Introduction to WM Motor E.5
By Shidi
Recently, WM Motor’s first sedan, the WM Motor E.5, was officially launched. The new car offers two models, with a price range of 150,100 to 160,100 yuan. The official statement is that the WM Motor E.5 is mainly targeted at the B-side market and is not currently sold to private consumers. Even so, we have provided a detailed static experience of the WM Motor E.5 for many online car drivers and passengers at the first time.
Quick overview of WM Motor E.5
- WM Motor E.5 offers two models, iKexing and zhiKexing, with prices of 150,100 and 160,100 yuan.
- The biggest difference between the two versions is whether the car is equipped with a 12.3-inch suspended intelligent central control screen, related interactive functions, a multifunctional steering wheel, and a segmented and non-openable sunroof.
- The entire lineup is equipped with a 58.59 kWh ternary lithium battery with a range of up to 505 km.
- The entire lineup is equipped with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 120 kW and a maximum torque of 240 Nm.
Design Principles for the First Sedan
The WM Motor E.5 is the first sedan under the WM brand and is notably different from the SUV family previously produced by WM. The new car adopts a simple and atmospheric design style, and the smooth and straight lines outline the contours of the entire vehicle.
In the front of the car, a black decorative strip connects the left and right headlights and is integrated with the lower edge of the front hood. At the same time, a circular ring design is added to the WM logo in the center of the front to highlight its identity as a product targeted at the B-side market.
The two-sided lights adopt a completely new design, with all models featuring halogen high and low beam headlights and the top model adding LED daytime running lights.
The side uses a relatively conventional design, and the dual waistline layout gives the vehicle a more imposing visual effect. In terms of body size, the new car has a length, width, and height of 4718/1838 / 1535 mm, and a wheelbase of 2810 mm.
The entry-level model of WM Motor’s E.5 comes equipped with 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels (upgraded to 18 inches in the top model), paired with 215/60 R17 (225/60 R18) Chaoyang tires.
The rear design is simple, with a black decorative strip running through to the tail lamp eyebrow, echoing the front face.
Simplistic and Practical Interior
Regarding the interior, the new car adopts an extremely simple layout. Because the experience is of the entry-level model, there is no large center console screen (the screen in the picture was added later), giving a more traditional overall feel for the center console layout, which also seems to lack a bit of technology. However, considering that the car is mainly aimed at the ride-hailing market, it is indeed impossible to compare the technology with the average household car.
The entry-level model comes with a single three-spoke steering wheel while the top model upgrades to a multifunctional steering wheel. This is not hard to understand because the entry-level model has no “entertainment” value, and even a multifunctional steering wheel is meaningless.
The entire series comes standard with a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel, which salvages a bit of face for the vehicle and provides enough information to provide convenience to the driver.
Below the center console is a large number physical buttons, which also conforms to the habits of B-side users.
However, there is only one USB port in the original center console screen position of the front row throughout the entire car, which means that there are no other USB interfaces if the driver adds a center console screen later. Even though the car comes with a 12 V cigarette lighter interface that can expand the USB port, this requires the precondition that the interface is not needed to provide power for the added center console screen. Therefore, this is not thoughtful enough for ride-hailing drivers who need to maintain a certain level of phone battery life at all times.
The WEY E.5 is equipped with a knob-style gear shift, and the buttons for functions such as electronic parking brake and auto hold are also located under the gear lever, which is similar to most other models.
The top-level models are equipped with a segmented sunroof that cannot be opened, while the low-level models do not have a sunroof.
The low-level models’ seats are made of synthetic leather, while the high-level models are a mix of leather and fabric. However, in terms of actual riding experience, the seat’s padding is soft, and the wrap is good, which to some extent reduces driver fatigue and increases passenger comfort. In addition, all front seats in the entire series are manually adjustable.
The space performance is in line with its positioning
The WEY E.5 has enough space for daily storage needs, such as the front central armrest box, front cup holder, glove box, and so on.
I am 178 cm tall and adjusted the seat to the lowest position, which is my personal preferred sitting position. At this time, there is still a fist and two fingers of headroom left (touching the edge of the interior panel), which performs well in the same level.
The advantage of the long wheelbase is fully reflected, and the rear space performance is quite good. The angle of the seat back is moderate and not too steep, and the cushion length is just right to support the entire thigh.
Although there is a certain bump in the middle of the rear seat floor, it is not a big problem for three adults to occasionally ride in the rear seat, and the rear seat does not support folding.
The trunk space is standard without a tire. The tools such as the air pump and tire repair liquid for emergencies are located under the cover.
Max Range 505 km / Fast Charging Compatible
The Weima E.5 comes with a front permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 120 kW. Its top speed is 170 km/h, and it has a maximum torque of 240 N·m.
The standard suspension for the entire lineup is a front MacPherson and a rear cross-section longitudinal arm torsion beam.
All DC and AC charging interfaces are located on the left rear fender. The entire lineup has a 58.89 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a range of 505 km. The battery can be charged to 80% in 40 minutes using a DC fast charger.
Summary
For ride-hailing drivers, they need a vehicle that has a long range and can be charged quickly. This is helpful for them to provide better passenger services. In this aspect, the Weima E.5 solves the driver’s concerns.
On the other hand, some details, such as the USB interface, may not fully meet the driver’s needs.
For passengers, the space and comfort of their seats will affect their impressions of the car. From the passenger’s perspective, the Weima E.5 left me with a good impression of the actual experience.
In summary, the Weima E.5, born for the ride-hailing market, is indeed able to cater to the needs of both drivers and passengers in accordance with its positioning standards. Whether it can help increase the brand awareness of Weima remains to be seen.
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.