The Guinness World Record holder for the longest-ranged PHEV has a new winner. It was revealed during the Chery Fulwin A8L’s December 17 debut that the vehicle could go 2369.915 kilometres on a full charge and with a full tank of petrol.
Two months after the SAIC Roewe brand had claimed the title with its D7 DMH, the news was made. It draws attention to the pressure on China’s larger automakers to develop PHEV cars with ever-increasing ranges ever since BYD introduced their DM 5.0 technology.
The price range for the Fulwin A8L is 109,900 yuan (15,100 USD) to 149,900 yuan (20,600 USD), with five different models available. For a brief while, each version’s price is lowered by 10,000 yuan (1350 USD).
| 70 km Standard Edition | 109,900 yuan (15,100 USD) |
| 70 km Comfort Edition | 119,900 yuan (16,500 USD) |
| 145 km Standard Edition | 129,900 yuan (17,850 USD) |
| 145 km Comfort Edition | 139,900 yuan (19,200 USD) |
| 145 km Luxury Edition | 149,900 yuan (20,600 USD) |
In actuality, this year’s third Chery Fulwin A8 model is being introduced. The Chery Arrizo 8, an ICE that went on sale in 2022, is where the car got its start. In early 2024, a PHEV variant, the Chery Fulwin A8, was introduced. The Voyage Edition, formerly known as the A8 Pro, was then released in April. In a test, the automobile came just short of its goal of a 2000 km range.
Compared to the Voyage Edition, which featured an enclosed front, the new Fulwin A8L resembles the original A8 more. However, the car’s dimensions are somewhat different, with a wheelbase of 2790 mm and a length increase of 10 millimetres, with measurements of 4790, 1843, and 1487 m.
The license plate and the Chery emblem are displayed on the honeycomb-patterned polygonal grille at the front of the Chery Fulwin A8L. Air intakes are to the sides. The rear light cluster sports a new appearance, while the car’s side looks to be mostly unaltered. In addition, Fulwin is spelled here instead of Chery like on the A8. Compared to earlier iterations of the A8, the lower portion of the rear has a far simpler design.
Chery’s C-DM hybrid system is now known as C-DM 5.0. The system seems to come in two variants, one based on a 1.5 normally aspirated engine and the other on a turbocharged one.
The 1.5-liter engine that powers the two least expensive Chery Fulwin A8L models can produce up to 75 kW of power and 125 Nm of peak torque. Furthermore, a 150 KW electric motor with a maximum torque of 310 Nm is installed in the front. As a result, the system can provide 225 kW of power and 435 Nm of torque.
The 9.53 kWh battery in these A8L variants is smaller. As a result, the vehicle’s CLTC all-electric range is up to 70 kilometres.
The more potent 1.5T variant of the CDM 5.0 powertrain appears to have been used to achieve the Guinness World Record. This has a peak torque of 220 Nm and a maximum power of 115 kW. Utilising the same electric motor as the 1.5 normally aspirated engine, the system’s total output is 265 kW with a maximum torque of 530 Nm.
It’s interesting that during the launch, Chery displayed a slide that contrasted the Fulwin A8L with an Audi 7L, which is obviously a much bigger and more costly vehicle. The Chery Fulwin A8L offers more power and torque than the 3.0T V6. Remarkably, the top speed of 205 km/h is not all that different from the Audi’s 208 km/h. Although an acceleration time of 3.4 seconds from 0 to 50 km/h is reported, there is currently no official acceleration time available. Additionally, the vehicle can travel 180 km/h for an hour without stalling, which is a common issue with PHEV and EREV vehicles.
A larger 18.67 kWh battery pack is also included in versions with the 1.5 T-based drivetrain. As a result, the car’s CLTC all-electric range is 145 km, which is much longer than the claimed combined range of over 2100 km. The stated WLTC fuel consumption is 4.2 L/100 KM. Fast charging is supported by this version, which can recharge from 30% to 80% SoC in 19 minutes.
The equipment and controls have been somewhat updated, but the inside of the Chery Fulwin A8 is mostly unchanged from earlier iterations. The A8L features a separate 10.25-inch LCD instrument panel and a floating 15.6-inch infotainment screen, while earlier models had a merged dual-screen design. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor manages the vehicle’s functions.
Additionally, the drive selector has moved from the centre console to a stalk located on the steering column. The steering wheel’s basic design hasn’t altered, but it appears that the controls have undergone a minor alteration. Additionally, the wheel now features the Chery logo.
Ten airbags, a 540-degree transparent chassis view, Bluetooth key entry, 50W wireless mobile phone charging, motorised seat adjustment, heating and ventilation, and an optional eight-speaker Sony sound system are among the creature pleasures. Additionally, it boasts an L2+ assisted driving system that can count down traffic lights.
Furthermore, the car achieved an average mileage of 2,291.72 km on the Hainan Island Challenge, which translates to a fuel consumption rate of 2.66 L/100 km. However, complete details of the Guinness record appear to be unavailable.
