In the current automotive market, the development of new energy vehicles is gaining momentum. Consumer awareness of environmental protection and energy conservation is constantly increasing. High-end hybrid new energy vehicles are gradually becoming the new favorite in the market. More and more traditional car companies are increasing their efforts in developing plug-in hybrids. As the products become more diverse, the vehicle prices are also further decreasing, giving consumers greater choice. The Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM is a good representative of this trend.
Recently, the Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM officially started pre-sale, offering a total of 4 models with a pre-sale price range of 172,800 to 222,800 yuan (30950$). Although the pre-sale price is only around 200,000 yuan (27780$), it has made a substantial impact on the sub-market with a 400,000 yuan (55560$) appearance. From the market perspective, the Lynk & Co 08 EM-P can be considered the direct competitor of the Yaoguang C-DM. Next, we will compare these two models to see who is the leader in the high-end hybrid market. Yaoguang C-DM is more sincere. Both models are positioned as mid-to-high-end new energy vehicles, and they strive to meet consumer expectations in terms of design and configuration. In comparison to the previous fuel version, the Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM does not have any significant changes, with features like the borderless front face, hidden door handles, sloping rear end, and continuous light group still being the car’s iconic design elements. Of course, it may also be due to the design of the fuel version, which is more innovative and leans towards new energy, making this style quite compatible with the plug-in hybrid version. This set of Atlantis design language has won the 2023 American IDA Design Gold Award.
The Lynk & Co 08 EM-P incorporates design elements from The Next Day in its exterior, with a through-style light strip in the front end that divides the front face in two, adding depth to the front end. The lower half of the front face features a concave polygonal air intake. The body’s side lines are clear and strong, and the roof has a slightly sloping design, bringing a good sense of sportiness and style.
The interior and configuration also demonstrate the positioning of the independent high-end brand, with both intelligent and comfortable configurations in place. The Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM uses a dual 12.3-inch screen combination to form a dual-screen structure, with the Lion 5.0 intelligent networking system and the Qualcomm 8155 intelligent cabin chip built into the car. Depending on the model configuration, the Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM also provides advanced configurations such as a 50-inch AR-HUD head-up display system, 5G network, and other advanced configurations to further enhance the luxury and comfort of the vehicle. The air quality is also richly configured, with AQS management system, PM2.5 filtration, fragrance system, making it one of the first formaldehyde-free cabin cars in China.
The interior of the Lynk 08 EM-P follows the family’s consistent style, with a central floating screen and a 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel. The central control screen is equipped with a high-performance chip independently developed by Geely, and the LYNK Flyme Auto intelligent connected car system co-developed with Meizu provides a smartphone-like operating experience. Practical functions such as GPS, multimedia, mobile interconnection, and car networking are all equipped to fully meet the daily needs of users.
Star Journey Yao Guang C-DM’s hybrid system has won the “China Heart” 2023 Top Ten Award for its focus on consumer power and endurance. It is equipped with a 1.5T plug-in hybrid system and a 3-speed DHT gearbox, with the 1.5T engine delivering 115KW of maximum power and 220N·m of maximum torque, ensuring strong power output. The engine’s thermal efficiency exceeds 44.5%. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a two-wheel drive dual motor and a four-wheel drive three motor system. The two-wheel drive version has a maximum total power of 270kW and a maximum total torque of 605 N·m.
The four-wheel drive model is matched with three motors, with a maximum total power of over 400 kW and a maximum total torque of over 900 N·m, achieving 0-100 km/h acceleration in the 4-second range. According to the more stringent WLTC test, the comprehensive range is 1300km\1343km, with a power consumption of 5.4L/100km. The Lynk 08 EM-P is equipped with EM-P plug-in hybrid technology, with a hybrid mode range of 1200km and 1400km in CLTC mode. In addition, the Lynk 08 also offers a 280kW single motor version and a four-wheel drive version with a comprehensive power of 436kW. However, the Lynk 08 EMP is promoted according to the CLTC standard for pure electric range, directly displaying the numbers in the product configuration name, while the Yao Guang C-DM is labeled according to the WLTC standard, which is closer to the real range. If labeled according to the CLTC standard, 100km and 200km would obviously have a better “appearance”, but Xingtu did not do this.
With a price of 202,800 yuan (28170$), the Yao Guang C-DM Long Endurance Pro competes against the 258,800 yuan (35950$) Lynk 08 Long Endurance Halo. In WLTC conditions, the pure electric endurance mileage of the two is similar, with similar configurations and dimensions. However, in terms of price, the Yao Guang C-DM is clearly more sincere. Luxury equality brings ultimate value for money. Behind the rapid growth of the domestic plug-in hybrid car market in 2023, there are a large number of unresolved real driving pain points, such as poor intelligence, poor endurance ability, and small space. Only the comfortable experience that can truly solve “zero anxiety in all scenarios” is what users need most in hybrid cars. According to the characteristics of plug-in hybrid models, the dual fuel and electricity replenishment method will better balance the convenience and economy needs. Relying on pure electricity for daily commuting reduces usage costs, and there is no endurance and replenishment anxiety for long distances. Especially in the previous actual tests, the Xingtu Yao Guang C-DM’s actual endurance exceeded 1400km+, effectively alleviating travel anxiety. In terms of fuel consumption, the Xingtu Yao Guang C-DM’s actual fuel consumption is 4.5L/100km, which can truly achieve zero anxiety for endurance in the subsequent use of the car.
At the same time, Xingtu did not blindly choose based on price or battery life, but started from the user’s needs to bring better value experience to the users. For example, compared to products such as the Lynk 08 EMP and Tang DM-i, the Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM still comes equipped with the Feiyu super-sensing chassis, inheriting common luxury car configurations such as the CDC electromagnetic suspension system, Soft Stop system, chassis hydraulic isolation system, and intelligent line control braking system, ensuring the comfort and luxury of driving and riding, with driving quality comparable to luxury joint venture SUVs priced at 400,000 yuan (55560$).
It is worth mentioning that the YaoGuang C-DM Flying Fish Super Sensing Chassis can also be upgraded via OTA, which means that the chassis system can be continuously optimized and improved through remote upgrades as technology advances and consumer demands change. This flexibility and scalability will enable the YaoGuang C-DM to maintain its leading driving experience in the future. In terms of safety, another highlight of the YaoGuang C-DM is that it meets the global N-CAP five-star collision standard, using high-strength steel + aluminum lightweight space cabin, a two-horizontal and three-vertical force transmission structure, and remote airbags to ensure full protection in the event of a collision. At the same time, the YaoGuang C-DM pays attention to air quality safety and has become one of the first zero-formaldehyde cabin cars in China.
As a leading domestic high-end new energy SUV, the Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM and the Lynk 08 EM-P both have excellent product quality, but the Xingtu Yaoguang C-DM excels in terms of value for money. In the case of similar size, range, and power configuration, the entry-level model of the Yaoguang C-DM is 36,000 lower than the Lynk 08 EMP. After considering the respective discounts, the price difference is still around 30,000. Although the configuration of the Lynk 08 EMP is higher, the entry threshold of the Yaoguang C-DM is obviously much lower, and it has lower fuel consumption, which can better meet the needs of users. “The value of a C-class car, at the price of a B-class car.” By bringing a 400,000 product into the 200,000 price range, the Yaoguang C-DM is once again leading the “luxury parity” trend. The cost-effectiveness and competitiveness of the Yaoguang C-DM are unquestionable, making it a rare new car with explosive potential in the high-end hybrid SUV market. I believe that after its launch, it will also reshape the market structure.