Even as strong as Hongmeng Zhixing, it also has anxieties?

This time, the new car launch events of Wenjie and Zhijie are a bit different.

In short, the main organizer of this event is “Hongmeng Zhixing” rather than Huawei, and you can recall the just-concluded Xiangjie S9 launch event, which was actually presented as one of the segments in Huawei’s full-scenario launch event.

Moreover, Electric Car News was invited to the launch event and witnessed that the six currently available new cars under the Hongmeng Zhixing brand were lined up. This scale and momentum are very similar to traditional automakers’ new product launches, lacking some of the “tech company” vibe that Huawei had in the past.

Behind these “small” changes, there may lie profound implications.

For example, in the future, Huawei’s presence in the “automotive” sector will be less evident, while “Hongmeng Zhixing” will emerge as a shinier brand, changing our conventional perceptions. Considering that the Chengdu Auto Show will kick off in a few days, it’s not surprising to launch new cars at this time, but Huawei’s intention in using a brand-new brand to launch them is indeed worth pondering.

Let’s focus on the new cars. Both Wenjie New M7 Pro and Zhijie R7 are essential products, indispensable in supplementing the product matrix. As the auto market approaches the sales peak of the “golden September and silver October,” Hongmeng Zhixing’s sales performance heavily depends on these two new cars.

Wenjie New M7 Pro: The benchmark for affordable yet spacious family SUVs

To be honest, everyone is already familiar with the Wenjie New M7, from its appearance to its interior space. The newly launched Pro version remains almost unchanged from the Ultra version in terms of the body, with the main differences lying in comfort features, especially in terms of intelligent driving.

There are still some highlights worth revisiting, such as the excellent ride comfort provided by the full-vehicle Shuyu seats. The six-seat version also comes with zero-gravity seats, while the five-seat version offers a so-called “beach chair” mode. Overall, Wenjie New M7 Pro leads in space within its class, particularly when compared to direct competitors like Lixiang L7 and L8, offering a significant space advantage.

In terms of hardware, Wenjie New M7 Pro will also be equipped with CDC continuously variable damping shock absorbers, complemented by an enhanced MacPherson front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. Yu Chengdong even stated that “we will lose more than 20,000 yuan on each sale of the entry-level Wenjie New M7 Pro”; Huawei’s DATS 2.0 function can intelligently adjust the CDC continuously variable damping shock absorbers, effectively ensuring vehicle stability in conjunction with the road preview function, inhibiting body sway during starts and sudden braking.

As for other basic parameters, Wenjie New M7 Pro is equipped with a 38.5kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, providing a CLTC pure electric driving range of up to 230 kilometers and a comprehensive driving range exceeding 1,200 kilometers. As an extended-range electric vehicle, such pure electric performance is sufficient for commuting within urban areas.

Next, we come to Wenjie’s forte in intelligence, encompassing two aspects: AEB capabilities and intelligent driving.

Yu Chengdong briefly mentioned AEB performance, stating that as of August 25, Huawei’s active safety features have prevented a potential 260,000 collisions. However, the main focus here is that the intelligent driving system adopted by the entry-level Wenjie New M7 Pro has been upgraded to Huawei ADS. Although it is only the “basic version,” it still benefits from Huawei’s AEB capabilities, thereby enhancing active safety.

Moving on to Huawei ADS Basic, the primary differences from the full version lie in two key points. Firstly, it is based on a “lidar-free” solution, and secondly, the vehicle’s computing power is relatively less. In terms of capabilities, active safety remains largely unchanged (with variations in the effective range and braking speed), but the intelligent driving scenarios are limited to highway driving and parking, falling short of the advanced ADS in complex weather conditions, nighttime driving, and urban areas.

Hongmeng Zhixing has compiled a comparison of the capabilities of ADS Basic vs. Advanced, providing a straightforward view of the boundaries of ADS Basic. However, given Huawei ADS’s performance and reputation, even the basic version is more appealing than most intelligent driving systems. This explains why Wenjie New M7 Pro is not the first car to feature Huawei ADS Basic; several new cars from Shenlan and Lantu, launched before Wenjie New M7 Pro, have already announced the adoption of ADS Basic.

Finally, regarding pricing, it appears that Wenjie New M7 Pro has indeed reached the limit of cost-effectiveness, with the official price remaining virtually unchanged from the presale price. The rear-wheel-drive version starts at 249,800 yuan, while the four-wheel-drive version starts at 269,800 yuan, seamlessly bridging the price range between Wenjie M5 and M7 Ultra.

Zhijie R7: Veiled and Mysterious

As expected by Electric Car News, the unveiling of Zhijie R7 was brief and succinct, aligning with the fact that the vehicle is still far from its official launch cycle. Similar to Yu Chengdong’s preview of Wenjie New M7 at last year’s Chengdu Auto Show, Zhijie R7 made only a fleeting appearance at this launch event and the upcoming Chengdu Auto Show.

Despite this, Hongmeng Zhixing briefly introduced some highlights of Zhijie R7.

In terms of basic information, Zhijie R7 is indeed a large vehicle, with dimensions of 4956×1981×1634mm and a wheelbase of 2950mm. Judging by these numbers, Zhijie R7 has a substantial body size but a seemingly shorter wheelbase, raising questions about how Yu Chengdong’s claim of “ample space” will be realized.

As for its exterior design, Electric Car News can only say that Hongmeng Zhixing’s current family design language is indeed impressive. Zhijie R7 resembles a taller version of Zhijie S7, but Yu Chengdong emphasized that design optimizations have resulted in the lowest drag coefficient among mass-produced SUVs, though specific figures will only be released at the official launch.

It can also be revealed that Zhijie R7 will be based on an 800V architecture and offer a maximum driving range of 802km. It will also come standard with a “fully loaded” Tuling chassis (primarily featuring air suspension), and ADS 3.0 intelligent driving capabilities.

Yu Chengdong introduced Zhijie R7 in just a few words, mentioning only the core information. Nevertheless, combining the on-site vehicle and information revealed at the launch event, we can briefly speculate about Zhijie R7’s positioning.

Yu Chengdong stated that Zhijie R7 is not a competitor to the Model Y, given its larger size and higher configuration. From the standard 800V architecture, “fully loaded” Tuling chassis, and ADS 3.0 intelligent driving capabilities, it is evident that Zhijie R7 is a pure electric SUV targeting the mid-to-high-end segment above 300,000 yuan. Perhaps a more suitable reference would be the upcoming EC7.

However, even in the fuel vehicle market, hatchback coupe SUVs have not fared well. Their crossover styling challenges mainstream aesthetics, and some users may find their space inferior to conventional SUVs while having to pay extra for the styling, which they may deem unworthy. For Zhijie R7, selling well will require addressing both the challenges of being a “high-end pure electric” vehicle and having a “coupe styling,” adding pressure. Given the current information, Zhijie R7 seems unlikely to debut many new technologies and may rely primarily on its design for success.

Alternatively, we can wait until the official launch to see if Zhijie R7 brings us more surprises in terms of interior space.

Starting to “stand on our own feet,” Hongmeng Zhixing needs more hits

Although this is one of the few events hosted by Hongmeng Zhixing, frankly, the content of this event was not substantial and did not bring a strong sense of novelty to Electric Car News. After all, Wenjie New M7 Pro has already made its debut at the Xiangjie S9 launch event, and it is the entry-level model of the Wenjie New M7 series—keep in mind that the Wenjie New M7 Ultra has been on sale for half a year already.

Electric Car News believes that the information presented at this launch event did not necessitate a separate event, but Hongmeng Zhixing chose this timing and location for a relatively grand launch, indicating their emphasis on the two new products showcased and the upcoming Chengdu Auto Show.

As the sales peak of the “golden September and silver October” approaches, Hongmeng Zhixing naturally hopes to attract more consumer attention and boost sales through a series of actions. Another practical issue is that the current sales composition of the Hongmeng Zhixing brand is unhealthy, with over 95% of sales coming from the Wenjie brand, and Wenjie New M7 being the main sales driver.

From Hongmeng Zhixing’s perspective, it is simple: firstly, consolidate its core market by launching entry-level models to expand the competitive advantage of the New M7 series and capture market share from competitors like Lixiang L6; secondly, seek breakthroughs to boost sales of other sub-brands. Zhijie, for instance, is in an awkward position, as the pure electric sedan Zhijie S7 has been launched twice in half a year, with some configuration and benefit adjustments, but sales remain stagnant at around 2,000 units per month.

So, is Zhijie S7’s poor performance due to being a “pure electric sedan”? If so, does a “pure electric SUV” offer an opportunity for breakthrough? After all, Tesla’s Model Y consistently ranks high in sales.

Regardless, Hongmeng Zhixing needs to continually experiment and seek new growth drivers rather than relying solely on the Wenjie New M7 series. Electric Car News’s expectations for Zhijie R7 are straightforward: upgrade Huawei’s signature intelligence and incorporate more innovative ideas and experiences into its interior configuration. For Hongmeng Zhixing, which is just starting to “stand on its own feet,” there is still a long way to go.

Source: Leitech