Author: Xie Ruxin
Rear-wheel drive, frameless doors, 0-100 km/h acceleration in 5.9 seconds, 50:50 weight distribution… Each feature is so appealing, does it sound like a BMW sports car to you?
Actually, this is a summary of the Changan Shenlan C385. Our domestic brand finally has the ability to produce a car with all of the above qualities, which is really exciting. What’s more, it is speculated that the price of the C385 may be lower than that of the BYD Dolphin. Although the price of the Dolphin is also unclear, whether it is the C385 or the Dolphin, their prices should fall within the reasonable range of more than 200,000 yuan. This price is convincing enough for the specifications and performance of the C385.
At present, Changan has already revealed more information about the hardware and configuration of the C385, which also means that it is not far from being officially released and put on the market. Of course, when it is officially launched, it will have a loud name to replace the C385.
The C385 is a rear-wheel drive electric vehicle with a maximum motor power of 190 kW and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 5.9 seconds. Although Changan’s official acceleration score has been a bit aggressive in the past, the probability of the C385 achieving 5.9 seconds should be quite high. After all, it is rear-wheel drive and electric, and its power is approaching the standard version of Tesla Model 3, which can ensure high acceleration performance. In addition, according to the plan, in addition to the pure electric version, the C385 will also have range-extended and hydrogen fuel cell versions with their respective CLTC standard range as shown in the figure. It can even be battery-swapped.
Based on Changan’s current situation, personally, I think the C385 that supports hydrogen fuel cell or battery-swapping technology will not be released in the short term. The pure electric version will definitely be the first to be unveiled, followed by the extended-range version.### Rear-wheel drive, typical for electric cars, is not enough for C385. Engineers have optimized the weight distribution to 50:50 for the front and back, a classic proportion for a sports car. In addition, C385 adopts the rear H-arm multi-link independent suspension system. This suspension form has the maneuverability close to that of a double-wishbone, while also better accommodating comfort, common in some sports cars such as BMW, Tesla, and NIO. Although the structure is only the foundation, the excellent fundamentals undoubtedly create greater expectations for the handling of C385.
Apart from attractive hardware, C385’s appearance itself is enough to impress. Its dimensions are 4820/1890/1480mm (LWH), with a 2900mm wheelbase, which creates a harmonious body ratio. The combination of multiple fashionable elements such as a sloping roof, liftback tailgate, frameless doors, and through-type taillights, fully showcases the charm of a coupe.
To ensure that the vehicle’s drag coefficient reaches 0.23Cd, it comes standard equipped with star-shaped enclosed wheel hubs with a diameter of 19 inches. This is worth praising. If you don’t like enclosed wheel hubs, you can also choose to install 5-spoke sporty wheel hubs, but the specific style is unknown.
In my opinion, C385’s split headlight is one of the most well-rounded designs that incorporates both functionality and aesthetics. Its upper part is a daytime running light, with a sharp design. The black part below is the main and auxiliary headlights. The dot matrix light source can display vehicle gear status, charging status, and even project information onto the ground.
Thanks to the long wheelbase and the large body, C385’s interior space is well-maintained. The depth of the trunk is over 1 meter, plus the liftback design, it should be quite spacious. The rear seats are also quite spacious, and headroom is not sacrificed too much due to the sloping roof.
Looking at the interior of the car, there seems to be nothing particularly eye-catching. The large instrument panel and the large central control screen have a very regular layout, and the overall design is also straightforward.
In fact, there are hidden mysteries in some of the details. For example, the leather trim on the doors and central console has light sources embedded inside. When the ambient light is turned on, it presents a very natural light decoration. When the ambient light is turned off, it looks like a normal trim and is very concise. Moreover, its ambient light can change colors with the rhythm of the music, which is pretty cool.
Another highlight of the design is the 14.6-inch central control screen, which supports rotation of 15 degrees to the left and right and can face the driver or the front passenger for easy viewing. This function is not difficult to achieve, but not many cars are willing to do it. I believe that Chang’an’s design can win the favor of users. The official also gave it an imaginative name — Sunflower Screen.
Some people may be worried that the C385 has integrated all central control functions into the screen, making it difficult to operate functions like adjusting the air conditioning. Operating the air conditioning with the touch screen may not be as convenient as using physical buttons, but Chang’an has made all the functions in the central control screen support voice command operations. You can use voice commands to open windows, trunks, seat ventilation, heating, and adjust the air conditioning. In addition, its air conditioning outlet is controlled by a motor, which is precisely to better coordinate with voice commands. Therefore, there is no problem in terms of convenience, but it just requires a change in operating habits.
Due to the good integration of various functions with the car’s computer, some intelligent scenarios can be better implemented. The C385 is equipped with some interesting scene modes, such as “Bonfire Starry Sky” and “Snowy Cabin”. When the former is turned on, a bunch of bonfires appear on the central control screen, and you can adjust seat heating and air conditioning warm air levels by operating the screen. When the latter is turned on, a snowman appears on the central control screen, and you can similarly adjust the air conditioning refrigeration and seat ventilation intensity.
The additional features are the icing on the cake, enabling cars and people to communicate more intuitively. Children would find them especially enjoyable. Everyone has a deep impression of the cars they rode in during their childhood. If they had a car with many interesting features, it would be a beautiful memory in the future.
From the known information, Changan C385 has considerable appeal. It may elevate Changan’s influence in the field of electric vehicles to new heights. I am deeply happy to see such cars (not only C385 but also BYD Dolphin). Whether they can compete with strong opponents like Tesla Model 3 right away remains uncertain. However, as more and more self-owned brands with strong capabilities begin to manufacture cars of this specification, and the increased investment of resources in the entire industry, we will one day achieve a high level.
Going back to the beginning, where I mentioned rear-wheel drive, 5.9 seconds, and 50:50. Would our ordinary consumers have dared to think about them even one year ago? Now, Changan and other Chinese self-owned brands can offer these qualities that represent excellent driving pleasure to more people at much lower prices. This is a groundbreaking achievement.
A swallow flying into an ordinary person’s home is like the luxury and unique features offered by Changan and other Chinese self-owned brands.
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.