The Jaecoo J7 PHEV and Omoda E5 have been confirmed for SA, J8 may follow

The Jaecoo J7 PHEV and Omoda E5 have been confirmed for SA, J8 may follow

The current rise in demand for more affordable cars in South Africa allows for new brands to show their faces. Particularly, Chinese manufacturers have shown the world just how efficient their manufacturing and design processes are.

Omoda is bringing a new EV to compete with electric car prices, but Jaecoo has just arrived in South Africa and has already announced new models to grace our shores in the coming year. The J7 was one of Jaecoo’s first arrivals in South Africa, and less than a year later, news has arrived that a plug-in hybrid variation is due to land in South Africa. Jaecoo claims that this eye-catching SUV, which draws subtle inspiration from the Range Rover, will boast a fuel consumption of 4.9l/100km and a driving range of 1,200km.

The 1.5-litre TGDI engine in the J7 PHEV, when combined with its electric motor, generates an effective 255kW and 525Nm of power, more than enough to easily handle any overtaking.

Although it is still unknown if the J8 PHEV will make it to SA, the odds do seem favourable. The J8 will feature the 1.5TGDI engine alongside a more advanced 3-speed hybrid system, incorporating both a front and rear high-powered electric motor. This particular unit does offer a much more thrilling driving experience, as the J8 PHEV produces 445kW and 915Nm, boasting a surprising 0-100km/h time of just 5.4 seconds. I bet you weren’t expecting that.

The last item on this list is the E5, an all-new electric offer from Omoda that looks as futuristic as it gets. The E5 boasts a streamlined aesthetic, and it looks rather cutting-edge. The specs for this particular car will be released shortly, but for now, the styling provides a glimpse of what’s to come.