The much-anticipated M-Hero 917 (see specs) Dragon Armor Edition is now available for pre-order, with prices ranging from 768,000 to 868,000 yuan (105,800 to 119,600 USD). This new model debuted at the Beijing Auto Show. It is a collaboration between Dongfeng and the movie “Operation Red Sea 2.” It features several upgrades from the base M-Hero 917, enhancing its off-road capabilities.
The color used on the SUV is called “desert storm military paint.” The front features a vertical grille. Carbon fiber covers 22.3% of the car, which includes the hood, roof, and side ladder racks. Additional exterior features include a roof expansion platform, multifunctional rear spare tire rack, front and rear metal bumpers, a 12,500-pound electric winch, and an RV tow bar. Various outdoor tools, including a fire axe, shovel, fuel tank, and fire extinguisher, are mounted on the sides and rear of the SUV.
The Dragon Armor Edition has a standard gray interior inspired by the Chinese dragon. It is also available in white and orange as an option. The interior has three large screens: a 15.6″ central control screen, a 12.3″ instrument panel, and a 12.3″ co-pilot panel. It also has Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. The interior trim can be upgraded to carbon fiber from wood grain material.
The SUV is available in both BEV and EREV versions. The BEV version has a four-motor drive system, delivering a total power output of 800 kW and 1400 Nm of torque that can accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. It offers a CLTC range of up to 505 km. The EREV version features a 1.5T engine with 145 kW as a range extender. This version has three motors with 600 kW combined power output and a peak torque of 1050 Nm. The mixed range reaches up to 1,032 km (CLTC). The M-Hero 917 is built on Dongfeng’s new M-Tech platform. It measures 4987/2080/1935 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2950 mm.
M-Hero, a brand under the state-owned Dongfeng, originated as a line of road-certified armored military vehicles. The M-Hero 917, an off-road electric SUV, launched in August 2023. It has been tested overseas for adaptability and has since been launched in Switzerland. This SUV passed the EU ECE and Middle East GSO vehicle certification. Dongfeng also planned to target Germany, France, and Norway in the EU and the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East for market trials. The impact of the newly imposed EU tariffs on Dongeng’s expansion into these countries in the EU remains to be seen.