China’s Cherry automotive group has revealed the first photos and details of the production version of the T-X concept that will be sold under the Jetour brand as the Traveller. The SUV will be available with plug-in hybrid powertrains and will start at a reasonable price of 149,800 yuan ($21,500 at current exchange rates).
Described as a hardcore SUV designed to compete with the Tank 300, the Traveller is an attractively designed model. It shares its boxy proportions with the current wave of off-road vehicles, bearing some proportional and styling familiarity to the Land Rover Defender, with a bit of Ford Bronco and some Kia EV9 thrown into the mix. Behind that design is Hakan Saracoglu, a former Porsche designer who helped on projects such as the Porsche Cayman and the 918 Spyder.
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The SUV will be available in two iterations, either as a short wheelbase vehicle with seating for five, or as a long-wheelbase model, with seating for up to seven. Photos released today show that the car will have an attractive and modern interior with an upright dash, and chunky buttons.
Under the hood, buyers will have a variety of options. The Chinese automaker plans to offer 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter, and 2.0-liter turbo engines among others. For those in the market for better fuel economy, though, the automaker will also offer a pair of plug-in hybrid models.
Jetour has yet to reveal power ratings, but it will offer the Traveller with either an eight-speed automatic transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, depending on the powertrain customers opt for. It will also offer a wide range of options packages for owners who want to tow, camp, or go off-roading with their Traveller.
In its simplest configuration, though, the automaker only plans to charge customers 149,800 Yuan ($21,569) for the SUV. Hybrid models, meanwhile, are expected to cost between 196,800-206,800 Yuan ($28,336-$29,776). Cherry said that it will release full details on the Traveller on March 1.
