By Sala Masindane

Till recently, the Omoda brand only had the C5 available in South Africa, but that will soon change. At the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, three more vehicles were revealed: the all-electric E5, C7 and the C9, which will be coming to the country.

Omoda C7

The sporty SUV boasts a borderless grille and 19-inch wheels. Its rear showcases electric energy design taillights, resembling connecting arrows forming a lightning bolt.

Inside, it flaunts gaming-style elements, including a steering wheel inspired by a PlayStation 5 controller and a 15.6-inch center touchscreen that can slide to provide a comfortable viewing angle for passengers. The “space orbit sliding smart screen” offers gesture, voice, and button control with 2.5K resolution and 1,000 nit brightness.

Under the hood, it houses a 1.5TGDi four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a plug-in hybrid system. The engine claims the highest thermal efficiency in its class at 44.5%, with the battery providing up to 95 km of pure-EV driving range. In hybrid mode, it boasts fuel consumption of 4.89 l/100 km, enabling a combined range of 1,250 km, theoretically.

Omoda E5 electric

It stands out from its combustion engine sibling with a redesigned exterior. Notable changes include a closed-off grille, slim LED daytime running lights, and updated LED headlight clusters. While the profile and rear-end remain unchanged, the interior boasts a redesigned dashboard housing a massive 24.6-inch curved hyperboloid screen. Other enhancements include revamped door panels and a center console with a gear lever delete.

It is powered by a 61kWh battery pack and a 165-kW electric motor, the Omoda E5 promises a range of 450 km and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds. Fast charging from 0 to 80% takes just 35 minutes.

Omoda C9

The luxury SUV is based on the Exceed RX but unfortunately will not be coming to our shores. However, the arrival of the C9 has not been confirmed, but it will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter petrol engine with 193kW and 400Nm, sending power to all wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The C7 and the C9 have not been confirmed, while the E5 will be launched in the second half of the year. The Omoda C7 was recently revealed at the Beijing Auto Show and joins the C5 in the local lineup.