Since Wuling entered the field of new energy vehicles, it has always adhered to the core concept of "making cars for the people", and has successively launched a number of high-quality models close to the public. Among them, the first family model, Wuling Xingguang, quickly became popular as soon as it was listed. Among them, the Wuling Starlight PHEV version has sold a total of 52,000 units since its launch five months ago, ranking among the top 3 of the 150,000 plug-in hybrid sedans. The pure electric version of the Wuling Starlight has just been officially unveiled and launched at the Beijing Auto Show. Today, let's take a look at the style of Wuling Starlight pure electric version.
Looking at the static part first, in terms of exterior design, Wuling Xingguang surpasses the inherent framework of traditional family cars and adopts the design concept of "star wing aesthetics", which is significantly different from the common compact and narrow style of ordinary family sedans and lack of dynamics.
At first sight, the star dome roof design is impressive, the low-drag streamlined body with the swooping nose shows a strong sporty atmosphere, and the continuous star ring taillights are like a shooting star in the night sky, which is unforgettable.
The car shows a slender and imposing posture, especially the fastback rear end combined with the sleek lines of the body, giving it a sports car-like elegance. The front face is different from the PHEV version, and the pure electric version adopts a simple and stylish fully enclosed grille design, with a silver Wuling logo inlaid in the center to highlight the brand.
Above the front of the car are split daytime running lights, and the internal light sources are arranged horizontally and gradually, making the front of the car appear wider and full of technology. The lower area is equipped with high and low beams, and the lampshades are blackened, further adding to the sporty and youthful look of the car.
The side of the body is one of the highlights of the model, with dimensions of 4835 mm, 1860 mm and 1515 mm, and a wheelbase of 2800 mm, which is close to the spacious standard of a B-segment sedan, coupled with a smooth and elegant body line design. In particular, the large fastback shape that slowly descends from the C-pillar gives the car a more slender and attractive visual effect.
In terms of door handle design, the car is unique in that it does not follow the hidden door handles commonly found in electric vehicles, nor does it follow the design pattern of traditional combustion vehicles, but cleverly embeds the door handles flush with the body surface and cleverly creates a grip space inside. The design is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also practical and aerodynamic, reducing drag.
It's these details that have been meticulously crafted to enable the car to achieve an impressive ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.228Cd, which directly means better energy efficiency and range, which I really like.
At the rear of the car, a continuous design aesthetic is adopted, with slender taillights that extend to the sides, subtly outlining the form of a hook, and at the same time acting as a separation between the fastback and the body façade, clearly depicting the contour of the rear wing. The wide-body rear bumper design further reinforces the vehicle's distinctive identity.
In terms of interior equipment, the new car elegantly presents an interior style of dark black tones and light sand two-tone stitching, and the two-spoke multi-function steering wheel complements the floating LCD instrument cluster and the large central control touch screen.
The center console adopts a flat and straight line layout, which is not only visually layered, but also adds a sense of space. Integrating the piano black lacquer panel, it cleverly balances the sense of technology and high-end texture, and avoids the impression of cheapness. To its credit, the central control area retains the physical buttons for common functions, including air conditioning adjustment, to ensure the convenience of operation.
In terms of passenger space experience, Wuling Starlight benefits from its ultra-long wheelbase of 2.8 meters, and the interior space is comparable to that of a B-class sedan. The width of the aisle in the car is 390 mm, and the maximum range of motion of the legs is extended to 1 meter, providing passengers with a spacious and comfortable riding environment. In particular, the car's fastback shape starts to descend slowly from the rear of the C-pillar, which cleverly avoids encroachment on the rear headroom and ensures an open and comfortable ride.
It is worth mentioning. Wuling Starlight also has a unique "recliner design", the front seats are reclined 180° and can be flush with the rear cushions to form a recliner, which is very convenient when you need to take a nap.
In terms of storage, the trunk of the new car has reserved 540L space, which can easily accommodate 2 24-inch and 2 20-inch suitcases, and a 33L hidden storage compartment is also set under the carpet, and the whole car is equipped with more than 14 storage spaces, which is enough to cope with daily storage.
In terms of safety, the high-strength steel of the Starlight vehicle accounts for 76.4%, the front-end aluminum alloy anti-collision beam, with the energy-absorbing box design, the energy-absorbing effect is increased by 30%, and the body A/B pillars and door frames on both sides are made of high-strength steel to make the overall body safety factor higher. Active safety is equipped with ESC electronic body stability system and 360° panoramic image composed of four 1280*960 high-definition ultra-wide-angle cameras.
Let's drive the car and see how the Wuling Starlight pure electric version feels when it is driven.
In terms of power, the new car adopts a single-motor drive form, with a maximum motor power of 150kW and a maximum torque of 310Nm. It is available in 410km and 510km range. At the start, thanks to the on-call characteristics of the motor torque, the power output response of the Wuling Xingguang pure electric version is very agile. Especially in sports mode, there is still a certain feeling of pushing back.
The overall smoothness of the output is also good. The brake foot feeling is soft, and the braking force in the first half will be relatively small, but the braking force is enough to fully step on it, and there is no problem with a comfort-oriented family car, it is easier to drive more steadily than the car, and the initial section is too sensitive for novices.
The steering feel is relatively light at low speed, and as the speed increases, the steering torque also increases. Good sense of centering. At the same time, there are three gears to choose from, which can be adjusted according to the user's driving habits.
In terms of chassis, the Starlight adopts an independent rear suspension structure with a front MacPherson and rear E-type multi-link suspension. The overall tuning is based on comfort, and the sparse vibrations of the road surface are filtered very well.
For large tremors, there are no extra multiple bounces when the Wuling Starlight presses over speed bumps on city roads or potholes in the countryside. Sudden acceleration or braking will not be noticeable to raise your head and nod your head. When changing lanes quickly, the response of the body is also relatively fast. It is very comfortable to drive by yourself, and the passengers are also comfortable to ride.
It is worth mentioning that the Wuling Starlight pure electric version is the only model in the same class with 2C fast charging capability, and the new car is equipped with a Shenlian battery (2C), which is claimed to have a range of 200 kilometers in 15 minutes of charging, and 30 minutes when charging 10%-80% of energy consumption. The measured charging power is more than 80 kilowatts.
In summary, the Wuling Starlight pure electric version shows Wuling's in-depth insight and technological innovation in the field of new energy with its comprehensive upgrade in design, performance, safety, etc., and provides an ideal choice for family users who pursue both quality and practicality. At a time when the competition in the new energy vehicle market is becoming increasingly fierce, Wuling Xingguang pure electric version interprets the true meaning of "super A-class" with its strength.