The Chinese automaker is back with another that borrows its design from an American vehicle, but this time it’s taking more than the look — it’s going for the attitude, too. Dongfeng Motors is making an off-road EV called the M18 that’s more or less the Chinese copy of GM’s , as Car News China .
The upcoming Dongfeng M18 is basically an EV version of the . Really, a massive EV off-roader was bound to appear in China, where EVs are very popular and oversized trucks and SUVs are slowly growing in number. When you combine the success of EVs and the traction big trucks and SUVs are gaining in China, you get this:
Or, something very similar, since that’s the gas-powered M50 Warrior, which is the civilian version of the , a military vehicle based on . Car News China Dongfeng is actually planning an entire lineup of M18 EV off-roaders, set to be released as part of a new “M” sub-brand. The first of these will be an SUV that seats six.
So, how will the M18 stack up to the Hummer EV? The following are the alleged Dongfeng M18 specs, according to :
One 800Kw motor making 1,070 horsepower0-62 miles per hour in under 5 seconds140kWh battery, with a range of 311 milesWeighs 6,384 poundsAbout 17 feet long, and over 7 feet wide
And the following specs are those of the :
Three 255kW motors making up to 1,000 HP 0-60 miles per hour in 3 secondsUp to a 350kWh battery, with a range up to 350 milesWeighs over 9,000 poundsAbout 18 feet long, and over 7.25 feet wide
I gave the Hummer EV the benefit of the doubt here, listing its max numbers. Still, it looks like the Dongfeng M18 can match the Hummer EV in a number of ways and outdo it in others — the main ones being its lower weight and smaller size, which matter when going off-road. Car News China doesn’t list specific off-road tech, only a “new MORV electric off-road vehicle platform.”
Where the M18 won’t be more competitive than the Hummer EV is price. It’ll cost somewhere between ¥600,000 - 700,000, or around $94,300 - $110,000, when it goes on sale in China. Its release is some time away, as production of the M18 is supposed to start in 2023.
Car News China also there won’t be any direct competitors to the Dongfeng M18, because even though it won’t be the only Hummer copycat in the country, it will probably be the only Hummer EV copycat.