Geely has launched its new Galaxy brand of eco-friendly vehicles, starting with the PHEV L7 SUV. It aims to provide stylish and efficient transportation solutions, and the L7 is the first of many models to come under this brand. Alongside the L7, the Chinese carmaker also introduced the Galaxy Light sedan concept, another long-range plug-in hybrid that boasts a sleek and elegant design.
The vehicles were presented during an event in Hangzhou, China, and they mark the beginning of Geely’s ambitious plan to produce seven vehicles under the Galaxy sub-brand in the next two years. The first two models, the L7 plug-in hybrid SUV and the plug-in hybrid L6 sedan, are scheduled to start being delivered to customers in the second and third quarters of 2023, respectively. They will be followed by the all-electric E8, which is expected to arrive in the final quarter of the year.
Geely describes the new vehicles as featuring a “futuristic” new design language that was created specifically for the Galaxy sub-brand. In addition, the new cars will also feature the latest infotainment and battery technology, signaling Geely’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.
Galaxy vehicles will be the first to use Geely’s new Aegis battery system that protect the cells against fires during a crash. Furthermore, in combination with the ‘Wise Star Cloud Connected Central Computing System’, it can accurately predict and pre-empt thermal runaways and other critical situations, extending the battery life by 20%.
The brand’s PHEVs will be based on the E-CMA platform, but they will feature the latest generation of Geely’s NordThor 8848 powertrain. According to the automaker, this unit has a peak thermal efficiency of 44.26 percent and uses an industry-first predictive energy management system to improve fuel economy by up to 15 percent.
In real-world use, Galaxy predicts that the L7 SUV will deliver an impressive fuel economy of 5.23 l/100 km (44.9 MPG). It will be able to drive up to 845 miles (1,370 km) on a single tank of gas and can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 7.5 seconds.
Inside, Galaxy’s vehicles will feature the latest automotive tech on the market. The new Galaxy N-Operating System, backed by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 vehicle chip, aims to give the vehicles the fastest system response and startup times in the industry. It can go from off to ready to operate in just 0.5 seconds. The vehicles will also have access to Geely’s satellites, which allow the maps to be centimeter-accurate to assist with advanced driver assistance systems.
The Galaxy Light Concept
Also making its debut at the event was the Galaxy Light, an impressive-looking conceptual coupe-sedan that appears to be similar in size to the Audi e-tron GT. It boasts an exceptional drag coefficient of less than 0.19cd and a futuristic interior boasting a massive display that spans the entire length of the dashboard. While not much else was disclosed about the study, it is expected that a production version could be released as early as this year.
