Chinese Automaker Dongfeng Reveals the eπ 007: A Tesla Rival on a Budget

Chinese automaker Dongfeng eπ 007

Dongfeng Motors is a reasonably large automobile company in China. South Korea is well-known for its partnership with Kia, establishing Dongfeng Yueda Kia. Like many large Chinese automakers, Dongfeng has several sub-brands, one of which is the electric vehicle brand eπ.

Recently, eπ unveiled a new car named 007. The design is eye-catching and significantly cheaper than its competitor, the Tesla Model 3.

A Sonata-class sedan equipped with scissor doors

The eπ 007 is a mid-sized electric sedan model that competes with the Tesla Model 3. Looking at the exterior, the front is designed with a low bonnet and separate headlamps are attached. There is also an air curtain below the headlights.

The sides feature a coupe-style roof and apply frameless doors, making it a four-door coupe. Another notable feature is that the front doors are equipped with scissor doors, typically found on Lamborghini. The rear features a horizontal tail light.

Available as a series hybrid model and a pure electric vehicle

The powertrain of the 007 is as follows. The range extender model comes with a series hybrid system. A single motor is installed, delivering 215 horsepower, and comes with a 28.39 kWh battery. Additionally, it has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine for power generation. It can travel about 200 kilometers (124 miles) with the battery alone, and if you use gasoline fuel, it can go up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), making a total range of up to 1,200 kilometers (746 miles).

The pure electric vehicle model is divided into three trims. The base model has a single motor delivering 215 horsepower and a 56.83 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The driving range is 529 kilometers (329 miles). The mid-range trim has a maximum output of 268 horsepower, and the battery is also increased to 70.26 kWh. The driving range is 619 kilometers (385 miles).

The top trim has a dual motor, delivering 536 horsepower, and the battery is the same, at 70.26 kWh. The driving range is reduced to 540 kilometers (335 miles) as the performance has improved. However, remember that this is a Chinese standard driving range, which is more generous than the WLTP standard.

Starting price at $22,000
More cost-effective than Model 3

The eπ 007 starts at 159,000 yuan, or $22,000. Even with the addition of advanced ADAS options, facial recognition door unlock, 20-speaker sound system, 64-color ambient light, and a folding dashboard, the price is only around $25,000.

Considering that the Model 3 starts at $35,680 in China, it is cost-effective. Even if you choose the mid-high trim, it has a price competitiveness that can compete with the basic model of Tesla’s Model 3.