Baojun has unveiled the exterior design of its upcoming off-road-style EV, which is called “Yep”. The official debut of the model will reportedly take place at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show this April, with its market launch in China expected this May.
In an earlier teaser from last year, the model appeared in concept form with Kiwi branding, but it seems that Baojun changed plans and will proceed with its own badge in the final production model. As reported by CarNewsChina, the name of the EV is 悦也 (YueYe) in Chinese, translating to a simple Yep in English.
Read: Suzuki Confirms New Electric Jimny For Europe
The Baojun Yep looks very similar to the concept, with only a few toned-down features. It has the proportions of an off-roader, albeit with smaller-than-usual alloy wheels. The ground clearance, the pronounced fenders, the black-painted bumpers, the integrated skid plates, and the roof rails are all combined nicely to create an adorable electric city car. Other cool details include the modern LED lighting units on both ends, and the tiny bump on the side-hinged tailgate, styled after a spare wheel cover.
The Yep has a very compact footprint, measuring 3,381 mm (133.1 inches) long, 1,685 mm (66.3 inches) wide, and 1,721 mm (67.8 inches) tall. This makes it up to 214 mm (inches) shorter than the global spec of the ICE-powered Suzuki Jimny, with nearly identical figures for width and height.
Baojun, a sub-brand of the SAIC-GM-Wulling (SGMW) joint venture, has not formally announced the specifications yet. However, most of them have already been revealed by filings on the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Technology. According to those, the Baojun Yep will feature a single electric motor producing 67 hp (50 kW / 68 PS) and 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) of torque, sending power to the rear axle and allowing a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). Thankfully, a more powerful variant with dual electric motors and AWD is expected to follow in the future, likely bringing improved off-road capabilities. As for the range, a lithium iron phosphate battery is good for an adequate 303 km (188 miles) measured under the CLTC protocol.
We will learn more about the Baojun Yep in the coming months, including pricing which will play an important role in its commercial success. Judging from the Wuling Mini EV that proved to be a best-seller in China, the Baojun sibling built by the same company will likely generate a lot of interest among customers.
