On August 5th, Roewe held a brand event with the theme “Peak Cloud Rise and National Tide Prosperity”, where Roewe officially released the third generation Roewe RX5 and the plug-in hybrid version eRX5. The RX5 sells for 117,900-155,900 yuan, and the eRX5 sells for 153,900-165,900 yuan.

The dimensions of the third-generation Roewe RX5/eRX5 are 4,655 x 1,890 x 1,655mm and a wheelbase of 2,765mm, which is 57mm larger than the current model and slightly ahead of similar competitors.

Regarding power, the gasoline-powered RX5 is equipped with a SAIC BlueCore 1.5T turbocharged engine and a DM21 PLUS automatic transmission, with a maximum power of 188 hp and a peak torque of 300 Nm. The hybrid eRX5 adds the Super Electric Drive Unit (EDU) G2 Plus system, with a maximum power of 432 hp, maximum torque of 570 Nm, and acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. The suspension adopts a front MacPherson and rear multi-link system.

In terms of range, the official promotion claims that when the fuel and electricity are fully charged, the eRX5 has a mileage of 1,483km and a fuel consumption of only 1.4L/100km, showing good fuel economy.

As for the exterior and interior, Roewe’s designers added many Eastern elements this time. For example:

• The body side surface is inspired by silk;
• The grille is inspired by the phoenix;
• The protrusions on the grille are inspired by phoenix feathers;
• The overall vehicle design is “rear seat”, creating a dynamic visual effect.

As for the interior, RX5 not only has Chinese elements, but also has significant intelligent upgrades:

• It features a seamless 27-inch 4K resolution large screen, which can slide to the right for 300 mm, with an UI design featuring eastern themes;
• The screen sliding and UI are linked, so when the screen moves to the right, the driving information will move to the left;
• The center console is designed in minimalist style, and the crystal gearshift knob has a carved landscape scene inside.

Additionally, Roewe has adopted the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 in-vehicle infotainment chip, with FOTA upgrade capability.

In terms of intelligent driving, Roewe RX5 is equipped with three Horizon Robotics self-developed Journey 3 chips, with 28 sensors including an 8 million pixel front camera, high-precision positioning module, ultrasonic radar, and millimeter-wave radar. According to official announcements, it can achieve “NGP assisted driving function via navigation” and “all-round parking function”. In addition, the steering wheel adopts an electro-capacitive steering wheel, which achieves a basic sense of assistive driving without feeling.

Moreover, Roewe has also prepared the following benefits:

• Interest-free payment for 36 months;
• Up to 4,000 yuan in subsidy for exchanging old cars and buying a new RX5;
• Free lifetime basic data traffic;
• Lifetime warranty for critical parts;
• A package of basic maintenance worth 8,888 yuan for only 888 yuan;
• Free home charging piles and installation services.

For those who preorder, there are additional benefits: a deposit of 2,000 yuan can enjoy a 4,000 yuan car voucher, as well as trade-in subsidies, free upgrade to 20-inch wheels, lifetime basic maintenance, and three-year free data traffic.

New Architecture/Platform Release

At this launch event, Roewe also released two major vehicle technology platforms: “Zhufeng Electromechanical Integration Architecture” and “Starry Sky Pure Electric Exclusive System Platform“.

The Zhufeng Architecture is a vehicle technology platform built by SAIC Motor based on global standards, achieving full coverage from compact to mid-to-high-end models with a full-size bandwidth of 500mm wheelbase, 150mm tread width, and 350mm height width. It covers all categories from sedans, SUVs to MPVs and all styles from primary family cars, sports cars to off-road vehicles.

With the “Dual-source Multi-Core” technology, the Zhufeng Architecture provides 10 power combinations, including 5 engine and automatic transmission systems and 5 engine and electric motor drive systems to offer users a worry-free driving experience.

The Zhufeng Architecture uses a new-generation electronic and electrical architecture that includes a central computing platform and regional integrated control. This platform provides vehicles with superior perception, computing power, and interaction capabilities, empowering the intelligent network connection, smart driving, smart cockpit, and intelligent vehicle control. It also supports the continuous upgrading and evolution of all modules such as in-vehicle systems, smart driving, and vehicle control.

The Zhufeng Architecture is designed according to the global highest safety standards such as C-NCAP/E-NCAP five-star rating and IIHS excellence to provide “Super Five-Star Safety Protection,” ensuring comprehensive protection for drivers and passengers.

The Zhufeng Architecture follows the “Low Center of Gravity” development concept, and the chassis suspension system has been fully iterated and upgraded to achieve excellent vehicle handling performance. The front suspension adopts the optimized and tuned MacPherson full-frame independent suspension, providing excellent straight-line driving and steering ability. The rear suspension uses a adjustable isolating multi-link with a larger rear wheel off-compensation design, effectively improving the vehicle’s handling performance. The turning radius uses a sporty turning ratio setting, making it more sensitive, precise, and light.

# Zhufeng architecture
Zhufeng architecture adopts the full-link innovative technology of “noise reduction at the source, path isolation and response hysteresis” to improve the quietness of the vehicle and make the overall modal of the vehicle body reach above 50Hz. At the same time, based on the design principle of “the smallest mechanical space and the largest seating space,” the models created with Zhufeng architecture can obtain a larger interior space.

Nebula Systematic Platform

Nebula Systematic Platform is the carrier of SAIC’s electrification strategy and technology, and will become the “pillar of creation” for Chinese Roewe pure electric vehicles. Based on the development concept of “gradient, scalable and iteratively upgradeable,” the Nebula Platform has created a series of pure electric products with performance gradient, intelligence gradient and cost gradient.

The Nebula Platform, with the 3 exclusive features of “ultra-thin flat battery module, long wheelbase, front and rear drive,” and the 4 ultimate spaces of “maximum comfort space for drivers and passengers, dynamic design space, maximum battery safety space, and large car size with small footprint,” from 51 degrees to 150 degrees of the Rubik’s Cube battery’s 10-level energy gradient, strong and efficient green core electric drive’s 10-level power gradient, and the “super safety, super performance, and super intelligence” three-in-one capability, continues to create an intelligent mobile space for the future and help users expand their life scenarios.

The Nebula Systematic Platform has built a “soft-hard-everywhere” all-dimensional super-safety systematic platform from battery safety, vehicle safety, network and data security to intelligent active safety. In terms of battery safety, the Rubik’s Cube battery adopts a combination of forward-looking technologies such as “precharge, pre-discharge, horizontal, isolation, and sparse,” and has L0-level anti-thermal runaway technology. It realizes a 50-degree high-temperature module and multiple punctures without thermal runaway. In terms of network and data security, the Nebula Systematic Platform adopts a combination of “cloud, management, vehicle, and edge” software and hardware security strategies to build a global network security protection system that meets the requirements of national standards and various United Nations safety regulations.

To provide users with a super-performance driving experience, SAIC Roewe’s Nebula System Platform has achieved the goals pursued by performance luxury car models, such as a low center of gravity, even distribution of front/rear and left/right loads, and a 50:50 front/rear axle load distribution, bringing a top-level driving experience that integrates man and car. It can achieve millisecond-level electric braking and a stopping distance of approximately 32 meters. The small turning radius allows for flexible maneuverability, with a turning radius of just 5.4 meters for medium-sized cars with a 3100mm wheelbase, comparable to the handling performance of compact two-door cars. It provides lateral acceleration close to 1g, offering ultra-high cornering stability and a driving experience that exceeds that of high-performance gasoline-powered cars.

The Nebula System Platform supports gradient-based intelligent requirements through its gradient-based electronic and electrical architecture. It overlays computing platforms, software platforms, and intelligent cloud platforms and can employ third-generation Galaxy Full Stack solutions, L3-level advanced intelligent driving capabilities, and the Triad, among other forward-looking digital technologies to provide users with a cabin-driving integrated digital experience product. The third-generation Galaxy Full Stack solution relies on a central computing and regional control architecture, cabin-driving-integrated high-performance computing platform, and integration of intelligent automobile and IoT ecosystems to provide users with a seamless experience equivalent to that of new force brand models.

Final Words

From the information presented at this press conference, the release of the new “Zhufeng” and “Nebula” architectures represents SAIC Roewe’s determination to further explore the fields of hybrid and pure electric vehicles.

Compared with the old model, the third-generation new Roewe RX5 is a comprehensive upgrade, with new exterior design, a large central control screen, and hardware upgrades to assisted driving systems, providing certain advantages over its counterparts at the same price range.

With the SAIC super hybrid technology equipped in the eRX5, in an era where fuel prices have exceeded RMB 9 yuan (approximately USD 1.4) per liter, the car maintains a competitive edge compared to hybrid models in the same class. Furthermore, the benefit packages and prices announced at the end indicate that Roewe has indeed made a sincere effort, with a starting price of RMB 117,900 (approximately USD 18,373) for gasoline models, which is even lower than the presale price of RMB 120,000( approximately USD 18,685). It is believed that when this car is delivered on a large scale, it will achieve good sales results.

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.