- This story has been updated with official photos of the Jishi 01 (previously referred to as Stone 01) and new pieces of information. (Aug 18).
When BYD unveiled the fully electric YangWang U8, many of us saw it as China’s most prominent emulation of the Land Rover Defender. However, a newcomer from a different brand has emerged to challenge this perception. The BAIC Jishi 01 takes strong inspiration from the British off-roader, incorporating subtle elements reminiscent of the Range Rover, along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Following the SUV’s appearance on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology last June, BAIC published the first official photos of the Jishi 01 showing the exterior and interior design prior to its launch which is scheduled for August 22.
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Photos: Jishi / Weibo
The Jishi 01 is unashamedly copying the style of the Land Rover Defender in terms of proportions, surfacing, and styling cues. The profile looks nearly identical due to the wheel arches, side gills, door handles, and straight character line, with the black pillars and roof making it look even more like a Land Rover product. At the front, the boxy grille is flanked by Y-shaped headlights sending Range Rover vibes, while the upright rear end features a side-hinged tailgate with a spare wheel cover. The lidar sensors mounted on the exterior suggest that the equipment will include plenty of ADAS.
Interior shots reveal a large tablet-style infotainment touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard combined with a digital instrument cluster and a drop-down roof-mounted display for the rear passengers. The three-row SUV is available in 6-seater (2+2+2) and 7-seater (2+2+3) configurations, with the former featuring two captain chairs in the second row. The company published an extra gallery on Weibo showing the camping-friendly nature of the model which can be equipped with an awning, and a multi-functional rear door featuring built-in tray and storage compartments.
Photos Jishi / Weibo
The Jishi 01 is a large SUV measuring 5,050 mm (198.8 inches) long, 1,980 mm (78 inches) wide, and 1,869 mm (73.6 inches) tall in standard configuration, with a wheelbase of 3,010 mm (118.5 inches). The company will also offer a longer variant stretching to 5,295 mm (208.5 inches) long. Those figures place it between the Defender 110 and 130 in terms of footprint.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain comprises a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, dual electric motors, and a 56kWh battery pack. The petrol engine produces 150 hp (112 kW / 152 PS) but only works as a generator with the front and rear electric motors – producing 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) respectively – being responsible for moving the wheels. As reported by Autohome, the PHEV has a pretty long EV-only range of 235 km (146 miles), while the combined range with a full tank of petrol is 1,115 km (693 miles) measured under the WLTC protocol.
Jishi is a new brand set to be introduced in the Chinese market by BAIC. As reported by Car News China, the brand was originally created by Rox Motor and called Luo Ke but financial problems led to the cooperation with BAIC which renamed it. Its first model – the Jishi 01 – will be locally manufactured by Beijing Automobile Works (BAW), with its market launch expected soon. Chances are that the SUV will be exhibited at the 2023 Chengdu Motor Show starting August 25, which is three days after Jishi’s dedicated launch event.
