Latest news with #DeepalS05
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Fast Lane: Mazda 6e to launch in S'pore in 2026, Deepal S05 made in Thailand, Neo Aeronautics flying car takes off
The electric Mazda 6e is expected to be in Singapore in the second half of 2026. PHOTO: MAZDA Fast Lane: Mazda 6e to launch in S'pore in 2026, Deepal S05 made in Thailand, Neo Aeronautics flying car takes off Incoming: Mazda EV The Mazda 6e electric saloon is the European version of the China-only EZ-6, and it is slated for launch in Singapore and the United Kingdom in the second half of 2026. While the car will be built in China through a joint venture between Mazda and Chinese state-owned company Changan, it will be further tuned to suit European taste for the export market. This is in terms of the steering, suspension and pedal calibration. On the outside, the 6e is about the same size as the Toyota Camry, though its wheelbase, at 2,895mm, is 70mm longer than the benchmark saloon. This should translate to a significantly more spacious cabin than Mazda's current contender in the segment, the 6 Sedan. In terms of driving range, the 6e can travel up to 552km before its batteries need to be recharged. 'Sawadee' car for Singapore Changan's new Thai factory will produce the Deepal S05 (pictured here on a production line in China) for markets such as Singapore. PHOTO: JONATHAN NG The first made-in-Thailand Deepal S05 rolled off the assembly line at Changan's factory in Rayong on May 16 to mark the factory's official opening. This is the first overseas electric vehicle factory for Changan, which is a state-owned car company. Changan joins Chinese rivals including BYD, MG and GAC to have manufacturing operations in Thailand. Besides Deepal, the plant will also produce cars under the Changan, Deepal and Avatr brands. The factory has workshops for welding, painting, general assembly and batteries, among other functions. The annual production capacity is expected to double from 100,000 units to 200,000 units by 2027. The S05 is a mid-sized electric sport utility vehicle competing against the likes of the BYD Atto 3. Expected to be launched in Singapore later in 2025, the S05 will likely come from the Rayong factory. Made-in-Singapore flying car to take flight in US The Crimson S8 'flying car' will take to the skies in 2026, albeit only in the US. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Home-grown aeronautical company Neo Aeronautics is aiming to make its 'flying car' available for rental to tourists and adventure seekers in 2026 at clubhouses set up in scenic and tourist spots in the US. The Crimson S8 is a compact machine that can fit into a standard parking space. Four pairs of electric propellers mounted on carbon fibre arms enable it to take off and land like a helicopter. The S8 will undergo further development before launching in the US in 2026. There are currently no plans to launch the Crimson S8 in Singapore. Virtual self-driving grand prix racing in UAE Come November, 10 research teams, including one from Singapore, will compete in the autonomous racing league at the Yas Marina Circuit in the UAE. PHOTO: A2RL Singapore will be among 10 countries competing at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League Car Championship on Nov 15. This will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Singapore's entry is a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University and UAE-based technology group Kintsugi. The teams will compete to develop the autonomous driving system to extract maximum performance from the Dallara Super Formula SF23 racer on track. The vehicle is similar to the one used in the 2024 event, but with upgraded sensors and systems. New for 2025 is A2RL Sim-Sprint, a virtual racing series to speed up the refinement of autonomous vehicle algorithms. The organiser says this extends A2RL into a year-round development ecosystem. Go to to learn more about the autonomous racing series. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Car review: Deepal S05 and E07 bound for Singapore later in 2025
CHONGQING – As a brand under Chinese state-owned automotive giant Changan, Deepal is positioning itself as a label that focuses on digital technology. It made its foray into Singapore in March with the S07, a mid-sized electric sport utility vehicle (SUV). During a visit to the motor show in Shanghai in April, The Straits Times test-drove two models slated to join the Singapore line-up in the coming months, the S05 compact SUV and the E07, an unusual SUV-meets-truck concept. Deepal S05 The sporty-looking S05 is slightly bigger than the BYD Atto 3, measuring 4,620mm in length, 1,900mm in width and 1,660mm in height . Its distinctive features are its slim headlights and sweeping rear LED strip integrated into the tail lights, similar to the Porsche Macan. The overall design is tasteful but conventional, making it challenging to differentiate it from the already crowded compact SUV space. Like many new electric vehicles (EVs), the cabin is designed with minimalism that gives the feeling of spaciousness. A 14.5-inch centre-mounted touchscreen dominates the dashboard with no instrument cluster. Like Deepal's S07 sold in Singapore, the screen swivels towards the driver when the car is started. The cabin has a high-quality feel, with most surfaces clad in soft synthetic leather. The seats are comfortable and adjust easily to provide good driving posture. What I find interesting on the steering wheel are the thumb toggle switches that look uncannily like those on other Chinese EVs, including the Zeekr X. Are the manufacturers sharing parts to save on cost? The back of the S05 is roomy and seats three people comfortably. Creature comforts include two USB ports, air-conditioning vents and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. The boot space is nothing to shout about at 492 litres, which is class-competitive. It is big and accessible enough for weekend groceries. Based on the short drive on the test track in Changan's facility in Chongqing , the S05 leaves a good first impression. It is not overwhelmingly powerful, but the pick-up is brisk. The 177kW motor powering the rear wheels delivers a 0-100kmh timing of around 7.5 seconds. Slamming on the light-feeling brake pedal from 70kmh or so brings the 1.6-tonne car to a halt confidently . Around corners, the car feels nimble with some body roll. The S05 will be in Singapore by the last quarter of 2025 . It will likely come with 99kW of power to join the already crowded space of EVs that qualify for the Category A certificate of entitlement (COE). Take it as a win for consumer choice. Deepal S05 Price: Sub-$190,000 with COE before rebates (estimated for 99kW version) Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous with a 68.8kWh lithium-ion battery Transmission: Single-speed, automatic rear-wheel drive Power: 177kW (as tested) Torque: 320Nm 0-100kmh: 7.5 seconds Top speed: 180kmh Power consumption: 12.5kWh/100km Charging capacity: 168kW DC; 7kW AC Agent: DPL Premium Automobiles Deepal E07 Hybrid concept: The Deepal E07 combines the idea of a premium SUV with an open-deck pick-up. PHOTO: JONATHAN NG The Deepal E07 is a fine example of how Chinese auto manufacturers are experimenting with hybrid-use vehicles. This car's headline feature is that it is a cross between an SUV and a utility vehicle, or what the Australians affectionately refer to as an 'ute', with a loading deck that can be left open. Especially when viewed from the side, the E07 gives off Tesla Cybertruck vibes, with its heavily raked and flat rear glass panel – which serves as the tonneau cover – that meets a vertical tailgate. Pushing a sequence of buttons on the side of the cargo area will electrically retract the glass panel and open the tailgate, converting the E07 into its ute configuration. There are 638 litres of boot space. To maximise capacity to a more than respectable 1,860 litres, the rear seats can be folded and the glass separating the cabin from the boot retracted. The maximum payload weight in the boot is 300kg, which is quite low for a car designed to haul cargo, but the option to have an open deck makes it convenient to carry bulky items such as bicycles and furniture. Apart from the unusual cargo area arrangement, the area between the headlights on the car in China is actually a customisable digital message board. I am not confident the authorities in Singapore will allow such a feature. The overall design is reminiscent of a coupe-inspired SUV, with muscular wheel arches and flared bumpers, so it looks sophisticated yet rugged . It is a big car, comparable with large seven-seater SUVs like the Mazda CX-90, with a length of 5,045mm, width of 1,996mm and height of 1,680mm. Minimalist design: Funky colour aside, the E07's interior is elegantly simple with a screen that tilts towards the driver on start-up. PHOTO: JONATHAN NG The E07 tested is fitted with orange and black soft plastics across the cockpit and panels. The comfortable seats are wrapped in a matching synthetic leather. Apart from the steering-mounted gear selector stalk and indicators, the car functions are controlled and displayed on a large 15.4-inch infotainment screen mounted in the centre of the dashboard. Acceleration is punchy on the rear-wheel drive, single-motor 252kW version tested. This is enough to propel the car from 0-100kmh in 6.7 seconds – not bad for a ute. Steering is precise and not too overly assisted, and the ride is plush. The E07 comes with air suspension with height-adjustable air springs, which soak up the jarring bumps on the test track's metal grating obstacle. The Deepal E07 has two variants. The rear-wheel drive model has a 252kW motor with 342Nm of torque, while the all-wheel drive version adds an extra motor, raising the total power output to 440kW and 645Nm of torque. Deepal E07 Price: Just over $200,000 with COE before rebates (estimated) Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous with a 70.6kWh lithium-ion battery Transmission: Single-speed, automatic rear-wheel drive Power: 252kW Torque: 342Nm 0-100kmh: 6.7 seconds Top speed: 201kmh Power consumption: 14.2 kWh/100km Charging capacity: 240kW DC; 7kW AC Agent: DPL Premium Automobiles Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Chinese carmaker Changan to start EV sales in 10 European markets this year
MAINZ, Germany, March 21 (Reuters) - China's Changan Automobile ( opens new tab plans to enter 10 markets across Europe this year with local EV models, it said on Friday, becoming the latest Asian carmaker to tap the home of heavyweights such as Volkswagen and Stellantis. The group showcased its electric SUV Deepal S07, its first model for the European market, which starts at 45,000 euros ($48,775), at an event in Mainz, Germany, on Friday. Changan said it will launch the SUV Deepal S07 from April in Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, and then in Britain in June and other markets later in the year. A Deepal S05 model will also launch later this year followed by the Changan E07 by early 2026, the carmaker said, adding that it also plans to sell hybrid cars in Europe from 2026. Changan also plans to build a sales and services network across Europe, with more than 1,000 dealerships, but did not give a time frame. The company has production plants in China and Thailand and cars sold in Europe will be imported from there. In 2024, Changan was the world's No. 16 automaker with sales of just over 2.2 million vehicles, according to car industry analyst Felipe Munoz. Apart from its own brands, Changan also has joint venture brands with companies including Ford and Mazda. The carmaker exports to over 60 countries and regions, it said. (This story has been refiled to add detail in the headline)
