What does the second-gen Suzuki Alto from the ’80s have in common with a Chinese EV? As weird as it sounds, in the case of the Jiangnan U2, the answer is common design heritage. Jiangnan Automobile, a company that used to produce the rebadged Suzuki Alto as one of the cheapest cars in China, is making a comeback this year with a significantly more modern offering.
The Jiangnan U2 is also not a fully original vehicle, as it is heavily based on the Ruixiang Hoen O2 from BAIC. Despite sharing most of its body panels with the latter, it sports a unique face that allegedly has references to the Jiangnan TT (2001-2010) which was the name of one of the rebadged second-gen Suzuki Alto (1984-1988) examples offered in the Chinese market.
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Some will say that the black fascia with rounded rectangular LED headlights is loosely reminiscent of the Honda e, but that’s what you get with retro-futuristic designs. The sleek profile is shared with the Ruixiang Hoen O2, featuring a short bonnet, short overhangs, and an aerodynamic windshield. The EV also gets flush door handles, a duo-tone look, a panoramic sunroof, a rear spoiler, and large 17-inch alloy wheels.
The Jiangnan U2 measures 3,840 mm (151.2 inches) long with a wheelbase of 2,521 mm (99.3 inches), placing it in the urban EV segment. We don’t have detailed photos of the interior, but we can see seats with fabric upholstery and a free-standing infotainment display on the center console.
As reported by Autohome, the Jiangnan U2 will be available with two powertrain options producing either 74 hp (55 kW / 75 PS) and 120 Nm (88.5 lb-ft) or 107 hp (80 kW / 109 PS) and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft), both sending power to the front wheels. It will also have two lithium iron phosphate battery options, offering an EV range of 305 km (190 miles) and 406 km (252 miles) respectively, most likely measured under the Chinese protocols.
We don’t know the price of the Jiangnan U2 or its expected market launch in China, but the company was known for its affordable cars so it should be quite cheap. Before going bankrupt, Jiangnan used to be owned by Zotye, producing various Suzuki-based and Fiat-based models in China. We will be keeping an eye out for more details about the new era of the brand and its EV offerings.
