In July 2021, the First Milebao XL, which landed in Zhejiang for the first time, ran a good result of 1:54.168, winning the title of "the fastest front-drive car within 200,000" in one fell swoop. Even in its original form, it is faster than the Golf GTI MK7, Toyota 86, Lynk & Co 03+ and other models.
In March this year, the "Keyboard Car God Sect" sect leader drove the moderately modified Mai Ruibao XL once again "brushed up" Zhejiang Race. The 1:45.640 is nearly 9 seconds faster than the original state, and even faster than lightweight sports cars such as the Lotus Edge S and the Evora GT410.
For consumers who want to buy a sports midsize sedan, this Maribal XL must not be missed, it has proven itself with excellent track results.
However, in the eyes of many people, accord is the representative of sports mid-size cars, and excellent sales are the embodiment of strength. So today, we will compare in the name of sports, look at the Mribao XL and Accord, who is the real "benchmark" model?
The so-called sports, strong power must be the top priority, which is also the most intuitive embodiment of whether a car is moving or not. So first of all, let's compare the powertrains of the two cars.
For The Maribao XL, although it has a 1.5T model, it must be a 2.0T model to talk about the ultimate power experience.
The 2.0T engine, code-named LSY, has a maximum horsepower of 237 hp and a peak torque of 350 N·m, which is very eye-catching. The exclusive ATM intelligent thermal management system allows it to quickly get into optimal working condition and maintain the best power output during intense driving.
In addition to this, it has a wide peak torque speed range. Coupled with the 9AT gearbox's dense gear ratio and fast and precise gear shift logic, the engine can work as efficiently as possible in the strongest range of power and then efficiently pass to the drive wheels through the gearbox.
The Zhejiang International Circuit track is 3.2km long and has a total of 16 corners. The perfect combination of engine and gearbox makes the 237 horsepower of the Maribao XL get the most out of it, and the power connection is never delayed in every in and out corner.
According to the video at the time, Rocaylo driving the Maribao XL reached an exaggerated tail speed of 184km/h in front of the T16 turn, which is the most powerful proof of its powerful power.
But in addition, this 2.0T engine also uses variable cylinder technology and 35MPa high-pressure injection technology. Not only is it powerful, but the fuel economy of the Mablex is also excellent, with an combined fuel consumption of only 6.7L/100km under NEDC conditions.
Based on price considerations, we can only choose the 1.5T Accord for comparison, not to mention that its 2.0L hybrid system itself has nothing to do with "movement". From the comparison in the above table, it can be seen that compared to the Maribal XL, accord is still slightly inferior.
Although this 1.5T engine is equipped with the well-known VTEC technology, after all, the displacement is limited, the maximum horsepower is only 194 horses, and the peak torque is 260N·m.
More worrisome than the engine, though, is the Accord's CVT gearbox. Although this structure has better smoothness, it is not suitable for intense driving after all, not only slippery, but also easy to overheat.
Through the comparison of the powertrains, we can see the strength of the Maribao XL. However, for a sports car, the power is only the tip of the iceberg, and the chassis cannot be ignored.
As mentioned above, Zhejiang has a total of 16 curves, large and small. Every change in the speed and shift of center of gravity in and out of the corner places high demands on the vehicle's steering, braking, and suspension systems.
The Maribao XL uses a four-wheel independent suspension, the front and rear steering knuckles are made of aluminum alloy, which is lighter and more elastic than cast iron, which can greatly reduce the under-spring mass.
What's more, the car is also equipped with a high-sport performance horse brand MC5 tire, which reaches a width of 245mm. Correspondingly, the vehicle's handling performance and driving experience will be better.
Look back at the performance of the Maribal XL on the track at that time. In the face of continuous curves, the front of the car's response and the trail of the car are very good, the body does not have excess shaking when the center of gravity is quickly changed, and the suspension is very sideways.
In addition, in terms of braking, the performance of the Maribal XL is also very eye-catching, and some media have measured that the braking distance of this car from 100km/h-0 is only about 37m.
When racing on the track, each brake point in Rocaylo is very far behind, which is enough to highlight the strong braking force and braking stability of the Maribao XL.
Also in contrast, Accord's performance in the chassis is also slightly inferior. Although it is also a four-wheel independent suspension, its front steering knuckles are made of cast iron, which has greater suspension inertia when impacted, which is not conducive to handling.
In terms of tires, accord is also so-so, with a maximum tire width of only 235mm. Braking from 100km/h takes about 40m, and the braking performance is far from that of the Maribal XL.
By comparing the chassis, we can draw a conclusion: the Maribal XL is the most sporty model in its class, and there is no one.
In the original state, The Murebao XL is already very good, and the "fastest front-drive car within 200,000" is its glory. However, it never sticks to this, and a small modification can make a big difference to this car.
We mentioned at the beginning of the article that the instructor drove a moderately modified Mai Ruibao XL to "brush up" Zhejiang again, and the performance improved by nearly 9s. So, what exactly did he change?
First, there was the novice four-piece set, tires, wheels, shock absorbers, brakes, and the interior was removed and the racing seats were replaced. On the one hand, upgrading the chassis and reducing weight on the other hand, a total of less than 70,000 yuan was spent, which made the car undergo earth-shaking changes.
Of course, he also has an official set of special ECU programs, which increases the power of about a dozen horses.
However, for most ordinary consumers, the degree of such modification is still exaggerated. But the Master proved one thing for us, and that is that the Maribal XL has a good foundation and a lot of modification potential.
Each of us can selectively upgrade some of the configuration according to our own preferences, and find the most suitable modification solution for ourselves in the continuous exploration, and also make this Maribao XL more colorful.
For a 200,000-class medium-sized sedan, whether it is the Maribao XL or the Accord, in fact, few people will really drive it on the track.
But The XL still chose to prove itself with the track, and compared to the Accord, it is even more leading in all directions. It's the sportiest car in its class, with the best power performance, the best chassis and the best handling.
In today's increasingly homogeneous automotive market, this insistence also makes consumers more excited.
In addition, in terms of price, Maribal XL is also full of sincerity. With the money of a beggar version of the Accord, you can buy the 2.0T Maribor XL in the middle. Therefore, this car is not only the most sporty car in the same class, it is also the most cost-effective car in the same class.