Author | Tian Hui
Editor | Zhu Shiyun
If you had 100,000 yuan, what pure electric car would you buy?
Cars with long range have poor configurations. Cars with high configurations have short ranges. Cars with good configurations and ranges are too expensive.
Isn’t there a vehicle at the 100,000 yuan price point that has strong overall performance and a higher cost performance ratio?
There is. It’s the recently launched Geometry E, which has maxed out its space, interior material, feature configuration, and safety in the 100,000 yuan price range.
At the same price point, choose a larger space
As a new entrant in the market, the Geometry E – which was released at the end of June this year – has the largest space in its class.
Among the electric vehicles priced under 100,000 yuan, apart from micro-electric vehicles like the Hong Guang MINI EV, the truly attractive models are the Geometry E, NIO ES8, and LYNK & CO 01.
Geometry E is the largest of the three models, especially with its superior 1,765mm width. The car width is an important parameter, but it is often overlooked.
A larger car width is a hallmark of SUV models. For example, the car width of the compact SUV Volkswagen Touareg is similar to that of the midsize sedan Volkswagen Passat, because a wider body gives the SUV better stability.
Geometry E is a small SUV, but its car width is comparable to that of a compact sedan. For example, the car width of the compact sedan Corolla is 1,780mm, while Geometry E’s 1,765mm car width is almost the same as Corolla’s.
By contrast, the car widths of its peers, LYNK & CO 01 and NIO ES8, are both under 1,700mm. This shows that among vehicles in the same class, only the Geometry E is a true SUV model.
Another factor is climbability. Most small electric cars have poor climbability due to their power batteries. Even the lowest ground clearance of some models is only 120mm, making it difficult to drive over slightly higher speed bumps.
Geometry E has a minimum ground clearance of 165mm, the only model in its class with a ground clearance of over 150mm.
A higher ground clearance provides greater usage scenarios. Even on unpaved roads, Geometry E can handle everything with ease. It will not scratch the undercarriage in scenarios like rural areas or construction sites.Higher ground clearance also brings better safety for the power battery. Geely E is the first purely electric passenger car in the industry to obtain the “Pure Electric Passenger Car Bottom Collision Protection Level A” certification, with the certification number 001.
Geely E has also made great efforts in safety. Among the same level of models, it is the only one with front and rear anti-collision steel beams as standard.
Interior Texture Benchmarking at the Same Level
In terms of interior texture, Geely E is the benchmark for the same level of models.
Geely E improves the overall interior texture from two aspects: interior materials and manufacturing processes.
Interior materials are the most reflective of texture. Geely E’s way of presenting texture is to use more upscale materials within reach of users.
The Geely E steering wheel is made of antibacterial ultra-fiber multifunctional material, which not only has a better touch, but also effectively inhibits bacterial growth and reproduction. According to official data, it can achieve 99% antibacterial performance against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with high efficiency in bacteria inhibition and deodorization.
Geely E uses wash-free technology leather material in the seats, door panels, central armrests, and dashboard decoration panels, making cleaning easier and with better anti-aging performance for long-term use.
The Geely E air outlet is made of acrylic material, combined with a texture etching technology to create the dashboard decoration panel, which visually and sensually reproduces the texture of a high-end model, bringing a superb feel.In terms of craftsmanship, the Geometry E is extremely meticulous and is built using four major high-quality craftsmanship techniques at the same level throughout the vehicle:
Laser engraving technology: brings more detailed and advanced texture visual perception to the instrument panel and door panel areas, as well as better touch texture;
Piano baking paint technology: significantly enhances the visual effect of the gear shift panel and door switch panel;
Crystal cutting technology: makes the visual experience of the instrument function lights more high-end and dazzling;
Texture etching technology: spread throughout the instrument panel decorative panel and door panel area, bringing excellent touch feeling.
In addition to the high-quality interior texture, the Geometry E also has the most recognizable appearance.
Compared with many competitors, the Geometry E, through the use of a split-type headlight design and ring-shaped daytime running lights, combined with a closed intake grille, has become the most electric vehicle-like model in the same price range.
In terms of front-end design, the Geometry E’s split-type headlights combine the appearance of a smart electric vehicle and integrate Geometry’s unique design aesthetics. The LED headlights, known as “Luli Eyes,” are a fusion of circles and squares, like camera lenses, recording the beauty of life wherever they go.
For the rear of the vehicle, the symmetrical reverse L-shaped taillights, combined with the tall waistline of the entire car and the unique design style of the high brake light, give the Geometry E high visibility at night.
In terms of exterior design, the Geometry E completely departs from the cheap and imitation appearance design of low-priced cars and integrates the design elements of smart electric vehicles and the design style of Geometry cars, setting a new benchmark for the appearance design of electric vehicles under 100,000 yuan.
More intelligent than its peers
Who said intelligent configuration is not a concern for 100,000 yuan-level electric vehicles?
With the increasing popularity of voice assistants such as “Xiao Ai” and “Siri” on mobile phones, cars also need more intelligent voice assistants.- Geometry E has adopted rich intelligent configurations for user experience. In the high-end models, there is no absence of L2 intelligent driving assistance, intelligent voice interaction car system, etc.
- In terms of driving assistance, the high-end models of Geometry E are equipped with front monocular driving assistance cameras, supporting ACC adaptive cruise control, AEB automatic braking, LDW lane departure warning, IHBC intelligent high/low beam, and other functions, making driving more comfortable for users.
- It is worth mentioning that Geometry E’s front monocular camera can perceive road information up to 150 meters ahead, with a visual recognition angle of 100° horizontally and 33.6° vertically. It can recognize up to 25 targets in the road trajectory, including cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians.
- In terms of software, Geometry E is very intelligent. During daily driving, when the user activates the turn signal on the right side or clicks the right blind zone image icon on the multimedia screen, the system can display the video signal of the right front blind zone on the large multimedia screen, eliminating the visual blind spot and making the ride safer.
- Geometry E is equipped with dual 10.25-inch central control screens for instrumentation and entertainment systems respectively.
- In terms of intelligent car system, Geometry E uses the smart partner “Xiaohe”, which is built-in based on the 3.5th generation of intelligent voice recognition technology produced by iFlytek. Its sound source can accurately recognize the driver and passenger, and can support uninterrupted conversation. Whether making a phone call, listening to music, checking the weather, or navigating, even opening the window or turning on the air conditioner can be done using voice control.
- At the same time, “Xiaohe” also supports a variety of personified interaction expressions and actions, and can tell jokes, play games, check horoscopes, and engage in various types of entertainment and interaction.
- In terms of intelligent configuration, Geometry E has the most comprehensive configuration, with L2 intelligent driving assistance, intelligent voice interaction function, dual 10.25-inch large screens, which are not available on other cars in its class.
- Geometry E has become the benchmark for high-quality compact cars, relying on its strong capabilities.
- Compared with the similarly-priced Lingzhi T03, Geometry E has a more visually appealing interior and has a more obvious space advantage. Compared with the similarly-priced NETA V, Geometry E has better passability advantages, smoother body lines, and higher appearance. Even compared with the superior competitor, the Yuan Pro EV, Geometry E still has advantages.BYD Yuan Pro is competitive in terms of safety and product reliability, but its higher price makes it less cost-effective than the Geometry E.
In comparison, the Geometry E, like the Yuan Pro EV, is backed by the Geely 4.0 Intelligent Factory and has the endorsement of a major manufacturer in terms of product quality.
The Yuan Pro EV uses BYD’s own batteries, while the Geometry E uses Ningde Times’ batteries, which are equally reliable, safe and durable.
Looking at the interior materials, the Geometry E is clearly more exquisite, especially the door panel crafted with laser engraving technology, with a higher quality texture.
Just as China’s new energy vehicle market is booming, the market for quality small cars is in a state of neglect, with carmakers exhausted in the battle for intelligence and upscale features, or getting caught up in the mini EV market emulating the Hongguang MINI EV, and the idea of providing high-quality cars to users is being lost in the market frenzy.
As a more cost-effective A0 SUV at the 100,000-yuan level, the Geometry E is competing to capture the market for Geely Automobile in this category.
Geely Automobile currently has product series covering cars, SUVs, and other models such as A, C, E, G, and M. In the future, Geely Automobile will introduce more products, based on the direction of the mainstream pure electric vehicle market, and deploy more models in different niche markets to improve the Geely Automobile product matrix.
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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.