Deepal E07 electric ute confirmed for Australia, alongside S05 family SUV
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China’s take on the Cybertruck – a mash-up of a ute and an SUV – is coming to Deepal showrooms in Australia alongside a smaller SUV, both sold overseas with electric or range-extender hybrid power.
New Chinese brand Deepal is set to expand its line-up from one to three models by the end of this year, with confirmation of the S05 mid-size SUV and Cybertruck-like E07 ute, available overseas as electric cars or range-extender hybrids.
And Deepal showrooms could become even more crowded over the 18 months to follow, as a range of new models on sale in China – including Avatr luxury cars – are under consideration.
Due in the second half of this year – pending any delays – the E07 combines the underpinnings and cabin of a mid-size family SUV, with a tray and sliding tonneau akin to a ute.
Meanwhile, the S05 due at a similar time is slightly smaller than the current Deepal S07, measuring 4620mm long – similar to a Toyota RAV4.
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It remains closer to a Tesla Model Y or Deepal S07 (about 4750mm long) than a BYD Atto 3 (about 4450mm), but its smaller footprint is expected to translate to a lower price than the S07’s $53,900.
Both new Deepals are available overseas with a choice of battery-electric or ‘range-extender’ power, the latter fitting a petrol engine as a generator to provide additional charge to the battery, which drives electric motors that spin the wheels.
Deepal Australia is yet to confirm which drivetrain – or both – is destined for local showrooms, with more details due in time for the Melbourne motor show in early April, where both cars will be displayed.
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Prices are yet to be confirmed for the E07 and S05.
Cormac Cafolla, Deepal Australia general manager, told local media it is “likely” the E07 will cost more than the S07’s $53,900 plus on-road costs RRP, while the S05 will the brand’s cheapest model yet.
Deepal E07
In China, the E07 is priced from 199,900 to 319,900 yuan ($AU43,000 to $AU69,000) in electric form, or from 209,900 to 299,900 yuan ($AU45,300 to $AU64,800) in range-extender guise.
The price of the Deepal S07 in China suggests a top-of-the-range E07 could cost close to – or in excess of – $70,000 in Australia, which would place it in line with top-selling diesel utes from Ford and Toyota.
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Measuring about five metres long, the E07 is about 300mm shorter nose to tail than a Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger, but sits on a similar wheelbase for generous interior space.
Flagship electric versions overseas are powered by an 89.98kWh battery, and either one 252kW rear motors, or dual motors with 440kW, the latter capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.96 seconds.
Estimated driving range in European WLTP testing is quoted as 560km with rear-wheel drive, and 520km with all-wheel drive, based on preliminary specifications provided to Australian media.
The range-extender uses a 92kW 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge the 39.05kWh battery, and either one 231kW rear motor or dual motors with 362kW.
Unlike a BYD Shark 6, the petrol engine cannot directly drive the wheels, with driving range rated at more than 1000km in Chinese testing.
The E07 is styled to look like a coupe-styled SUV with its tray covered, but a few button presses can drop a small piece of rear glass, slide the glass tonneau up and forward, and lower the tailgate to unlock a large storage area.
Owners can then lower the rear seats, the glass behind the passenger cabin, and the partition between the interior and tub to load longer items to the front seatbacks.
Deepal has not announced payloads, tow ratings or tray dimensions for the E07 locally, but the tailgate is said to be capable of supporting 300kg when lowered, and the cargo area quotes a volume of 500 to 524 litres, depending on model.
“It’s a bit of an enigma,” Cafolla said when asked how the E07 will be positioned in Australia.
“We look at it as a multi-lifestyle vehicle. People have called it a transforming ute. It’s a bit of a multi-truck … it can do a little bit of everything. We see it sitting somewhere in the ute segment, the SUV segment.
“I think it can offer a lot to the Australian consumer, the Australian family, and I think it’s … like a little bit of a Swiss army knife in terms of what it can do.”
Deepal S05
The S05 is smaller than the S07, but remains classified as a mid-size SUV like a Tesla Model Y, rather than a competitor for the smaller BYD Atto 3 or Hyundai Kona Electric.
In China, an S07 equivalent to Australia’s sole specification costs 29 per cent more than a top-of-the-range, rear-wheel-drive electric S05, which could point to a local price of $40,000 to $45,000 before on-road costs.
If that price comes to fruition, it would be one of the most affordable cars in the mid-size electric SUV class, competing with the Leapmotor C10 (from $45,888) and Geely EX5 (from $43,490).
The S05 will be the first Deepal model built for Australia in a new factory in Thailand, rather than the Chinese sourcing of its showroom mates.
Powering the model is a choice of electric variants, with one 175kW/320Nm rear electric motor or dual electric motors developing 295kW, for claimed 0–100km/h acceleration times of less than 7.5 and 5.5 seconds respectively.
The 68.8kWh battery pack is rated for WLTP ranges of more than 470km, and more than 430km for rear- and all-wheel-drive grades respectively, based on preliminary details shared with Australian media.
The range-extender uses a 92kW 1.5-litre engine to charge a 27.28kWh battery pack and 160kW/320Nm electric motor, for a 200km claimed electric-only range in Chinese testing, and up to 1234km in hybrid mode.
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