Author: Tian Hui
Self-owned brand once again challenges the 300,000 yuan high-end car market.
In the trend of self-owned brand high-endization, Dongfeng Group’s Voyah brand can be described as emerging, and last summer, in a press conference in the scorching sun of Wuhan, Voyah was brought to consumers’ attention.
With an independent, unrestricted operating team and newly developed products based on the competition route of extended-range hybrid and pure electric vehicles, Voyah’s birth is impressive.
Voyah’s first car model, Voyah FREE, also boasts impressive performance and configuration: 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds, air suspension, and adjustable transparent panoramic sunroof, all being rare configurations in the market.
Such a medium-sized pure electric SUV with impressive performance and configuration has a pre-sale price of only 313,600 yuan, and a price of only 336,600 yuan after choosing the luxury package, making the cost-performance ratio quite high.
Voyah FREE’s goal is clear, to create a “Three Highs” high-end car at the 300,000 yuan level with high performance, high configuration, and high cost-effectiveness.
Can Voyah FREE achieve both performance and configuration while maintaining its cost-effectiveness? With this question, Electric Car Observer conducted a test drive of Voyah FREE in Wuhan’s hot summer.
Air suspension and adjustable panoramic sunroof are amazing
Voyah FREE can be equipped with an air suspension system, which has an adjustable stroke range of up to 100 mm.
Adjustment process of air suspension
Voyah FREE is the first car model in the 300,000 yuan price range to have air suspension, which is a configuration that can significantly improve vehicle performance and expand its use scenarios.
Through the air suspension system, Voyah FREE can balance its off-road performance and sports performance.
Depending on the road conditions and driving mode, Voyah FREE’s air suspension can be adjusted to be high or low. In off-road mode, the suspension is adjusted to its highest state, and the ground clearance can meet the needs of general unpaved roads.
In sport mode, the air suspension of the Voyah FREE adjusts the body posture to the lowest, improving the stability of high-speed driving.
Among same-price models, the Voyah FREE is the first to have an air suspension, and there is no same-price hybrid model with similar functions yet. While there are many models equipped with air suspensions in the same level, the price is generally above 400,000 yuan.
The Voyah FREE is the only air suspension extended-range hybrid model priced at 300,000 yuan.
Another exclusive feature of the Voyah FREE is the adjustable full panorama sunroof.
The full panorama sunroof of the Voyah FREE uses the same electronic fogging technology as the Boeing 787. The transparency can be controlled in the car system and has 10 levels of adjustment.
On the test drive day, Wuhan was cloudy, and the overhead temperature was in the comfortable range after setting the sunroof to be fully transparent. According to official information, the full panorama sunroof with electronic fogging technology has a UV isolation rate of 99%.
Luxury texture from the inside out
The Voyah FREE adopts a yacht-style outline.
The front part of the car adopts the family design style, equipped with through-type LED daytime running lights, and the LOGO on the front of the car can be lit at night, which is highly recognizable when integrated with the daytime running lights.
The yacht-style waistline is applied to the 4.9-meter-long Voyah FREE, presenting a good visual experience. The application of multiple subsidiary wheel hubs adds a touch of luxury to the Voyah FREE.
The Voyah FREE also adopts a through-type taillight design at the rear, and the taillight lighting effect is like a Peng spreading its wings.
Voyah FREE uses alphabet logo on the tail, which is in line with its high-end brand positioning.
In terms of interior design, Voyah FREE also adopts a yacht-style interior design, which echoes the exterior design style.
It is worth mentioning that the center console of Voyah FREE uses dynamic design and can be adjusted in height.
In different driving modes, the center console adjusts to different heights, giving the driver a different driving experience.
In sport mode, the center console will drop to its lowest position, and the air suspension will also adjust to its lowest position. At the visual level alone, Voyah FREE can give the driver a strong sports feel.
In normal mode, the center console rises, and the three LCD screens can display more information, improving comfort.
In terms of interior detail design, Voyah FREE has some ingenious designs. The center console with asymmetric opening, and the seats certified by OEKE-TEX infant level materials, make Voyah FREE lead the opponents in creating luxury feeling.
In terms of interior configuration, the addition of the Dynaudio sound system is undoubtedly the most enjoyable feature.
In terms of configuration and details, Voyah FREE did not disappoint. The whole car not only provides multiple USB interfaces and a wireless charging panel for mobile phones, but also provides a TYPE-C interface with a power output of up to 60W for rear passengers to power their laptops.
## Low-key Performance
In terms of materials, the LanTu FREE maintains the level of luxury cars. Soft materials are used to wrap most locations on the front door panel except the wood decorative strip.
In terms of space, the LanTu FREE, with a length of 4.9 meters and a wheelbase of 2.96 meters, can provide comfortable seating for adults up to 1.8 meters tall in terms of longitudinal, transverse or vertical space.
The protrusion in the middle of the rear floor is not serious, even with three passengers in the rear seat, it still provides comfortable seating.
The motor’s output power for the LanTu FREE reaches up to 510 kW.
As for power, the LanTu FREE four-wheel-drive model adopts front and rear dual-inductive motors with a total output power of 510 kW and a maximum output torque of 1040 Nm, equivalent to a supercar.
During the test drive, the LanTu FREE underwent tests such as straight-line acceleration, slalom and roundabout driving.
In straight-line acceleration, the LanTu FREE is adjusted to sport mode. The air suspension is lowered to its lowest setting, and the center console is also lowered. The pedal response rate is adjusted to the most sensitive state by the system.
As the red signal light goes off, the accelerator pedal of the LanTu FREE is pressed to the floor. The front and rear induction motors propel the LanTu FREE to burst out of the starting line. However, one-tenth of a second later, the torque of the induction motor is released. The strong thrust pushes the driver against the backrest.
Compared with the permanent magnet synchronous motor model, the LanTu FREE equipped with an induction motor provides a longer-lasting and stronger sports sensation throughout the entire 0-100 km/h acceleration process.
In slalom, the LanTu FREE enters and exits turns crisply, giving no impression of being an SUV model with a weight of more than 2 tons.
During the high-speed circular test drive, the air suspension of the Voyah Free provided excellent lateral support, whether in large or double eight-ring test drives. Even when the tires made a noise, the Voyah Free still gave the driver strong confidence.
Throughout the on-site test drive, the chassis quality of the Voyah Free was fully displayed.
The suspension of the Voyah Free adopts a front double-wishbone and a rear multi-link design, with materials made of high-strength aluminum alloy.
This already powerful front and rear suspension design, combined with the air spring suspension, further enhances the chassis quality of the Voyah Free.
During on-site driving, it provides strong feedback to the driver and a strong sense of motion, which is not surprising.
During the road test drive, the driving mode of the Voyah Free was adjusted to comfort, and the air suspension raised the body to a relatively high state.
During the entire road test drive, when the Voyah Free went over a bumpy asphalt road, the air suspension could filter out most of the vibration, and the slight vibrations transmitted to the seat were absorbed by the soft seat cushions. Passengers could barely feel vibration.
Regarding NVH, the Voyah Free performs well, with no significant front or rear noise during idle or high-speed driving. Even when the range extender is started, it is difficult to feel the vibration and noise from the 1.5T four-cylinder range extender inside the Voyah Free.
Driving the Voyah Free in comfort mode is an enjoyable experience with nimble steering response and quick power delivery, and the power system has the quiet and smooth characteristics of a pure electric vehicle.
Intelligentization Will Continue to Improve
The trial car provided by Voyah is not in its final production state, and the vehicle system will continue to be optimized and upgraded in the final product.
The planned intelligent cockpit features of the Voyah Free are rich, including functions such as facial recognition and voiceprint recognition, and supports voice and gesture interaction.
Voyah has divided the intelligent cockpit system according to different scenarios, providing functions such as awakening mode and child care mode.
In terms of autonomous driving, the Voyah Free provides up to 23 functions.
The Voyah Free is equipped with 24 sensors in total, including 3 millimeter-wave radars, 9 cameras, and 12 ultrasonic radars throughout the vehicle.In terms of functions, the Voyah FREE supports various warning features such as F/RCW front and rear collision warning, FVSR front vehicle start reminder, and DOW door opening warning.
In terms of intelligent driving assistance features, the Voyah FREE has TJA traffic congestion assistance, HWA highway assistance, ICA intelligent cruise assistance, AEB automatic braking system, LCC lane centering system, ACC full-speed range adaptive cruise system, and F-APA full-vision fusion automatic parking system.
During the test drive, the lane centering function of the Voyah FREE was excellent, with no issues in lane recognition and centering on highways and city expressways. When passing through traffic lights, the Voyah FREE quickly re-recognized lane lines after passing through the intersection.
The F-APA full-vision fusion automatic parking function is also a highlight of the Voyah FREE. In addition to routine horizontal and vertical parking, the Voyah FREE also supports front-end parking and diagonal parking.
In the future, the Voyah FREE will be improved in terms of intelligent cockpit and intelligent driving assistance through OTA function.
Awaiting Market Verification
There are few successful examples of domestic brands making high-end cars.
In the traditional fuel vehicle market, joint venture brands have built a competitive barrier against domestic brands through superior product combinations, technological capabilities, and brand reputation.
Once a competitive barrier is established, it is difficult to break, which is also the main reason why domestic brands find it difficult to compete in the high-end market.
However, in the new energy vehicle field, domestic brands have the opportunity to fully leverage their strengths.
Without the negative burden of fuel vehicles, domestic brands even have a first-mover advantage in the new energy vehicle market.
Without the burden of construction and qualification costs, Voyah effortlessly saved billions in manufacturing costs and invested that money into research and development, backed by the advantages of Dongfeng Group’s scale effects to lead in cost control.
With its comprehensive advantages, the Voyah brand’s first model, the Voyah FREE, with its “Three High Flow” of high configuration, high performance, and high cost-effectiveness, is poised to make an impact in the high-end car market.
After driving the car, the Voyah FREE left a deep impression with its luxurious sensation, power, and chassis quality. Additionally, its intelligent and driving assistance system will gradually be implemented through OTA technology.
On the surface, the Voyah FREE has no major deficiencies, and its price point of over 300,000 yuan is not expensive. However, for a high-end car with a price tag of over 300,000 yuan, impeccable initial production is not enough. Voyah FREE also needs to focus on quality control, deliver high-quality batch products, and provide excellent pre-sale and after-sale services to provide consumers with a superior experience. In other words, the value of a car priced over 300,000 yuan depends on the entire process of the automaker. Consumers at this level are not just buying a car.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.