Guangzhou Automotive Company (GAC), the Chinese car maker that wants to enter the US market by 2020, has revealed a new concept at the Detroit motor show to illustrate its ambitions in the west.
The Enverge is a Nissan Qashqai-sized electric SUV that previews the company’s future design direction, while also demonstrating new features such as a voice-controlled start-up and virtual reality technology for passengers.
The car uses an electric powertrain with a 71kWh battery. It sends 235bhp and 302lb ft of torque to all four wheels, enabling a claimed 4.4sec 0-62mph time and 99mph top speed. The Enverge is also said to be capable of 373 miles to one charge.
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GAC said it has designed its Enverge to be popular with “young people of North America”, suggesting it will inspire a production version aimed at becoming a volume seller for the brand.
GAC design chief Zhang Fan recently told Autocar: “When you create a new brand, you can set it at a certain height, start there and then move it up”, hinting at the prospect of higher-ranking models after the brand’s first US car, and the importance of launching with a credible, desirable product to begin with.
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