Techzle likes to peek across the border to see what is for sale there. We come from China, where a theoretically very interesting new electric model has been presented. We are introduced to the Sol E10X, a car from the partnership of Volkswagen and the Chinese car manufacturer JAC.
Volkswagen and the Chinese manufacturer JAC Motors started a new brand in 2018: Sol. Sol is a relatively new brand that mainly supplies existing models of JAC with its own logos and adapted fronts and bottoms. The electric E20X was Sol’s first-born, a Seat-like muzzle car that was simply based on JAC’s iEV7S. Sol now has more models in the range and now a new compact EV is added: the E10X.
JAC iEV6E Sport, an updated version of the original iEV6E
Just like the rest of the models from Sol, the E10X is in fact just an existing model from JAC. Under the skin is the E10X namely the JAC iEV6E, a just under 3.7 meter long compact electric hatchback. Sol does give his E10X a more individual design. In fact, just like with the E20X, strong influences from Volkswagen can be observed. Let’s face it, that filling of the front bumper shows some similarities with that of cars like the Up and the black strip between the headlights is almost ID-like. Sol gives the E10X a rear bumper that, just like the one at the front, has characteristic black plastic strips and fills the space next to the number plate with a cheerful-looking motif. The rear lights of the Sol E10X are also completely different from those of the JAC with which it shares its base.
Sol E10X
Then the specifications. The 3.65 meter long Sol E10X will be available with three different powertrains. The basic version has a 15 kWh small battery pack that gives the EV a range of 150 kilometers. Please note that this was measured according to the not very accurate NEDC method. The electric motor of this entry-level model is 41 hp and 95 Nm strong. The middle variant has a 19.7 kWh battery, a copy that the Sol E10X has a range of 200 kilometers. The electric motor of this version is identical to that of the entry-level model. This does not apply to the top versions. They get a 61 hp and 150 Nm strong electric motor, a unit that is also linked to a larger battery pack with a capacity of 30.2 kWh. This most expensive variant comes 302 kilometers on a full battery, according to Sol. The top speed of all E10Xs is set at 102 km / h. The versions with a 30.2 kWh battery also offer space for five instead of four occupants and have disc brakes at the front and rear writing. The two less fortunate versions have to make do with drums. More pampering in the top versions: these not only have a 6.2-inch digital instrumentation, but also a 10.25-inch large multimedia screen.
Sol E10X
The starting price of the Sol E10X in China is € 5,150. The version with 19.7 kWh battery changes from € 6,055 onwards and for the taste with the 30.2 kWh battery, Sol wants to receive at least around € 9,025.
Sol E10X
Although Sol started life as a joint venture in which both JAC and Volkswagen owned 50 percent of the shares, Volkswagen has since mid-last year – after an investment of 1 billion euros – a majority stake of 75 percent in the partnership. Whether that will leave the door ajar for the possible arrival of cheap entry-level EVs to the European market is not entirely clear. Never say never, however.