Month: April 2022

The first shipment of Chery Tiggo 7 Pro models is en route to South Africa.

The local introduction of Chery’s third unique model range follows the success of the model range in other parts of the world, notably Russia, the Middle East and South America.

“Chery is a much-loved brand in many countries that have a similar buying profile, road network and infrastructure as South Africa. For instance, in Russia, the model has been so successful that it has become one of the most popular SUVs in its class.” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

The Tiggo 7 Pro has seen similar success in South America. In Peru, for instance, the Tiggo 7 Pro was the model range with the most votes in the recent Most Loved Brands competition. This helped Chery to earn the title as Peru’s Most Loved Chinese Brand.

In Chile, the Tiggo 7 Pro has boosted Chery sales to a top 5 position in the country, with other models such as the Tiggo 8 Pro also performing exceedingly well.

Further East in Qatar, the Tiggo 7 Pro was recently recognised as the best-selling SUV in the two-wheel drive class. This after only six months on the market in that country.

“We first launched the Tiggo 7 Pro in Russia, where it quickly proved its mettle in both hot and cold conditions. The next phase has seen the Tiggo 7 Pro land in markets such as Brazil, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Uruguay and the Philippines.

“Having now been fully tested and homologated for South Africa, we can join the global launch schedule and plan to deliver the first Tiggo 7 Pro models to customers in the next couple of weeks,” says Liu.

The Tiggo 7 Pro will slot in above the Tiggo 4 Pro and below the Tiggo 8 Pro, in price, specification and size.

The model has been designed to appeal to the upper-midrange SUV market, with a comprehensive range of specifications, above average luxury and the modern technology that Chery has become known for in South Africa.

All Tiggo 7 Pro models will be powered by Chery’s next-generation 1.5 litre turbo-petrol engine with 108 kW and 210 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a new CVT transmission with 9 in-built gear steps.

As on other Tiggo Pro models, the Tiggo 7 Pro has no shortage of technology. This includes a digital instrument panel, a full HD infotainment system and digital controls for the climate control centre.

“Many of the features that our South African customers have come to love, will also be available on the Tiggo 7 Pro range. These include our omnidirectional airbag system, our 360-degree camera array for easy low-speed manoeuvring and parking and our Chery Voice Command system,” says Liu.

Chery will announce more details of the Tiggo 7 Pro range closer to the official launch date.

Chery confirms productions specifications of new DHT Hybrid system

Chery, China’s leading vehicle exporter and a global leader in propulsion technology, has confirmed the specifications of its new-generation hybrid system.

The DHT Hybrid system sets a new standard for hybrid propulsion. It lays the foundation for the company’s transition from internal combustion to a portfolio of petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric and fuel cell powered vehicles.

“The new hybrid system has a unique operating model that is based, first and foremost, on customers’ needs and driving patterns. In China, this technology officially introduces the next generation of hybrid propulsion to the market,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

To best explain the new system, Chery has adopted a short slogan called: Three engines, three gears, nine modes and 11 speeds.

Three engines

At the heart of the new hybrid system is Chery’s use of three ‘engines’. The first engine is a hybrid-specific version of its popular 1.5 turbo-petrol engine, which delivers 115 kW and 230 Nm of torque. It is worth noting that the platform is also ready for a hybrid-specific version of its 2.0 turbo-petrol engine.

The turbo-petrol engine is ‘hybrid-specific’, as it is lean burning and has best-in-class efficiency. It is paired with two electric motors, which combine to offer the three engines mentioned above.

The two electric motors have power outputs of 55 kW and 160 Nm and 70 kW and 155 Nm respectively. They are both fitted with a unique fixed-point oil injection cooling system, that not only allows the motors to run at a lower operating temperature, but that extends the operating life to well beyond industry standards.

During its development, these electric motors ran faultlessly for more than 30 000 hours and 5 million combined testing kilometres. This promises a real-world service life of at least 1,5 times the industry average.

Lastly, Chery has tested the electric motors to offer a power transmission efficiency of 97.6%. This is the highest in the world.

Three gears

To best deliver the power from its three engines, Chery has created a three-gear transmission that combines with its standard variable transmission to near infinite gear combinations. This means that whether the driver wants the lowest fuel consumption, the highest performance, the best towing capabilities or any other application specific use, it is catered for with this three gear setup.

Nine modes

The three engines and three gears are matched and managed by nine unique operating modes.

These modes create a framework for the drivetrain to deliver its best power and efficiency, while still allowing infinite variability to each driver’s needs.

The nine modes include single-motor electric only mode, dual motor pure electric performance, a direct drive from the turbo petrol engine and a parallel drive that harnesses both petrol and electric power.

There are also a mode specific for charging while parked and a mode for charging while driving.

 11 speeds

Lastly, the new hybrid system offers 11 speed modes. These again combine with the engines and operating modes to offer a range of application specific settings, while still allowing for individual variability for each driver.

The 11 speeds cover all possible vehicle usage scenes, including low speed driving (for instance while moving in heavy traffic), long distance driving, mountain driving where low-end torque is welcome, overtaking, expressway driving, driving on slippery conditions, where the dual-axle motors will drive all four wheels for better traction, and urban commuting.

In its production form, the hybrid system a combined system of 240 kW from the 2-wheel drive version and a staggering 338 kW combined power from the four-wheel drive system. The former has a tested 0-100 km acceleration time of less than 7 seconds and the latter dispenses of the 100 km acceleration run in 4 seconds.

Says Liu: “The production version of our new hybrid system shows both the technical expertise of Chery and its engineers and the exciting future of the vehicles earmarked for South Africa.

“We are also excited to see how our new hybrid technology will lay the foundation for a complete new range of vehicle solutions where we utilise this systems innovations in engine management, transmission and power delivery in many different applications.”

All new Chery platforms are future proof and will be able to house a complete range of propulsion options, including electric, petrol and hybrid systems.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro range is Saudi Arabia’s SUV with the most advanced technology.

Launched in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East a mere eight months ago, the Tiggo 8 Pro has quickly established itself as a top-seller in the mid-sized luxury SUV market.

The market success of the Tiggo 8 Pro has not escaped the notice of Saudi Arabian media, who selected the 1.6 TGDI turbo-petrol Tiggo 8 Pro model with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for its annual best-in-class vehicle tests.

The Tiggo 8 Pro emerged from this competition as the winner of the “2021 SUV with Best Advanced Technology” Award. It received this high award from both Saudi Auto and Sport Motor magazines, making it the models first double award in the country.

Chery launched the Tiggo 8 Pro range in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in June 2021, and it has already seen a six-time increase in sales over the previous model.

According to the judges, the unique combination of ultra-modern technology and real-world affordability has made the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro the natural choice.

The judges noted the model’s TGDI engine, which was selected as a Top 10 China Heart engine for its efficiency and power delivery, the smart LED crystal light technology, the multi-screen information and entertainment systems and the 3D-designed leather clad seats in its list of highlights.

Judges further noted a low 34 decibel interior noise level at speed, which was best-in-class.

The Tiggo Pro range has topped the sales charts in its class in many markets across the world, including Russia, the Middle East and markets in South America. At the same time, Chery has won awards on all these continents.

“While the Tiggo 8 Pro was launched outside of the period of eligibility for the SA Car of the Year competition, its sibling the Tiggo 4 Pro is a finalist in the current competition. We look forward to similar success for the Tiggo 8 Pro next year,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro range is available at 50 dealers across South Africa with a starting price of R496 900. This price includes a very high level of luxury and safety as standard, including at least six airbags, leather upholstery, round-view cameras and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat.

As with the Tiggo 4 Pro, all Tiggo 8 Pro models are also sold with a 1-million kilometre mechanical warranty.