New Chinese “James Bond” car goes on sale in South Africa – Pricing and features
Dongfeng has launched a new sport sedan in South Africa, and it’s called the 007.
Luckily, this car doesn’t have a licence to kill, as the name it shares with James Bond’s iconic spy code number is pure coincidence – merely being one of the numbers in Dongfeng’s 00 series of upmarket vehicles.
What it does have is three derivatives, all of which are powered by an electric motor.
Thanks to our helpful sources at Duoporta Vehicle Information Specialists, we can report that the Dongfeng 007 starts at R799,000, making it the most affordable electric sedan in South Africa.
As a reminder, Dongfeng debuted in our market in late November with its first product – the electric Box hatchback – though the company stated that two more cars are on the way.
One of these is the 007, while the other is a new SUV called the 06.
Powertrain
The 007 is split into three variants – the E1 530, E1 620, and E2 540 – which determine their powertrains.
The base E1 530 features a rear-mounted electric motor, which generates a total of 160kW and 310Nm.
In practice, this translates to a brisk 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds.
The e-motor is powered by a 56.8kWh battery, which affords a driving range of 530km (hence the 530 designation.
However, this range figure is based on the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), which tends to be more generous than the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) commonly used in South Africa.
If we convert this figure from CLTC to WLTP, the sedan has a range of approximately 451km.
Next up is the E1 620, which is equipped with a more powerful rear e-motor with 200kW and 320Nm.
Thanks to the extra kick, this version can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.
It also has a larger 70.3kWh power bank, giving it a CLTC range of 620km (527km WLTP).
Last but certainly not least is the E2 540, which comes with two e-motors – one over each axle.
This gives it an all-wheel-drive configuration and a staggering output of 400kW and 640Nm, making it the third most powerful car under R1 million in South Africa after the Chery Tiggo 9 and Omoda C9 PHEVs.
This translates to a scorching 0 to 100km/h time of 3.9 seconds – faster than hot hatchbacks like the VW Golf R.
It has the same 70.3kWh battery as the E1 620, but due to the added power, the E2 has a lower CLTC range of 540km (459km WLTP).
Charging the 007 can be done with either a 6.6kW AC or 200kW DC outlet, the latter of which can achieve a 30% to 80% top-up in around 26 minutes.
Features
Dongfeng has yet to publish a detailed breakdown of each model’s specs.
Still, based on what we’ve been able to glean from the company’s website and other sources, all models come standard with automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, an electric tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, and alloy wheels that range from 18 to 19 inches in size.
The 007 also comes with keyless entry and start, an artificial leather multifunction steering wheel, heated and ventilated electric front seats with memory settings, artificial leather upholstery, automatic climate control, ambient lighting, and an 8.8-inch digital driver display, and a 15.6-inch infotainment screen with smartphone pairing.
Additionally, it has a driver assistance suit with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, blind spot detection, a 360-degree camera, rear parking sensors, and an automated parking assistant.
Pricing
The South African pricing for the new Dongfeng Box is as follows:
This includes a 5-year/150,000km warranty, a 5-year/100,000km service plan, and an 8-year/200,000km battery warranty.
Dongfeng 007
Loading ...
