At the 2023 Chery Technology Day, Chery Group presented a series of achievements from the “Yao Guang 2025 Strategy” and announced the launch of 24 super hybrid and 15 E0X high-end electric new products within 2 years, entering a new era of new energy and global intelligence.
The new M3X super hybrid platform, based on the “Mars architecture”, was launched by Xingtu, positioning itself as a global high-end brand for intelligent new energy vehicles. The first model born from this platform, the Yao Guang C-DM, will be launched in the first quarter of 2024. Xingtu, as Chery’s new super hybrid platform, also held an analysis meeting. Let’s take a look at the highlights of this M3X super hybrid native hybrid platform. Global coverage The M3X super hybrid platform integrates 26 years of Chery’s technological exploration and top global resources, based on leading intelligent chassis, electronic and electrical architecture, and core technological advantages such as “new three major components”, to build a global super comfortable hybrid platform for the mid-to-high-end new energy market.
In the early stages of the M3X super hybrid platform, the goal was to cover global market demand, benchmarking luxury brand standards. It underwent adaptive testing for high heat, high humidity, high cold, and high efficiency in representative countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, the Middle East, Germany, and China, ensuring leading technology quality and stability. For example, the vehicle’s waterproof performance was developed three times higher than the national standard, and the battery pack’s waterproof performance reached 48 times the national standard. All vehicle systems, including the battery, meet the requirements of an ultra-wide temperature range of “as low as -35℃, as high as 60℃.” High flexibility and expandability.
In addition, the M3X super hybrid platform was designed with the layout of the three-electric system in mind, and has high flexibility. It can switch freely between a vehicle length of 4750-5100mm and a wheelbase of 2750-2900mm. The total vehicle weight is 1850kg-2240kg. The battery reserved space is 1600mm, with a capacity of 18-35kWh. The product matrix can cover SUV, MPV, SD and other variable models, with power systems including PHEV and REEV, and compatible with ICE. It also provides various power forms such as front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive, meeting the diverse and personalized development needs of users in the era of native hybridization. Power and energy consumption in one.
In terms of powertrain, the native hybrid system will adapt to the power form of “front-wheel drive dual-motor 3-speed and 4-wheel drive 3-motor”. The front-wheel drive model accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, and the electric four-wheel drive model can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 4.26 seconds. In terms of range, it can achieve a pure electric range of 168 km, a comprehensive range of 1300 km, and can be recharged to 50% in 20 minutes, expanding the width of life for users at any time.
The M3X super hybrid platform will be equipped with the fifth-generation ACTECO 1.5TGDI high-efficiency hybrid engine, with a maximum power of 115kW and a maximum torque of 220N·m. The compression ratio is as high as 14.5:1, and it can operate efficiently in the 1000-5500rpm range.
In terms of technology, the engine adopts deep Miller cycle, 4th generation i-HEC intelligent combustion system, HTC efficient boosting system, LS intelligent lubrication system and i-HTM intelligent thermal management system. Its thermal efficiency reaches 44.5%, which has obvious advantages over Japanese products in terms of efficiency, and it is currently a top-level product developed independently. It is worth mentioning that this hybrid-specific engine also supports 92 octane fuel, maintenance every 10,000 kilometers, and fuel consumption of only 5.4L/100km, significantly improving the daily economy for users.
In addition, this hybrid system is equipped with a 3DHT hybrid-specific transmission, the maximum power of the drive motor can reach 165kW, the maximum input torque is 510N·m, and the wheel-end output torque is 4000N·m, with a transmission efficiency of 97.6%, and a four-wheel drive response time of 0.01s, which can withstand greater torque than traditional transmissions.
Official data shows that this combination can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 4.26 seconds, 30-70km/h in 2.3 seconds, and 90-120km/h in 2.8 seconds. The top speed can reach 240km/h, and it can maintain a speed of over 180km/h even in low battery conditions. In real-world scenarios, this system has undergone 200,000 comprehensive simulations in harsh environments globally, ensuring excellent driving reliability in nine major scenarios such as morning rush hour traffic, full throttle acceleration, emergency braking, and long-distance high-speed driving. Ultimate comfort is what the M3X super hybrid platform aims for.
The M3X super hybrid platform is born high-end, built with the best native hybrid technology to bring users the ultimate super comfortable experience. The electromagnetic suspension system at the core of the flying fish chassis, combined with the electric hybrid system, reduces bumps by 40%, lowers head-up at startup by 36%, reduces head nodding at braking by 30%, and decreases body lean by 5%. In addition, combined with the queen’s co-pilot and other functions, it comprehensively achieves a comfortable upgrade. More importantly, the integration of EEA electronic electrical architecture in the four major domains of power, body, cabin, and intelligent driving supports OTA upgrades, bringing a constantly comfortable driving experience. Creating world-class safety standards Safety is the DNA of Star Journey. Based on the M3X super hybrid platform, the vehicle is built according to the global N-CAP five-star standard, using a lightweight space capsule design of high-strength steel + aluminum, and a two-horizontal and three-vertical force transmission structure to provide users with a golden protection.
Battery safety is the threshold for high-end, and the M3X super hybrid platform is also designed with strict standards for the safety of new energy vehicles. For example: the battery is arranged in a centrally symmetrical manner, with added protective and insulation plates around it. The vehicle body has added lateral protection reinforcement and threshold energy-absorbing structures, so that even in the event of extreme collisions, the battery core can remain uncrushed and undistorted. It is worth mentioning that the M3X super hybrid platform will be the first to be equipped with the latest M3P high-safety battery from CATL, which has 3 layers of high-strength protective plates and can withstand 10 tons of pressure on the side beams without deformation under extreme conditions. At the same time, with a new ratio of battery cell elements, the thermal stability has been improved by 50%, and a 2ms battery power-off protection has been added, ensuring that the battery does not lose control or spread heat in the event of an accident, thus guaranteeing battery safety from the source. YaoGuang C-DM’s mass testing plan begins.
To further verify the native hybrid power of the M3X ultra-hybrid platform, Xingtu officially launched the “Yao Guang C-DM Mass Testing” plan at the press conference. The plan will take the first model of the platform, the Yao Guang C-DM, as the test object, and widely gather users, media, cross-border KOLs from different industries and different car usage needs across the country. Through projects covering extreme challenges, reliable testing, performance testing, etc., it will temper the native quality of the M3X ultra-hybrid platform, and truly evaluate it without fear of challenges. This is undoubtedly the best embodiment of Xingtu’s brand spirit of “daring to surpass”. Looking ahead to 2024, the horn for a comprehensive impact on the new energy track will be sounded.
In terms of sales, Xingtu brand has been growing positively for 10 consecutive months, with sales exceeding 10,000 for 5 months in a row. In November 2023, sales reached 15,296 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 173.3%. From January to November 2023, total sales reached 111,352 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 129.5%. The average selling price per vehicle exceeds 172,000 yuan (24070$).
In 2024, Star Road will sound the horn to impact the new energy track, accelerate the construction of the 445 product matrix, adhere to long-termism, and create a global high-end new energy brand. As Huang Zhaogen, Assistant General Manager of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. and General Manager of EXEED Star Road Marketing Center, said at the event, “It is expected that by 2024, Star Road will achieve a sales structure of 30% fuel + 40% hybrid + 30% pure electric.” Starting with the C-DM of Yao Guang, which was listed in the first quarter, the future M3X super hybrid platform will successively launch a series of high-quality and diverse native hybrid models, bringing consumers a value experience of “always exceeding expectations, always surprising”.