New Chinese brand Deepal has officially launched in SA this week with the start of sales of the S07 electric SUV. Deepal markets a range of SUVs and sedans and is the subsidiary of the China Changan Automobile Group Co Ltd — a Chinese central state-owned vehicle manufacturer founded in 1959 and headquartered in Jiangbei, Chongqing.
Changan and Deepal models are imported into SA independently through Jameel Motors, which recently opened a new headquarters in Menlyn, Pretoria and secured 25 dealer locations across SA.
The new Deepal S07 is a coupe SUV designed in Italy but engineered in the UK. It features frameless doors and concealed door handles, 20-inch alloy wheels and signature LED lighting. The interior is hallmarked by Chinese minimalism in surroundings inspired by Mediterranean yacht design, according to the brand.
A wraparound centre console, soft-touch materials and panel finishes meet with vegan leather covering the seats, a panoramic sunroof, a rotating 15.6-inch infotainment screen, voice and gesture control, augmented reality heads-up display, Wi-Fi and a mobile phone key as luxury amenities.
The Deepal S07 is powered by a full-electric drivetrain providing 160kW and 320Nm. The range is rated at 560km with a full charge in 15min from a fast charger. Safety is looked after by driver assistance, including lane-keeping assist, traffic and pedestrian detection and avoidance, adaptive cruise, multiple airbags and several collision warning systems.
Sensors, a 5400 high-definition full-image camera and driver-monitoring systems work in conjunction with the safety systems.
The Deepal S07 launches with a R995,900 price and a five-year/150,000KM warranty.