In the vast world of SUVs and crossover cars, it is a real rarity when a model that does not belong to these vehicle categories arrives on our market. That was also the case yesterday when Auto Hrvatska presented us with a new model from the Forthing model line. And you wouldn’t believe it, it’s not an electric model. Namely, although the S7 also exists in a fully electric version, it arrived on our market as a REEV. The Extended Range Edition is actually a hybrid version in which the electric motor is primarily used for propulsion, while with the help of the gasoline model, extended ranges are enabled so that it produces the electricity that drives the electric motor. But let’s go in order.
The S7 model is a 493.5-centimeter-long sedan based on the new Super Cube EMA platform with a 291.5-cm wheelbase. Although it may not appear so to the eye, in the rear part there is a trunk with a volume of 496 liters. There is as much space in the front seats as you need, while the rear seats are not so opulent, and taller people may have problems getting in and out. Namely, it is a consequence of the low roof, which continuously falls almost to the very edge of the vehicle.
Those in charge believe that this is a model that can worthy fight with premium models, so they see the competition in Audi’s A5 e-Hybrid. There is no doubt that the Chinese manufacturer has done a good thing by offering rich equipment, but comparing it to German premium manufacturers is another level.
For propulsion, this REEV model, which began to be sold on the domestic market, uses a combination of an electric motor and a gasoline engine, where the latter serves exclusively as an aid, while the car is always powered by an electric motor. When we talk about the electric motor, let’s know that it is a performance of 154 kW and 310 Nm of maximum torque, which are transmitted to the rear axle. It is powered by a 28.4 kWh Armor LFP battery. It can be topped up via an external AC connection, and considering the charging power of 6.6 kW, it takes about 4.5 hours, that is, about 30 minutes if a DC of 80 kW is used to top up from 30 to 80% of the battery’s capacity. Of course, the replenishment also goes with recuperation, as well as with the operation of the gasoline engine itself, and it is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with 77 kW. So, the gasoline is only there as a generator of electricity.
Equipped in this way, the S7 reaches a speed of 100 km/h from a standstill in 7.2 seconds, and its superb aerodynamics are highly commendable. There is a Cd value of the drag coefficient of 0.191, which puts the S7 at the very top when it comes to production cars. This is certainly in favor of a pure EV range of 156 to 174 kilometers, i.e. a total range of up to 1250 km with a full battery and fuel tank. The declared acceleration to 100 km/h is 7.2 s, while the maximum speed is 165 km/h.
The impression of luxury is supported by the door without a frame around the glass, which increases the impression of elegance. The handles for opening the doors are retractable, and there is also a large panoramic glass roof with an area of 1.9 square meters. It is said to be able to block 99.9% of UV rays, and although not very practical, the car comes with two shades that can be physically placed in the passenger cabin to ‘hide’ the glass roof.
The simplicity of the offer is one of the certainly positive solutions. Customers have at their disposal one level of equipment for which it is necessary to allocate 32,990 euros. You can choose from one of five exterior colors, namely green, blue, red, black and white. Another possible choice is the dark or light decoration of the passenger cabin. Now, at the beginning of the launch of this model, an additional benefit has been prepared for a certain amount of vehicles, that is, customers, and it refers to the financial benefit in terms of free basic and comprehensive insurance for the first year and free maintenance for the first five years. Allegedly, this is a saving of three thousand euros.
The warranty on the complete vehicle is five years or 150,000 kilometers driven, or eight years or 200,000 kilometers when we talk about the warranty on the high-voltage battery. Auto Hrvatska has increased the number of sales and service points, so in addition to Zagreb, Forthing models can also be purchased in Osijek, while service is also available in Poreč, Rijeka, Split, Zadar and Karlovac.
