Deepal may release not only an electric dual-cab ute in Australia but also an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) model too, with news that the all-new Deepal Hunter K50 EREV could join the upcoming Deepal E07 EV on sale Down Under.
Represented locally by Subaru importer Inchcape, the Changan-owned Chinese carmaker currently sells only the Deepal S07 mid-sized electric SUV in Australia, but in February it confirmed it will release the E07 electric dual-cab here later this year.
Now it says it’s considering the local launch of the Deepal Hunter K50 as well, following its world debut at this week’s Bangkok motor show in Thailand, one of the world’s largest ute markets.
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“Of course it’s a vehicle we’re interested in, and we will evaluate it for the local market as we do with all product available from Deepal,” said Inchcape in a statement to CarExpert today.
Billed as the world’s first EREV (extended-range electric vehicle) pickup with a driving range of 900km, the Hunter K50 would have no direct competitor in Australia, where the Deepal Hunter name has been trademarked, and where the plug-in hybrid Ford Ranger PHEV will soon join the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV.
Like a battery-electric vehicle (EV), but unlike a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), EREVs – also called REEVs – drive their wheels only with electric motor/s, but also employ a combustion engine that acts as a generator to replenish the battery and extend the vehicle’s range.
Since the BMW i3 ‘Rex’ was axed in Australia soon after its local launch in 2014, the only similar powertrains offered here are found in the Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail e-Power SUVs, however, unlike the Deepal they don’t offer plug-in recharging functionality.
Revealed by Changan Thailand in Bangkok, the Deepal Hunter K50 is a rebadged version of the Changan Hunter, which was also claimed to be the world’s first EREV pickup when it was unveiled last year.
Both dual-cabs are based on the Peugeot Landtrek ute sold in Latin America, as part of the Changan-Peugeot product development alliance that dates back to 2010.
The Changan brand itself is also expected to be launched in Australia as soon as 2025, so there’s a chance both the Deepal Hunter and Changan Hunter will be sold here.
Both range-extender utes incorporate a front axle-mounted electric motor delivering 70kW of power and 150Nm of torque, and a rear axle-mounted motor producing 130kW/320Nm, making them all-wheel drive.
But in a major plot twist, there’s a 135kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel fitted up front, to charge a 31.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which can also be DC fast-charged at up to 41kW, allowing for a 30-80 per cent battery charge in 30 minutes.
Total power output is listed at 200kW and claimed 0-100km/h acceleration is 7.9 seconds.
The Deepal Hunter K50 claims combined fuel consumption of just 1.3L/100km and an EV range of 131km before the diesel engine, fed by a 70-litre fuel tank, fires up to provide a total range of 900km. All figures are based on the more lenient CLTC testing standard.
At 5380mm long overall, the K50 is 10mm longer and a whole 70mm wider than the Ford Ranger, giving it a wider tray opening of 1590mm, but it rides on a 90mm-shorter wheelbase of 3180mm.
The four-door, five-seat ute rides on 18-inch wheels and independent coil-sprung suspension at both ends, so it’s unlikely to match the circa 1000kg payload or 3500kg towing capacities of Australia’s most popular utes with leaf-spring rear-ends.
Premium features inside the cabin, which is claimed to be whisper-quiet at just 63dB, include dual digital displays comprising a 7.5-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
There’s also a 360-degree camera, 40W wireless phone charger, ventilated front seats with perforated leather-like trim, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging capability allowing you to top up electrical appliances.
However, safety equipment in Thailand – where pricing starts at ฿1,099,000 (about $A51,000), which makes it slightly more expensive than the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×2 in the Thai market – extends only to six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, brake assist and hill descent control.
There’s no autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which is now mandatory for all new cars sold in Australia.
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Deepal E07
Meantime, the Deepal E07 ‘Transformer Ute’, which will make its Australian debut in Melbourne this weekend ahead of its local release later this year, is an all-electric dual-cab that blends SUV practicality with pickup utility.
From the side, it looks like an elongated SUV with a coupe-like roofline, but there’s a power retractable cover and vertical tailgate at the rear, enabling it to transform into a dual-cab ute in about 10 seconds.
Measuring 5045mm in length, 1996mm in width, and 1680mm in height, on a 3120mm wheelbase, the E07 offers 638 litres of cargo space in SUV mode, expanding to 1860 litres in ute mode (with the second-row seats folded flat).
Adjustable air suspension provides up to 183mm of ground clearance and, in the Chinese market, the E07 is offered in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations.
The RWD variant is equipped with a single permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 252kW/342Nm, enabling a 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds.
The dual-motor all-wheel drive version adds an asynchronous front motor, increasing total outputs to 440kW/645Nm and reducing the 0-100km/h time to less than four seconds.
Both variants are powered by a 89.98kW ternary lithium battery, offering an estimated range of up to 640km for the RWD and 590km for the AWD.
An 800V electrical architecture allows the battery to be DC fast-charged at up to 240kW, but AC charging speed is capped at 7kW.
Inside, the Deepal E07 boasts a 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, head-up display, 50W wireless charger, NFC card key and digital key, and ‘zero-gravity’ front seats.
No Australian specs or pricing have been announced, but the mould-breaking Deepal E07 could be priced from as little as $70,000 here.
