It is no coincidence that the appearance of the futuristic concept model is reminiscent of a fish, as the Chinese developers not only used the latest calculations from artificial intelligence in their computer calculations, but also from nature. After more than 2,000 rounds of optimization on the computer, an air resistance coefficient was achieved for the electrical test vehicle that sets a record of 0.168. Never before has a vehicle from an Asian manufacturer had such a good drag coefficient. This means that the Chery prototype is still below records such as the Lightyear 0 (0.175) or the production model of the Lucid Air with 0.197. The shape of the concept vehicle is strongly inspired by the streamlined body shape of the tuna. Based on the folding of its dorsal fin, Chery developers designed, among other things, air control elements to reduce the air resistance coefficient.
“With this concept, we are showing what is currently possible with regard to our battery-electric model range,” says Jochen Tüting, managing director of the Chery development center in Raunheim, Hesse. There are no plans to put the model into series production; However, the knowledge gained from the study should flow into future generations of Chery automobiles – for example with the two new Chery brands Omoda and Jaecoo. “As a traditional car manufacturer, we are a technology-driven company with over 5,500 developers globally,” explains Jochen Tüting. “With the presentation of this aerodynamic concept, we provide an insight into our constant efforts to develop innovative technologies for the benefit of our customers.” The Chinese Chey Group has been the most successful car exporter in China for 20 years. In 2022 alone, more than a third of the more than 1.2 million vehicles produced were shipped all over the world.
Air resistance is one of the most important factors when it comes to a car’s performance and energy consumption. Due to the trend towards electric vehicles, aerodynamics, which had been neglected for many years, have become more important again, because lower air resistance ensures an important increase in range kilometers. The Chinese car company Chery has big plans for the coming years. Almost 40 new vehicles from a wide range of brands are planned worldwide in the next two years alone. Pure combustion engines are no longer an issue and 15 purely electric models and 24 hybrid versions are currently in preparation. And the aerodynamics findings of the new cW king are likely to be found in one or two electric cars from brands like Omoda or Jaecoo.
The global production network of 14 locations is to be expanded to include new production facilities all over the world in the coming years. Chery operates the largest safety and crash test center in Asia at its headquarters. In Germany, the focus is particularly on the Omoda 5, which is already available as a 4.64 meter long compact class sedan in regions such as South and Central America or Russia. The Omoda C5 SUV / O5 is a compact class crossover on the same basis, which is offered as a purely electric model with 150 kW / 204 hp and with a 1.5 / 1.6 liter turbo gasoline engine. Here it produces 108 kW / 147 HP or 145 kW / 197 HP. The 4.40 meter long Omoda 5 is intended to compete against Chinese import competition as well as against European models from Peugeot, Renault or Cupra, although it is only offered as a petrol all-wheel drive vehicle in selected markets; all other variants are front-wheel drive with an electric motor, CVT automatic or seven-speed dual clutch transmission. The base price should be just under 30,000 euros from the second quarter. This summer, the Jaecoo 7, an SUV with an angular off-road design, will follow, which will also be available on the same platform with the 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a plug-in hybrid variant.
