Whereas Chinese language auto manufacturers appear intent on taking a slice of the Tesla Mannequin Y’s pie with their very own electrical SUVs, Skywell has turned to sizzling hatches for its subsequent mannequin.
Revealed on the Paris motor present final month, the Skywell Q is an electrical hatchback with a powerful tools record and attention-grabbing – if not barely unbelievable – efficiency credentials.
Jack Puzin, CEO of Skywell’s native importer EV Automotive, was in Paris for its unveiling and informed CarExpert he hopes it may be offered in Australia, however has no official launch timing for the Q as but.
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The Skywell Q measures 4297mm lengthy, 1836mm vast and 1536mm excessive, placing it inside just a few centimetres of the Cupra Born – one of many few electrical automobiles (EVs) that might be thought of as a by-product of the new hatch system.
A single front-mounted electrical motor supplies as much as 150kW, which Skywell claims can ship a 0-100km/h dash time of three.9 seconds.
That declare is difficult to consider, given the Born is rear-wheel drive (aiding traction) and has 20kW extra energy, however takes a claimed 7.0 seconds to hit 100km/h from a standstill.
Skywell hasn’t detailed battery capacities for the Q, although it’s mentioned the bigger of its two packs on provide would ship greater than 480km of driving vary, and be able to charging from 10 to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes.
Confirmed options embody 18-inch alloy wheels, an LED entrance lightbar, a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, an eight-speaker Metz sound system, and rear touchscreens for second-row occupants.
It’ll embody security tools starting from adaptive cruise management to lane-keep help and the European-mandated Clever Velocity Help, although it’s unknown how intrusive the system can be.
Whereas Mr Puzin pressured the car he noticed was a pre-production instance, he desires to convey it right here “precisely the way in which it’s” – however with one or two minor enhancements.
“We’re pondering it’ll are available in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variants, and Australia being Australia, you’ll have 400-500km vary – we received’t convey something smaller in,” he mentioned.
If it does come to Australia, the Q can be Skywell’s second passenger mannequin to reach in EV Automotive showrooms, following the first-quarter 2025 launch of the ET5 electrical SUV.
Each new fashions will be part of current Skywell EVs such because the EC11 – a van and passenger bus with a putting resemblance to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – in EV Automotive’s native lineup.
The importer can be set to launch the Victory EC1 in Australia, accessible as a van and a ute/mild truck mashup, very best for last-mile enterprise journeys and councils.
