Little Kirin
The number of electric cars continues to increase at a rapid pace. Today we are introduced to a new compact electric hatchback that Renault has been involved in. This is the Yizji EV2, which is a size smaller than the Kwid that we know in Europe as Dacia Spring.
The car that you can buy in the Netherlands as a Dacia Spring has countless twin brothers and sisters in China. The Dacia is actually a Renault City K-Ze adapted for the European market, in turn an electric Kwid. Various other brands where Groupe Renault has a finger in the pie also sell the small EV, including Venucia (E30), Fengshen (EX1) and Dongfeng. Those 3.73 meter long Spring-likes get an even smaller electric cousin from JMEV: the Yizji EV2.
JMEV is a partnership between Jiangling Motors (JMCG), a Chinese investment fund, and Groupe Renault. The French have a majority interest in the joint venture with 50 percent. The small EV, announced as Renault Jiangling Yizji EV, will receive a different model name at its Chinese market launch: Xiao Qilin, or – yes – Little Kirin.
But what exactly is it? The ‘Little Kirin’ is a 3.5 meter long electric hatchback that is more than 20 centimeters shorter than the Spring and its brothers. The wheelbase is 2.34 meters. The design of the electric newcomer is unspectacular, but interesting nonetheless. We perceive both Nissan and Renault design influences and even a touch of Toyota. The compact EV is powered by a 35 hp and 85 Nm electric motor that draws its zest for life from a 15.9 kWh battery pack. Its range is 175 kilometers according to the not very accurate Chinese CLTC cycle. Its top speed is 100 km/h.
The Yizji EV2/Little Kirin is not the first electric fruit of the collaboration between Renault and JMCG. For example, the JMEV Yi – an electric sedan – will eventually also come to Europe as a Limo via Renaults Mobilize. We do not expect to see the Little Kirin on the road in Europe.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl