Author: Xiaodong
Editor: Chris
On April 7th, Voyah’s second car model, Voyah Dreamer, started pre-sales.
The seven-seater model pre-sale price is between 380,000 and 480,000 yuan, and the four-seater custom version pre-sale price starts at 600,000 yuan. After the online launch event, Voyah APP experienced a short period of crash. In 30 minutes of pre-sale, the order volume of Dreamer had exceeded one thousand, which clearly shows that consumers are very satisfied with Dreamer.
Next, Voyah Dreamer will start its tasting event in May, and the first batch of deliveries will start in July.
As 2022 is the first year of MPV electrification, Voyah Dreamer has taken the first step. Let’s take a look at whether this flagship MPV, positioning itself as “electric” and “luxury”, lives up to its positioning and price.
Full Load of Hardware
What does Voyah Dreamer bring at the price between 380,000 to 480,000 yuan? Let’s talk about this Dreamer with the most commonly used seven-seater version (2+2+3).
For those who are interested in the four-seater version, check out the video of the Dreamer four-seater version experience at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show.
As an MPV model, the interior space is of utmost importance. Voyah Dreamer provides huge interior space for consumers with a 3200mm wheelbase. For reference, the wheelbase of the 2022 Buick GL8 is 3088mm.
The size of Dreamer is 5315 * 1985 * 1820mm, which is considered large in the MPV category. In order to fit both the extended-range pure electric dual-power system and suspension system and provide sufficient interior space and an extra-large trunk, Voyah Dreamer had to “stretch” itself to 5.3 meters. According to the official introduction of Voyah, when seven people are seated in Dreamer, it can accommodate four 24-inch suitcases. It provides sufficient storage space without sacrificing comfort when traveling with your whole family.
Considering the limitation of headroom and battery pack, the height of the Dreamer MPV, which is 1820 mm, is indeed a bit higher than that of conventional fuel-based MPVs. The disadvantage is that it will increase wind resistance and reduce the range. This has a certain impact on pure electric vehicles.
It is reported that the extended-range version of the Voyah Dreamer uses a 25.7 kWh battery, with a pure electric range of 82 km (CLTC). The pure electric version uses an 86 kWh battery, with a range of 475 km. However, in the optional APP, a 108.7 kWh ternary lithium battery can be selected, which has a range of 605 km.
The most important aspect is the riding experience. MPVs, whether for commercial or personal use, offer a level of convenience and comfort that other vehicle types cannot match. The Voyah Dreamer naturally understands this. The Dreamer uses a suspension structure of front double wishbones and rear five-link, coupled with air suspension and CDC. It must be said that the Dreamer has the highest level of “hardware comfort”. The chassis tuning of the Voyah FREE has received unanimous praise, and combined with the hardware assistance, the Dreamer’s chassis tuning is already very low. As a flagship-level MPV, the dual-side electric sliding doors are naturally included and are matched with air suspension, so there is no need to worry about getting on and off the vehicle.
However, CDC and air suspension need to be included in the exclusive luxury package, just like the Voyah FREE. The good news is that the exclusive luxury package of Voyah FREE is very cheap for the models sold in the early stage, and it is hoped that the Dreamer will also offer a good price for the package in the early stage. The exclusive luxury package also includes the NVS smart active night vision system. When you encounter small obstacles such as cats and dogs while driving at night, it can be seen very clearly.
In addition, the Dreamer’s zero-gravity wide and comfortable seats are worth mentioning. They provide functions such as electric adjustment, leg rest, lumbar support, heating, ventilation, and massage. The seat massage experience on the Voyah FREE is very good, and it is believed that the seat massage on the Dreamer will also be excellent. In addition, the second row of Dreamer provides an extra-long slide rail, bringing a better riding experience for second-row passengers.
Simply put, the zero-gravity seat can reduce the pressure between the body and the seat, or distribute the body’s pressure more evenly to reduce the discomfort during the ride. Nowadays, many hotels use zero-pressure mattresses to improve customers’ sleeping comfort.Under the trend of electrification, powerful performance is essential. The Dreamwalker adopts a dual-motor four-wheel drive mode, with both the pure electric version’s front and rear using 160 kW motors and an acceleration of 5.9 seconds per hundred kilometers. The extended-range version uses a power combination of 130 kW in the front and 160 kW in the rear motors, with an acceleration of 6.9 seconds per hundred kilometers. Although perhaps not as important for an MPV, having a faster acceleration time is better than not having it at all in case the boss wants to run away :).
Compared with traditional power systems, the electric MPV also has a natural advantage in smoothness. The driving experience is better than that of traditional fuel vehicles, and the interior is more suitable for office work, entertainment, and the like than the fuel system.
In terms of interior configuration, the Dreamwalker adopts a 1.4-meter panoramic triple screen, abandoning the lifting device on the LanTu FREE that gave a sense of ceremony. The car’s chip uses the current mainstream 8155 car chip and 5G car network. The effect of the optional Danaher sound system and noise reduction is to be shared during the test drive event. According to the official introduction from LanTu, the Dreamwalker has up to more than eighty NVH sound insulation and noise reduction components, but we do not know how they will perform.
Regarding software, the RPA remote control parking system, APA full-scene automatic parking system, and 360° panoramic image solve the most challenging parking problems for this “big guy.” The car has a four-zone voice interaction system, gesture recognition interaction, intelligent air management system, and other configurations. The L2+ level intelligent driving assistance system is undoubtedly essential.
The Dreamwalker’s hardware and software configuration at this price point are impressive. What do you think of the 380,000 to 480,000 RMB price?
Sweet and Sour
Success comes from MPV, failure comes from MPV.
Currently, domestic electric MPVs are still in a blue ocean, with no pure electric mid-size MPVs on the market except for SAIC MAXUS MIFA 9. This year and beyond, high-end MPVs from Zeekr 002, Hongqi, and DENZA will arrive, while as a new force, Weixo Li’s MPV models will not be launched until 2023.
The LanTu Dreamwalker, which began delivery in July, has the first-mover advantage and almost no competitors in the same positioning. At the same time, LanTu understands user pain points and demands and provides solutions.
For example, one point that LanTu CEO Lu Fang mentioned has indeed been overlooked for a long time:
# MPVs on the market rarely pay attention to the driver’s driving experience. Reducing driver fatigue and ensuring pleasant driving can effectively improve driving safety, a sore point that concerns the safety of all passengers in the car and must be addressed.
Nowadays, family MPVs are becoming more and more popular, and driver experience should also be given more attention.
In addition, the MPV market has long been dominated by fuel vehicles. When electric cars enter the MPV market, they will bring consumers a completely different experience and even make consumers “impulse buying,” which is also the advantage of the Dreamer’s early entry.
As revealed on the internet a few days ago, Dreamer is facing more advanced competitors.
Let’s compare some of the parameters of these four cars.
Obviously, the Dreamer has an advantage in hardware and price. But it is undeniable that consumers’ awareness of the brand at this price point is crucial, especially for business users. To some extent, the use of some models is no longer just about transportation.
Perhaps the Dreamer will sell better in the family sector, but the competition pressure in the family sector is also more intense. In addition to MPVs, SUV models in the options for home use will be favored by more consumers. Traditional fuel MPVs also have lower prices and long-term word-of-mouth effects, which will also be challenges for the Dreamer.
At the same time, consumers’ perception of the Dreamer needs to be further strengthened. As of March 31, 2022, the Dreamer has 55 spaces in 25 cities, which are far from enough compared to new powers such as WmAuto. There is still a gap in brand promotion and user experience.
Conclusion
Dreamer provides consumers with a new choice of MPV models. The advantages of domestic brands lie in better product quality and more cost-effective prices, but the brand shortcomings in the face of traditional and well-established MPVs cannot be ignored.
Can Dreamer break through the barrier of foreign high-end MPVs? Judging from the number of pre-orders, the Dreamer has exceeded user recognition expectations. So how does this car perform? Let’s look forward to the tasting event in May!
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.