Monthly Archive: June 2023

2024 Cadillac Lyriq starts at $59,990 with expanded lineup

2024 Cadillac LyriqThe Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV gets new trim levels and a slightly lower starting price for its second model year. For 2024, Cadillac added Tech and Sport grades sandwiching the existing Luxury grade. The Tech is the entry-level version and starts at $58,590 with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive powertrain, including a $1,395 destination charge...

Smart begins Smart #3 deliveries in China 20 days after launch

The first Smart #3 vehicles were delivered in 41 cities. To date, Smart has completed 164 offline stores in China.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The tight pace of new models from launch to delivery is one of the most important features of the highly competitive Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market.

Smart Automobile, a joint venture between and Mercedes-Benz, began deliveries of the Smart #3 in China yesterday, just 20 days after the model's official launch.

Smart announced on Wednesday that the first Smart #3 vehicles were delivered in 41 cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu and Xi'an, without disclosing the exact number of vehicles delivered.

(Image credit: Smart)

Smart officially launched the Smart #3 in China at an event on June 1, its second model after the Smart #1 following its electrification transition.

The Smart #3 is available in three regular versions -- Pro+, Pulse and Premium -- starting at RMB 209,900 ($29,240), RMB 239,900 and RMB 255,900 respectively.

The model is also available in a limited edition Brabus Performance version of only 1,999 units at RMB 289,900.

The car is positioned as a coupe SUV with a length, width and height of 4,400/4,542 mm, 1,844 mm and 1,556 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,785 mm.

The Smart #1 measures 4,270 mm in length, 1,822 mm in width and 1,636 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.

This means that the Smart #3 is longer and wider than the Smart #1, but lower.

The Smart #3 is available with two power options, a single-motor version with 200 kW peak motor power and a dual-motor version with 115 kW and 200 kW peak front and rear motors, respectively.

It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds for the single-motor version and 4.3 seconds for the dual-motor version, and from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds for the Brabus Performance version.

The model is available in three range versions with CLTC ranges of 520 km, 555 km and 580 km, and its battery pack is a ternary lithium battery from CALB and Sunwoda.

On June 18, Smart announced the opening of its flagship experience center in Shanghai, its fifth after Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing.

Smart now has 17 stores in Shanghai, including one brand flagship center, four service centers and 12 retail showrooms. This year, Smart will add an additional eight stores in East China, it said.

To date, Smart has built 164 offline outlets in China, and the number is expected to exceed 200 by the end of this year, covering more than 60 first-tier, new first-tier and second-tier cities, it said.

Smart delivered 2,624 vehicles in China in May, down 40.23 percent from 4,390 units in April, according to data it released earlier this month.

Smart has delivered a cumulative total of 28,923 electric vehicles in China since last September, data monitored by CnEVPost show.

($1 =RMB 7.1795)

Chinese Lithium giant Tianqi reportedly mulling stake in Mercedes-Geely JV Smart

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BYD’s new brand Fang Cheng Bao releases more images of its 1st model

The number on the model's body has been changed from "2316" to "2318". It is unclear whether this implies that the model's launch will be delayed from June to August.

(Image credit: Fang Cheng Bao)

's new sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao continues to warm up for its first model, after announcing the brand's official name earlier this month.

Fang Cheng Bao shared several new images of the model on Weibo on Wednesday, showing it testing in the snow.

The brand did not mention where the pictures were taken, although some car bloggers said it was in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, known as the snow and ice capital of China.

BYD officially launched the Fang Cheng Bao brand on June 9, the fifth in its brand matrix, following the Dynasty, Ocean, Denza and Yangwang series.

The sub-brand will meet growing consumer demand for personalization by offering a unique range of professional-grade new energy vehicle (NEV) models, BYD said at the time.

Fang Cheng Bao's model lineup includes crossovers and sports cars, with its initial model, a hardcore SUV codenamed SF, expected to launch this year, according to a BYD press release.

In March, CnEVPost obtained several photos of the SF model showing the number "2316" emblazoned on its body.

The number 2 in the string refers to dual motors, 3 refers to three locks, 1 refers to a new platform, and 6 refers to a June launch, CnEVPost learned at the time.

It's worth noting that in the pictures released by Fang Cheng Bao yesterday, the number on the car becomes "2318". It's unclear if this means the SF model's launch will be delayed from June to August.

In the comments section of its Weibo, Fang Cheng Bao replied to a user's question about when the model would be released, saying that the launch event is on its way.

Fang Cheng Bao's brand name literally translates to "Formula" and "Leopard," symbolizing the quest for a transformative rise and exploration of the digital realm, BYD said earlier this month.

BYD has not provided pricing information on the first Fang Cheng Bao model in its warm-ups over the past few months, though CnEVPost previously learned that the model will target a market priced between 400,000 yuan ($55,700) and 600,000 yuan.

Xiong Tianbo, formerly head of BYD auto sales research institute, will be the general manager of the brand's sales division, leading the brand's product planning, channel sales, and brand building, a company insider previously told CnEVPost.

($1 = RMB 7.1795)

BYD officially names F brand Fang Cheng Bao, initial model to be launched this year

The post BYD's new brand Fang Cheng Bao releases more images of its 1st model appeared first on CnEVPost.

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