2025 Jaecoo J7 PHEV to launch alongside petrol model in Australia
12/04/2024 08:19 PM
A plug-in hybrid version of the J7 SUV from Chery's Jaecoo brand will launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2025.
The 2025 Jaecoo J7 PHEV has been confirmed for an Australia launch in the first quarter of next year.
New brand Jaecoo – managed by its Chery parent – has announced the J7 Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Super Hybrid System (J7 PHEV SHS) will arrive between January and March 2025, the same timeframe announced for turbo-petrol versions of the mid-size SUV.
The J7 PHEV SHS combines a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor and an 18kWh battery pack for a 255kW and 525Nm combined system output.
MORE: Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid – What's the difference?
Individual outputs for the electric motor and the petrol engine have not been detailed – but a version of Chery's 1.5-litre turbo produces 108kW and 210Nm in the smaller Omoda 5 SUV.
Jaecoo says the 1.5-litre engine in the J7 PHEV delivers 44.5 per cent thermal efficiency and ‘fuel supply on demand’ to optimise “every drop of fuel”.
Under the European WLTP lab-test standard, the SUV is rated for 90-kilometres of driving range in electric-only mode, while Jaecoo claims a 1200-kilometre combined driving range.
The J7 PHEV SHS can be driven in four modes: Electric-only, series hybrid where the petrol motor acts as a generator, parallel hybrid allowing the petrol and electric motors to work together, and 'energy recovery' to prioritise recharging the vehicle's battery.
Exterior changes over the standard J7 include different side mirrors with improved aerodynamics, a unique 19-inch alloy wheel design, and a revised rear bumper without fake exhaust outlets.
Inside, the J7 PHEV receives a column-mounted gear selector, dedicated drive mode buttons, horizontal cup holders, a dual door centre armrest, and a different door skin with a 'minimalist' latch design.
The 2025 Jaecoo J7 PHEV SHS is due in Australian showrooms between January and March next year, alongside the petrol-only model.
It will mark the launch of the Jaecoo brand in Australia which is set to operate with separate showrooms to Chery.
The J7 is a mid-size SUV based on the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, with an almost identical wheelbase and the same 137kW/275Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine for petrol-only models.
MORE: China's Chery to launch Jaecoo J7 family SUV in Australia
Standard equipment confirmed for Australia includes a 14.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, a wireless phone charger, LED headlights, front fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, and power-adjustable front seats.
The Jaecoo line-up will expand in Australia with the J5 small SUV later in 2025 – while the off-road-styled J6 and the seven-seat J8 available overseas are still to be confirmed for local showrooms.
In Malaysia, the Omoda C9 – which has been approved for Australian sale – is marketed under the Jaecoo brand, but it is unclear if Chery Australia intends to sell this vehicle under Chery or Jaecoo.
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