In Russia, the production of Chinese sedans Kaiyi E5 (pronounced “Kai”) began, in size and form factor the model is comparable to the popular Skoda Octavia and Kia Cerato on the Russian market.
Cars are assembled at the Avtotor Kaliningrad plant (where Hyundai and Kia used to be assembled), the Kaiyi E5 sedan should go on sale before the end of the first quarter of 2023, i.e. in the near future.
Prices for the novelty will start from 1,000,000 rubles – according to the management of Avtotor-Holding. In addition to free sale at dealers, the car will be offered in various modifications, including taxi and car sharing.
Update 02/15/2023: The start of sales in Russia of the Kaiyi E5 sedan is scheduled for March.
Technical details of the Russian specification:
Turbo engine – 1.5 (147 hp and 210 Hm) Gearbox – stepless variator or manual transmission Drive – front Suspension – independent, front and rear.
Photo gallery:
Also in Russia, another sedan of a similar class will soon start selling – Omoda S5 (it has already been certified).
Video review of the exterior and interior:
Overview and all the details about the new Chinese sedan for Russia
Start of production at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad.
In the fall of 2022, the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad shipped the last batches of Hyundai and Kia cars and almost immediately began to reconfigure existing capacities.
Even then, the company’s management hinted at possible cooperation with “new Chinese partners”, and the intrigue persisted until December. On the eve of the New Year holidays, a car was seen in the workshops of the plant, in which experts recognized the budget Chinese sedan Kaiyi Xuandu.
The official confirmation took place on January 30, 2023 – on this day, the production of this model was solemnly launched, but under the export name Kaiyi E5.
Kaiyi Xuandu is a four-door Hyundai Elantra format, which was designed in 2021 based on the Chery Arrizo 7 sedan. The platform and all the “equipment” were taken from the donor, after which the Kaiyi specialists “painted” the car a new exterior and interior design.
It does not differ in obvious originality, therefore it has a lot in common with its compatriots of a similar class, but boasts an independent suspension and a relatively powerful base engine.
Exterior design and interior
The original Chery Arrizo 7 in the Kaiyi E5 sedan can be recognized not only by the general proportions, but also by the shape of the side glazing. In addition, both cars have a completely identical roof. However, everything else in the E5 model is its own – and all lighting equipment, and external body panels, and the design of alloy wheels, which bears the image of the famous ancient Chinese weapons.
The body length of the car was 4666 mm, which fits well into the standards of budget three-volume vehicles, one of which on the Russian market will be the Omoda S5, a “related” sedan based on the Chery Arrizo 5 Plus.
When creating the interior, the Chinese adhered to classical solutions, although they made an attempt to give the design a sporty style. The truncated steering wheel rim, as well as red accents on the upholstery and trim, are responsible for it. At the same time, the base Kaiyi E5 will have an analog instrument panel, a fixed “box” lever and an air conditioning control button panel. In the pluses of the starting equipment of the sedan, you can write down a push-button engine start, an electric handbrake and a multimedia system.
Technical filling
Avtotor has already begun the “screwdriver” assembly of Kaiyi E5 sedans, which receive a 1.5-liter turbo engine with 156 hp as a power plant. With. (230 Nm). The transmission is offered either mechanically or as a CVT.
Prices and start of sales
The official price list has not yet been published, but estimated prices in Russia will start at 1,000,000 rubles. In China, the analogue of this model Kaiyi Xuandu is estimated at 68-94 thousand yuan, which in terms of the Russian currency is 698-967 thousand rubles.
Tags: Kaiyi E5
