Chinese brand Feifan, also known as Rising Auto, unveils its new F7, an electric sedan chasing the lands of the Tesla Model 3. Compatible with battery swapping, it takes less than three minutes to a complete “recharge”.
Feifan Rising Auto F7
As the European market begins to be invaded by Chinese brands such as MG, BYD or even Xpeng and Nio, a new player could in turn make its arrival. It is Rising Auto, a young brand founded in 2021 also known as Feifan. For the time being only marketed in its native country, the brand could in turn try its luck with us a little later.
A new electric sedan
Last September, the manufacturer lifted the veil on its very first car, which then took the form of an electric SUV known as the R7 and announced from 2021 by the ES33 concept unveiled at the Shanghai show. A few months later, Feifan returns to the front of the stage with a brand new model. This time it’s abouta sedan, soberly baptized F7.
As announced in the SAIC Motor press release, parent company of the brand which also owns MG, this newcomer has just started production in China, at the factory located in Lingang. displaying a length of five meters all stack for 1.95 meters wide and 1.49 meters high, the electric sedan then hunts directly on the lands of the Tesla Model S.
At first glance, this new F7 displays a style quite similar to that of the Nio ET7, which we had the chance to drive a few months earlier. Some might also notice a silhouette reminiscent of its American rival. Anyway, a lot of work has been done on the aerodynamics, while the car displays a Cx of only 0.206thus approaching the Mercedes EQS and its 0.20.
If it is equipped with handles integrated into the bodywork, it however ignores the camera mirrors. The sedan displays a rather generous wheelbase of 3 meters, making it possible to accommodate up to five passengers on board, in a driving position which is reminiscent of that of the Mercedes EQS and EQE. We indeed find a huge 43-inch digital panel very close to the Hyperscreen of German sedans.
An express recharge
At the rear, occupants can enjoy a more classic 8-inch screen while the car is equipped with an audio system with no less than 16 speakers. However, we do not know if the touch screen is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Based on a homemade platform and an aluminum chassis as specified by the TechGoing site, the new Feifan F7 is available in propulsion and with four-wheel drive. The power is then between 250 and 400 kW (between 340 and 544 horsepower) for a torque reaching 700 Nm.
Thus, the0 to 100 km/h is achieved in 3.7 seconds on the top-spec version, compared to 3.2 seconds for the standard Tesla Model S. If the battery capacity has not been specified, the It Home site specifies that the autonomy is displayed at 666 kilometers according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. It is then rather necessary to count on 566 kilometers WLTP. Charging time and power have not been announced, but it is known that the sedan will be compatible with battery swapping.
A technology inaugurated by Nio in China and Europe, but also recently developed by the SAIC group, which then makes it possible to leave with a full car in just two and a half minutes. Note that the new Rising Auto F7 is also equipped with the Rising Pilot semi-autonomous driving system, probably limited to level 2. This is made operational thanks to an Nvidia Drive Orin chip offering a power of 254 TOPS and 32 sensors. The car is however not equipped with LiDAR like the Nio ET7 and other Volvo EX90.
The first deliveries of the electric sedan will begin in March, while orders are already open. If the rates are not yet known, the deposit required for booking is only 77 yuan, or the equivalent of 10 euros. The first customers will be able to benefit from the exchange of batteries or the use of semi-autonomous driving for life. If no information about marketing in Europe has been revealed, this possibility cannot be excluded.
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