The range-extended vehicle evokes mixed feelings. People love its pure electric advantages and lack of range anxiety. They dislike its poor performance in depletion mode and its small battery with slow charging. Today, we introduce a model that may change your perception of range-extended vehicles: the Avita 12 range-extended version, equipped with the Kunlun range extension system.
Quickly understand the Avita 12 Range Extender in 1 minute: 1. The new car is now available for pre-sale. It will launch on November 2. Customers who place a deposit before the launch can enjoy a discount of 2,000 yuan (280$) on a 5,000 yuan (700$) deposit. 2. The car features the Kunlun range extender system. It addresses many industry pain points. For example, it improves performance during discharge. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds when fully charged and in 7.2 seconds during discharge. 3. The unique electronic oil supply system and active piston control technology enhance quietness. The car remains quiet even while the range extender operates. 4. The battery features the CATL “Xiao Yao Super Hybrid Battery.” It supports a 3C charging rate. Charging from 30% to 80% takes only 15 minutes. 5. Under WLTC conditions, fuel consumption during discharge drops to 5.8 L/100 km. 6. The design follows the electric version’s language. It maintains the “Future Elegance” design philosophy. The front now includes air vents to improve cooling efficiency. 7. The configuration optimizes features. The rear seats gain ventilation, massage functions, and independent control screens. The sound system upgrades to British audio brand JBL. 8. The chassis undergoes thorough tuning. It combines CDC and air suspension. This dual approach delivers an excellent driving experience.
Let’s review the appearance. The new car follows the design of the electric version. Its overall design concept, Future Elegance, looks very sci-fi. The car features a minimalist front without a grille. The curved LED light strip integrates with the triangular headlights.
The extended-range model adds vents to the lower front bumper for the range extender’s cooling. The center of the vent houses a lidar. Additionally, the front section features millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic radar, and many cameras.
The new car measures 5020mm in length, 1999mm in width, and 1460mm in height. Its wheelbase is 3020mm, matching the electric version. The side lines flow smoothly. The long hood and sloping roof give it a sporty look.
The rear features a windowless design. It uses streaming media for rear visibility. This design creates a strong sense of unity at the back. The full lines enhance its unique beauty. The taillights do not use a continuous design. Instead, they consist of two narrow light strips.
The interior of the Avita 12 range-extended version matches the pure electric version closely. The new car features a Gentle Tech minimalist design. The 35.4-inch 4K panoramic screen stands out. The front layout ensures better driving visibility. It also makes reading screen information easier. The central display shows driving-related information. The sides host the displays for the streaming side mirrors. The streaming side mirrors are practical but require time to adapt.
The main feature of the car system is a 15.6-inch floating central control screen. It runs on HarmonyOS, Huawei’s car operating system. We won’t elaborate on this. The operating feel, usage logic, functions, and overall UI design are top-notch. This car system sets the standard.
The new car upgrades its features. It adds a 16-inch ceiling screen for the rear seats. Rear passengers will enjoy a better entertainment experience.
The new car comes with British audio as standard. The high-end models feature up to 25 speakers and exceed 2000W in power. In practice, this audio system performs very well. Even I, an editor with limited music knowledge, can clearly appreciate its excellent sound quality.
In terms of space, the new car matches the pure electric version. The legroom is ample for a vehicle with a wheelbase over 3 meters. Notably, the Avita 12 collaborates with CATL to develop a recessed footrest design for the rear seats. The footrest area under the rear seats dips about 45mm. This design lowers the seating position by 20mm without raising the vehicle height or sacrificing battery ground clearance. The slightly upward-angled seat cushion adds to the overall comfort.
The central armrest in the rear integrates a display. This screen controls the heating, ventilation, and massage functions of the rear seats. The comfort of the rear seats has significantly improved compared to pure electric models.
The front seats offer comprehensive features. Both seats support one-touch zero gravity, heating, memory, massage, and ventilation. They also allow remote start. The seats adjust electrically in 16 ways, providing excellent comfort.
The Avita 12 features the Kunlun range extender system. It includes a new generation 1.5T dedicated range extender engine. This engine delivers 115kW of power. It boasts a class-leading thermal efficiency of 44.39% and an optimal fuel-electric conversion rate of 3.63kWh/L. The range extender provides a continuous power output of 70kW. Under WLTC conditions, it achieves a low fuel consumption of 5.8L/100km. This range extender can use 92-octane gasoline, reducing fuel costs by 6% compared to 95-octane gasoline.
At the beginning, we mentioned that this hybrid system solves many industry challenges. First, it addresses performance degradation in power-off mode. The Avita 12 extended range version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds when fully charged. In power-off mode, it takes 7.2 seconds. This degradation is unmatched in the industry. Most extended range models experience a 3-4 second delay in power-off mode, while the Avita 12 only sees a 0.5-second drop. This achievement relies on the battery. Avita Technology collaborates with CATL to create a super hybrid battery. It offers a peak discharge rate of 9C when fully charged. Even at low battery levels, it maintains a peak discharge rate of 7.7C. In power-off mode, it still provides significant discharge rates, ensuring the drive motor delivers substantial power output.
The new battery solves another industry pain point: charging speed. The new Xiaoyao Super Hybrid battery has a 3C charging rate. It takes only 15 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%. This speed surpasses many electric vehicles.
Unfortunately, our test drive vehicle was a nearly fully charged Avita 12 range extender. We did not experience its acceleration in a low battery state. In a fully charged state, the new car accelerates in about six seconds. This speed is not very fast for an electric vehicle, but it is sufficient. The car measures over five meters in length. It drives like a traditional large GT model. These cars do not focus on performance but offer a relaxed and comfortable experience.
One industry pain point is the intrusive range extender. Range extender owners know this well. When the range extender operates, it creates noticeable noise and vibration, impacting comfort significantly. This happens mainly because the range extender runs infrequently and lacks proper lubrication. Additionally, the piston position is not fixed during startup, making noise and vibration unavoidable. The Avita 12 range extender version addresses this issue. It features a unique electronic oil supply system, active control technology for the shutdown piston, and friction reduction and noise reduction technologies. As a result, the new car maintains excellent quietness even when the range extender operates. Reports indicate that the noise level inside the car reaches only 37.7 dBA, quieter than a household refrigerator.
We found the range extension system to be very subtle. Often, we couldn’t even sense it working. Whether during rapid acceleration or at high speeds, no annoying noise entered the cabin.
The Avita 12 extended version features a double wishbone independent front suspension. The rear suspension uses a multi-link independent design. The model we tested includes CDC dynamic damping control and air springs. It also employs skyhook control technology. This technology monitors the vertical motion of the vehicle and wheels in real time. It precisely matches the optimal damping force. This setup absorbs impacts from bumpy roads. Combined with excellent hardware, the overall suspension delivers outstanding comfort. Aside from a slightly long suspension travel, we found no notable drawbacks.
You can avoid this issue by selecting a driving mode or adjusting the shock absorber settings. When the shock absorber is in sport mode, the suspension travel becomes more compact.
The new car features Huawei’s ADS 3.0 smart driving system. This end-to-end system architecture provides a seamless smart driving experience from the starting point to the destination. In terms of smart driving hardware, the Avita 12 extended range version includes three LiDAR units, three millimeter-wave radars, eleven exterior cameras, two interior cameras, and twelve ultrasonic radars. The top-tier hardware combined with the leading smart driving system delivers an impressive experience. The smoothness, takeover frequency, and ability to handle complex road conditions are exceptional. In summary, the Avita 12 extended range version is a well-balanced model. It is easy to drive, spacious, and well-equipped. It also offers a top-notch vehicle system and smart driving features. If I had a personal wish, it would be for better performance. The six-second acceleration is sufficient, but the sharp design deserves more power. Most importantly, it shows users that even extended range vehicles can provide such a great experience.