Chevrolet has launched the Menlo sedan, its first full-electric vehicle in China. It is offered in four variants priced from RMB 159,900 (Rs 16.30 lakh) to RMB 179,900 (Rs 18.34 lakh) after national subsidies for new energy vehicles.

“Along with being a new energy vehicle, the Chevrolet Menlo inherits Chevrolet’s sporty DNA that dates back to its founding by race car drivers,” said Scott Lawson, general director of Chevrolet for SAIC-GM. “It will meet the performance and styling demands of our customers and at the same time provide the efficiency that new energy vehicle owners expect.”

Inspired by the Chevrolet FNR-X all-purpose sports concept vehicle, the Chevrolet Menlo sports a blend of crossover and sporty coupe styling. Its sharp split LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights enhance the styling. The ‘floating’ roofline is complemented by 17-inch two-colour five-spoke sport wheels. Its interior has a stylish multi-layer centre console. A 10.1-inch ultra-thin suspension type centre control LCD touchscreen, 8-inch full-colour TFT LCD instrument panel and multifunctional dual-width steering wheel offer a sense of science and technology while inspiring driving passion.

The Chevrolet Menlo comes with 28 storage spaces and up to 1,077 litres of cargo space. Its 1.147-square-meter panoramic skylight contributes to the feeling of spaciousness. Laminated glass provides sound insulation and heat insulation, while effectively blocking 96% of UV rays.

Efficient electric drive system

The Chevrolet Menlo incorporates GM’s class-leading battery technology and a new-generation highly efficient pure electric drive system that ensures a smooth, quiet and natural driving experience. It generates 110 kW of maximum power and 350 Nm of maximum torque, with electricity consumption of 13.1 kWh/100 km.

The vehicle has a constant-speed range of up to 410km under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) conditions on a single charge. Its battery can be fully charged to 80% of capacity within 40 minutes using a direct current (DC) fast charger.

The Chevrolet Menlo has three driving modes and three energy recovery modes. The economical, normal and sporty driving modes support base acceleration, standard acceleration and enhanced acceleration depending on users’ preferences. The energy recovery modes of light free recovery, medium efficient recovery and strong energy recovery likewise support personal preferences for a balance between driving performance and energy consumption.

Chevrolet says the Menlo has received certification for meeting Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) D – the highest integrity requirement for vehicles.

The Chevrolet Menlo features the new-generation MyLink+ infotainment system with OnStar. It not only supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, Apple CarPlay and Baidu CarLife, but also offers functions such as virtual car key, remote control and intelligent voice recognition.

On the safety front, Chevrolet Menlo’s technologies include Bosch's 9.3 Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Forward Collision Alert (FCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), Automatic Parking Assist (APA), Following Distance Indicator (FDI) and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).