Known as a bus manufacturing company in China, Skywell has just launched a pretty good and interesting full battery-powered and electric SUV.
The all-new ET5, which started selling in China for a price starting from US$21,435 will come in five colours, namely black, white, blue, purple and brown.
With production taking place at Skywell’s Jiangsu plant, the company targets to deliver an impressive number of 300,000 cars a year.
Based on a bespoke CE-platform of the company’s own design, the boxy ET5 is certainly a handsome-looking car with a dimension of 4698mm in length, 1,908 mm in width, and 1,696 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,800 mm, which gives it a large footprint.
At the front, its simplistic and slim front grille design is flanked by slim LED headlights that give the SUV a purposeful yet elegant aesthetic.
Down the sides are road tires on dual-toned 482.6 mm alloy wheels, with black plastic sill protectors and wheel arch extensions.
Similarly, the back has an exposed rear skid plate and chunky rear reflectors, which are a nice contrast against the single full-width rear light bar and taillight combination.
Interior-wise, elegance takes over the macho factor.
It is not just the design of the interior that’s impressive, as the standard equipment is also worth mentioning. Floating atop a dual-tiered dashboard design is a giant 325.12 mm central LED infotainment screen with a ‘Skylink intelligent network connection system’, co-developed by Chinese consumer electronics giant Skyworth. Meanwhile, a 312.42 mm digital instrument cluster is also featured in the ET5.
Since we’re on the subject of technology, a PM63.5 mm air purifier is also standard, as are L2.5 active driver aids that supposedly include adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, autonomous parking and lane keep assist.
Furthermore, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, ventilated electronically-adjustable front seats, automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof are part and parcel of the new ET5.
Two variants of this Skywell electric SUV are available, and both are powered by the same single electric motor that produces 204hp and 320 Nm of torque, presumably driving the front wheels.
The only difference is that one variant has a claimed NEDC (electric car range and deficiency) range of 410 km, and the other is a longer-range variant with a claimed NEDC range of 520 km.
Prices begin at US$22,770 for the base spec with 410 km of range, rising to US$ 29,626 for the fully-equipped model with 520 km of range.
It is hard not to take the Skywell ET5 seriously with these prices, especially with its impressive standard features and looks.
As electric vehicle sales to climb higher than ever before in Europe, with Germany selling over 20,000 units in September 2020 alone, the ET5 should find its way to Europe as quickly as possible.
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