The Chinese Began Selling a Business Sedan One & a Half Times Cheaper Than the Kia K5 (PHOTO)

The Chinese began selling a business sedan one and a half times cheaper than the Kia K5. At the Guangzhou Motor Show, the Wuling Starlight was completely declassified: a budget, but not a simple four-door. We are talking about a hybrid car 4.8 meters long with an electric power reserve of 70-150 kilometers and a price from 94 to 110 thousand ¥ (equivalent to 13-15 thousand $). For comparison, the Kia K5 costs in China from 163 thousand ¥ (~23 thousand $).

The Wuling brand of the SAIC concern is known for its cheap commercial and urban models. However, the first-born in the business sedan segment and the first model with a rechargeable hybrid power plant debuted in Guangzhou. Under the hood is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine (106 horsepower, 130 Nm) with a thermal efficiency of 43.2 percent. Fuel consumption is 4.0-4.1 liters per 100 kilometers.

The equipment is up to par: the sedan has a leather interior, all-LED optics, a virtual instrument panel, a media system with a 15.6-inch touchscreen, electric mirrors, keyless entry, electrically adjustable front seats, a multifunction steering wheel and much more. The second row has plenty of legroom and a flat floor.

So far, only hybrid versions with 9.5 or 20.5 kilowatt-hour batteries have been announced. Under the hood is a 177-horsepower (320 Nm) electric motor, which is not connected to the wheels and operates as a generator. The maximum speed of the Wuling sedan is only 145 km/h, but the range is up to 1,100 kilometers, and the engine is adapted for AI-92 gasoline. Purely electric versions will be available in the future.