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The Citizen
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Shark-rivalling Riddara RD6 PHEV not for South Africa for now
Available with rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, the Geely-owned Radar brand's only bakkie will be marketed solely as an EV locally. With pricing still to be announced, Riddara importer, Enviro Automotive, has confirmed that the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Geely-owned brand's bakkie has, for the moment, not been given approval for the local market. Partial electrification Known as the Horizon in China and sold by Riddara under its domestic market name of Radar Auto as the Radar Horizon, the hybrid version made its world debut in May as the Horizon King Kong EM-P with an unchanged interior and exterior from the EV version. ALSO READ: Riddara RD6 no longer an EV-only as new plug-in hybrid debuts Renamed Riddara RD6 in certain other export markets, the EM-P combines Geely's in-house developed 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 19-kWh battery pack powering two electric motors. The result is a combined output of 260kW/914Nm, a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 6.3 seconds, and an all-electric range of 100 km on China's CLTC ratings. PHEV vs EV By comparison, the electric RD6, which had been expected to debut at the Nampo Agricultural Expo in Bothaville in the Free State that some months ago, makes use of a 73-kWh lithium phosphate battery pack that powers either a single or a pair of electric motors. Pricing for the Riddara RD6 in South Africa hasn't yet been given. Image: Enviro Automotive In the case of the single motor rear-wheel-drive variant, outputs stand at 200kW/384Nm, which enables it to get from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 185 km/h. The claimed all-electric range is 424 km. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive outputs 315kW/595Nm, which translates to a top speed of 190 km/h, 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and the same 424 km range. Reason… Inclusive of a five-year/150 000 km warranty and an eight-year/200 000 km battery warranty, the EV RD6's imminent price reveal won't lead to the arrival of the hybrid as a rival for the BYD Shark and the GWM P500 PHEV. In a reply to The Citizen, Enviro Automotive attributes this to the PHEV not being available with right-hand drive at present. As such, only the electric variant will prevail at a 'significant price reduction', the importer says, which will make it a 'compelling and economically sound alternative to [its] internal combustion engine counterparts'. NOW READ: Riddara RD6 plugged-in as South Africa's first electric bakkie
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Riddara RD6 electric bakkie penned-in for Nampo showing
South Africa's first-ever fully electric bakkie will be a double cab-only with either rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. Announced last month as being lined-up for introduction in May, Enviro Automotive has confirmed that the all-electric Riddara RD6 bakkie will make its first public showing at the Nampo Agricultural Expo in Bothaville in the Free State from this coming Tuesday (13 May). 'The Riddara 4×4 electric bakkie is not merely an addition to our lineup; it's a declaration of intent. It unequivocally demonstrates the power and versatility of electric vehicles in tackling even the most demanding tasks,' Enviro Automotive Head of Sales, Francois Malan, said in a statement. Announcing well-known plant and agricultural firm Turner Morris as its distribution partner, Enviro Automotive further stated that it has 'implemented significant price reductions' across the RD6 range, which it adds makes it a 'compelling and economically sound alternative to [its] internal combustion engine counterparts'. South Africa's first EV bakkie While shown with a plug-in hybrid powertrain at the Shanghai International Motor Show last month, the RD6, known as the Radar Horizon in China, will be an EV-only offering in South Africa a choice of two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. On-sale in its home market since 2022, the Geely-owned brand's newcomer rides on the unibody Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform developed by fellow brand Zeekr, and first introduced to South Africa last year as the underpinning for the Volvo EX30. ALSO READ: Riddara RD6 plugged-in as South Africa's first electric bakkie Seemingly not affiliated to Geely's imminent return to the local market, the double cab-only RD6 has a claimed payload of 1 030 kg, a tow rating of 3 000 kg, wading depth of 815 mm and ground clearance of 225 mm. Capable of accommodating 1 200-litres in its loadbin, the lack of an engine translates to an additional 70-litres of storage underneath it bonnet. Spec Known specification items on both variants will include the following: dual-zone climate control; keyless entry; push-button start; LED head and taillights; six-speaker sound system; 10.25-inch instrument cluster; leather upholstery; tyre pressure monitor; electric driver's seat; reverse camera; rear parking sensors drive mode selector (Eco, Comfort and Sport) Pictured four-wheel-drive will be fitted from the off with a 14.6-inch infotainment display. Image: Enviro Automotive Building on the two-wheel-drive, the four-wheel-drive will feature four additional off-road driving modes; Sand, Mud, Wading and Off-Road, Matrix LED headlights, an eight-speaker sound system, and the following safety and driver assistance systems: Automatic Emergency Braking; Adaptive Cruise Control; Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Reverse Automatic Braking; Lane Keep Assist Front Collision Warning; Lane Departure Warning Blind Sport Monitoring; Lane Change Assist As standard, the two-wheel-drive comes equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment system and the four-wheel-drive with a 14.6-inch display, neither with Android Auto that is substituted by the Carbit Link mirroring app. Apple CarPlay integration is, however, standard. One or two motors On the power front, the initial range will consist of two powertrains; the single-motor powered by a 73-kWh lithium phosphate battery pack, and the dual-motor that adds a secondary electric motor to the front axle. In the two-wheel-drive, the RD6 will produce 200kW/384Nm and get from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. The claimed top speed is 185 km/h and the all-electric range 424 km. With the added electric motor, the four-wheel-drive develops 315kW/595Nm, which will allow it to get from 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. The claimed all-electric range mirrors that of the two-wheel-drive, while the top speed is pegged at 190 km/h. Supporting DC charging up to 110 kW, the RD6's battery will require 30 minutes waiting from 30-80%. In addition, the setup's vehicle-to-load capability allows for as much as six kilowatts to be fed back into the grid. More soon Set to be sold with a five-year/150 000 km warranty and an eight-year/200 000 km battery warranty, expect details about the RD6's price tag to be announced soon. ALSO READ: Welcome back: Geely returning to South Africa before year-end
