Pre-orders for the Roewe D5X from SAIC Group will start at the Beijing Auto Show next week. It is the first SUV equipped with the Roewe DMH super hybrid system. The D5X can be seen as an SUV version of the Roewe D7 sedan and so it is highly likely that an all-electric version will be added to the PHEV car. Also the car will likely either form the basis of a future MG model or simply be rebadged as an MG in certain markets.

DMH apparently stands for dual motor hybrid drive – dual-motor here meaning the combination of a 1.5 liter turbo engine and a single electric motor. In the D5X the setup gives the car an all-electric range of 135 km and a combined range of 1,300 km.

Design wise the car embodies Roewe’s new ‘pure and elegant’ design language. Supposedly the front face draws inspiration from cornices and columns in traditional Chinese architecture. The D5X rides on 19-inch wheels with an option for 20-inch wheels. There are hidden door handles. Dimensions are 4700, 1890, 1664 mm (l/w/h), and the car has a wheelbase of 2765 mm.

Inside the Roewe D5X has an uncluttered look with the dashboard dominated by a 24.6-inch floating screen which is made up of two joined screens. Pictured is the two tone interior with cream but there is also an all-black option. Roewe refer to the design as elegant power aesthetics and the car has a Yunsu Intelligent Cockpit. Helping increase intelligence is the Banma AI car machine system which seamlessly links mobile phones and car navigation giving one-click mapping of navigation to the car and charging planning.

Engine power in the D5X comes from a 1.5T unit which provides 110 kW power. There then appear to be a choice of two electric motors. Cheaper versions of the car come with a 11.1 kWh battery and a 145 kW motor while top-spec versions get a 21.4 kWh battery and a 153 kW motor. The all-electric range of 135 km and combined 1,300 km are for the 21.4 kWh battery version. This car also has an acceleration figure of 6.9 seconds. Combined fuel consumption is 1.27 liters per 100 kilometers under WLTC, while minimum state-of-charge fuel consumption is 5.25 l/100 km which sounds on the thirsty side given some of the figures now being achieved by the likes of BYD, Geely and Chery.

Sources: Autohome, Dongchedi