Author: Dolly Jun
As the saying goes, things cannot stand without breaking. Only after a big breakthrough can we achieve great success. The same goes for cars.
In the mediocre SUV market in China, “god car” Haval always manages to surprise people and maintain its king status. Who would have thought that H6 would win 93 sales championships and have a global sales volume of 3 million, leaving competitors struggling to catch up? Based on China’s first self-developed global intelligent vehicle platform – the Lemon platform, Haval Big Dog, Haval First Love, and the third-generation H6 have emerged one after another, creating an unstoppable wave of SUV market in China.
As the famous saying goes, “There is Lv Bu among men, and Red Hare among horses.” The legendary Red Hare horse has traveled eight hundred miles overnight and a thousand miles in a day. It has also carried the glory of the two Three Kingdoms war gods, Lv Bu and Guan Yu, throughout history. Who can resist such a divine steed? Therefore, the fourth Lemon platform vehicle – Haval Chitu was born in response to popular demand.
On April 13th, I was invited to test drive this highly anticipated SUV new “god tool”.
Perhaps in tribute to China’s rich traditional culture, Great Wall Haval was named accordingly. But is this SUV really as its namesake?
When I first saw the Chitu, I was impressed by its stylish appearance. Who knew a compact SUV could be so dynamic and passionate? Especially in the red color we tested, the Chitu fully lives up to its name. Haval Chitu adopts an exaggerated hexagonal electro-acoustic lighting grille and sharp matrix headlights on both sides. It exudes both sportiness and trendiness, and has a fierce fighting spirit. As for the body, the vehicle size is 4470/1898/1625 mm, and the wheelbase is as long as 2700 mm. The mech-style knife-like lines run through the entire body, giving it a sharp and three-dimensional appearance. The taillights are of the popular through-type design, and the rear of the vehicle is also equipped with a large size smoked black deflector to make the whole car look younger, more energetic and full of sportiness, especially suitable for young people born in the 1990s.
Driving in the streets of Chongqing, the Chitu’s full sense of fashion drew a lot of attention. Going up and down the hills of the famous city, the vehicle was easy to handle, smooth and compatible, creating a momentary trend in the city.
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In terms of interior design, the Haval Chitu impresses with a more dynamic style than the stable style of the family in the past, with unique line colors and an embrace type cockpit, creating an immersive experience. This “dynamism” is necessary to match the beauty of the name “Chitu”. The center console is equipped with a large 12.3-inch suspended LCD center screen, and the charging platform below the screen also supports wireless device charging. At the same time, the new car is equipped with the Fun-Life intelligent network system, matching L2-level automatic driving assistance, 360-degree panoramic imaging, a comprehensive warning system, owner identity perception, fatigue driving identification and other cutting-edge technologies, and supporting FOTA over-the-air whole vehicle remote upgrade. In the high-speed bends and up and down flyovers in many parts of Chongqing, the vehicle’s turning accuracy, tracking and cornering stability are unexpectedly outstanding, making it easy to navigate through the dense traffic in Chongqing. Surpassing its peers and full of technological sense ensures that Doli Jun can experience various technological experiences designed for young people while driving safely.
The power system is naturally the highlight of the Chitu, and also the crowning touch of the entire vehicle. The Haval Chitu is equipped with a 1.5GDIT engine (GW4B15C) matched with a 7DCT wet dual-clutch transmission, with a maximum power of 135 kW/5500~6000 rpm (184 horsepower) and a peak torque of 275 N·m/1500~4000 rpm. What excites Doli Jun is that this GW4B15C engine adopts the Miller cycle technology, which increases the compression ratio to 11, with a thermal efficiency of up to 38%, and optimizes the intake characteristics to maintain good fuel economy. It is also equipped with a brand-new combustion system and an advanced electronic VGT turbocharger, giving the new car sustained and stable power.
The 7DCT wet dual-clutch transmission matched with the new car adopts a self-developed new hydraulic control system and self-developed dual-clutch module, which, when cleverly applied and laid out, increases the overall efficiency of the vehicle to an amazing 96% or more, while maintaining stability and response speed.It is worth mentioning that the new car model comes standard with a rare same-level launching mode, which can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.7 seconds according to official data in sports mode, earning its rightful title of “SUV-grade Little Cannon”. The new car is also equipped with paddle shifters, enriching the driving experience and further enhancing the fun of driving this car.
As we all know, the Lemon platform, as China’s first truly self-developed global intelligent vehicle platform, is shining in the compact SUV market by partnering with Great Wall’s Haval brand. Haval Big Dog, the third generation of Haval H6, Haval Chulian, and Haval Chitu, although all come from the same platform, they are subdivided into different consumer groups in the market. Comparing Haval Chulian and Haval Chitu, Chulian is more inclined to cater to young consumers, while Chitu, with its trendy and cannon-like “battle atmosphere”, attracts young people who are rich in personality and like innovation. This group of people has a strong desire for powerful engines and trendy appearance.
After a depth test drive, to be objective, whether from the appearance, power, or even naming, Haval Chitu is everywhere embodying the essence of China’s profound traditional culture, and showcasing its own personality and athletic nature. The road ahead is long and the task is heavy, hoping that Haval Chitu can bring us more surprises after its launch, and go further on the path of development towards youthfulness and individuality in the compact SUV market, to re-establish an unshakable king position.
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.