-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty. An additional industry-leading engine warranty spanning 10 years or 1 million kilometres is also included in the purchase price