Author: Rezz

Guo Degang once said: “I am not exceptionally good, it’s all thanks to my peers’ support.”

This year, this statement is not exaggerated when applied to BYD, which, with its excellent three-electric technology, has thrust all its models into the top ten new energy sales charts.

However, a new car from a different auto company is not content today. That is the first production car, the SL03, from Deep Blue, a new energy sub-brand under Chang’an. Its goal is to beat the price of BYD’s flagship Sea Lion on the latest e-platform 3.0!

As the debut work of a new brand, Chang’an Deep Blue SL03 is equipped with Chang’an’s latest generation of ultra-superset electric drive, as well as multiple black technologies such as micro-core high-frequency pulse heating, while achieving three major breakthroughs in the fields of intelligence, endurance, and three-electricity.

Chang’an Deep Blue SL03 has released three energy forms, pure electric version, extended range version, and hydrogen cell version, with four different versions of the model, and providing personalized optional packages such as matte paint, various interiors, sports wheels, advanced intelligent driving assistance services, and more to meet the diverse needs of users.

Chang’an Deep Blue SL03 released three power versions at once, and the price rose from the starting price of 168,900 yuan to 699,900 yuan, along the way. Some people jokingly say that the hydrogen fuel cell model, which has a price tag of 700,000 yuan, is purely designed to show off, and also to put its rivals in a difficult position. For ordinary consumers, it can be temporarily ignored.

Looks and Sea Lion are both stylish leaders

Chang’an Deep Blue SL03 has a body size of 482018901480mm, wheelbase of 2900mm, height-to-width ratio of 0.783, and axle-length ratio of 0.6, approaching the golden ratio of 0.618. The car’s body data is larger than the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Sea Lion, but the wheelbase falls slightly behind the BYD Sea Lion.

Through optimization in aerodynamics, with the support of a sleek body, sport kit, hidden door handles, and closed air dynamic hubcaps, the aerodynamic drag coefficient of Chang’an Deep Blue SL03 has been lowered to 0.23Cd, which is on par with the Model 3 and has reached the current mainstream level in the industry.

# Changan’s Deep Blue SL03: Innovation at Its Finest

The Changan Deep Blue SL03 employs a frameless door design. Interestingly, during the early stages of development, the team originally intended to use framed doors. However, they ultimately decided that the market and user preference dictated a frameless approach, which became a defining feature of this vehicle.

The SL03 also features a segmented headlamp system with daytime running lights that add to the overall high-tech aesthetic. Integrated into the front bumper are low beam, high beam, projection, and interactive lamps. For instance, the projection lamps project patterns onto the ground to interact with pedestrians. This design feature is also found in models from other brands such as Geely, Great Wall, and Mercedes-Benz, and is a growing trend in vehicle lighting technology.

Moreover, the interactive lamps incorporate 264 LED light sources to display vehicle information, as well as animations for special scenes such as birthdays, cheering, and applause. Future updates to the library of light-up messages could further enhance the vehicle’s personalized, playful options.

The SL03’s rear gate also includes an embedded, floating spoiler that follows the design style of the UNI-V coupe spoiler. The through-type taillight cluster, coupled with a diffuser, provides a strong visual impact, while also serving to enhance stability and handling during high-speed driving and reduce wind resistance.

Notably, the car is equipped with a liftgate that opens to a depth of over a meter, making use of the spacious cargo area easier. Additionally, the rear seats can fold down in a 4:6 ratio.

Speed and Range

Whether in its pure electric, extended range, or hydrogen fuel cell version, the Changan Deep Blue SL03 adopts a rear-wheel drive layout for all its models:

• The Pure Electric model includes two versions: 515 and 705.

• The 515 version has a peak power of 190kW, with a comprehensive range of 515km under CLTC conditions, and 0-100km/h acceleration performance of 5.9 seconds.

• The 705 version has a peak power of 160kW, with a comprehensive range of 705km under CLTC conditions, and 0-100km/h acceleration performance of 6.9 seconds.

Here’s a comparison:

• The system power of BYD Dolphin two-wheel drive is 150 kW and 230 kW, with a range of 550 km and 700 km respectively (CLTC), and acceleration of 7.5 seconds and 5.9 seconds, respectively;

• The system power of Tesla Model 3 rear-wheel drive is 194 kW, with a range of 556 km (CLTC) and acceleration of 6.1 seconds.

From the data perspective, Changan Shenlan SL03 pure electric version has a higher ability in terms of power performance and range than BYD Dolphin and Tesla Model 3.

However, it should be noted that the long-range rear-drive version of the BYD Dolphin not only achieves a CLTC range of 700 km, but is also the best-performing model in terms of acceleration among these vehicles. Although the 705 version of Changan Shenlan SL03 clearly made a trade-off between performance and endurance, it has a stronger price advantage compared to the pre-sale price of BYD Dolphin.

In addition to pure electric vehicles, the Changan Shenlan SL03 extended-range version is equipped with a 1.5T four-cylinder range extender, and the official comprehensive range can reach more than 1200 km (CLTC), including a pure electric comprehensive range of 200 km and a feeding energy consumption of 4.5L/100 km. The hydrogen-powered version can achieve a full hydrogen and full electric range of 730 km under CLTC working conditions, and can also achieve a 3-minute ultra-fast refueling.

Advanced Driving Assistance Technology in Full Swing

Changan Shenlan SL03 was born on the EPA1 all-electric digital platform, which can achieve L4 level intelligent driving assistance. It sounds a bit exaggerated, but how is it cultivated?

Firstly, it requires an intelligent driving domain controller. It adopts a multi-chip redundant control design, which can efficiently collect information from 27 perception components of the whole vehicle, realizing intelligent parking and advanced intelligent driving assistance. Therefore, during the driving process, automatic on and off-ramp, lane change, structured parking memories, and remote pick-up functions can be achieved.As a car model costing over one hundred thousand yuan, the Changan Shenlan SL03 is equipped with a level 2 advanced driving assistance system. It has 15 perception sensors, including 6 ultrasonic radars, 3 millimeter-wave radars, and 6 high-performance cameras. Although it does not come with lidar due to cost pressure, its visual perception can well achieve level 2 assisted driving functions.

The Changan Shenlan SL03 is equipped with integrated adaptive IACC, and all models are equipped with intelligent driving assistance functions such as lane-changing assistance, intelligent panoramic imaging, and AEB automatic emergency braking. It can help users reduce driving burden and free both feet within the permitted range of road conditions. At the same time, it can also assist users in paying attention to road conditions at all times and prevent accidents in advance.

In addition, the Changan Shenlan SL03 will also launch the APA 7.0 remote valet parking system, and after subscribing to this service, the vehicle will be upgraded to 34 perception sensors, allowing it to achieve memory parking, remote moving and remote parking functions in the main user scenarios, provided that the relevant regulations are met.

Models that support subscription to the NID3.0 navigation assisted driving service and APA7.0 remote valet parking service will accept reservations from the day of their launch, and are expected to start delivery and open service subscriptions after December 31.

The cabin of the Changan Shenlan SL03 does not have a piled large screen. Instead, it uses a 10.25-inch full LCD instrument panel and a 14.6-inch central control screen that can automatically tilt 15 degrees to the left or right with driving. Just a couple of days ago, we published an article exploring the concept of making car screens move, and now the Changan Shenlan SL03 has adopted this design. As for its actual performance, we will have to wait for subsequent experiences.

The Changan Shenlan SL03 uses the 8155 chip and is equipped with the 1.2.1 baseline and Android 11 operating system. At the same time, the car’s RAM memory reaches 12G, and the ROM memory reaches 128G.Apart from that, Changan Shenlan SL03’s smart cabin supports Bluetooth/NFC touchless entry, 3D holographic face recognition login, forest air purification system, and provides 10 kinds of cabin scenario modes including privacy mode, constant temperature cabin, and nap mode.

On the voice assistant, Changan Shenlan SL03 realizes “what you see is what you say” screen display function, supports continuous conversation and fuzzy semantic recognition, covering scenarios including navigation, music, and temperature adjustment, and vehicle control.

It is worth mentioning that Changan Shenlan SL03 is also equipped with AR-HUD function, which can project a 61-inch screen equivalent image at an imaging distance of 8.5 meters in front of the driver.

Competitiveness Analysis

Changan Shenlan SL03 has the same position as Tesla Model 3, medium-sized sports sedan, which together with BYD’s Haibao, NETA S, and Leapmotor C01, are called the four small electric sedans that are expected to be launched this year, and models such as XPeng P5, which has already been launched, will be its competitors. Compared with these competitors, Changan Shenlan SL03 has certain advantages as a latecomer. Although it was launched late due to the epidemic, good food is not afraid of being late, and heroes are not obsolete.

As a latecomer, SL03 will be sold through Changan Shenlan’s new channels, and at the same time, it will provide three power configurations that other competitors do not have. At the same time, its size is larger than Tesla Model 3, BYD Haibao, and XPeng P5, but slightly smaller than NETA S and Leapmotor C01, with an overall length, width, and height in the middle of the four electric sedans, just right, and more like a qualified midsize car than its own UNI-V fuel vehicle.

Changan Shenlan SL03’s 705 km range is longer than Tesla Model 3’s rear-wheel drive. It is noteworthy that BYD Haibao, which also has a 700-kilometer range, costs nearly 270,000 yuan, which is more than 50,000 yuan more expensive. However, if BYD Haibao speeds up its production and after-sales service quality to compete with Changan Shenlan SL03, it will also be a good thing for consumers, which confirms the saying “thank you, AMD, for letting me buy Intel with better cost performance.”Pure electric and range-extended models are currently popular mainstream power forms in the market, which can meet the needs of different users. Therefore, the coverage and impact of Changan Shenlan SL03 will be even greater, and in the future, there will be a fast energy replenishment method that can be completed in three minutes through quick battery swapping or refueling with hydrogen.

This year is the first year for domestic new energy vehicles to make a strong push. The SL03, which comes from the Changan Shenlan EPA1 all-electric digital platform, has excellent product strength in all aspects, with both endurance and performance. From the perspective of the positioning, the Changan Shenlan SL03 targets the BYD Dolphin and Tesla Model 3, but its price will be more sincere and competitive than its competitors. It is only a matter of time before it becomes a hit in the future, and let’s look forward to its future sales.

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.