The Chinese automobile offensive in Europe seems unstoppable. In recent years, various brands of this origin have landed in Spain (Aiways, BYD, DR Automobiles, MG or Maxus) and more to come. Another company that has announced its intention to penetrate the European market is Neta Auto, belonging to the New Energy Automobile group (HOZON). In fact, our country will be one of the first to make its commercial landing. It will be in 2024 and with two electric models, the Neta GT and Neta X.
The company is young; was founded a decade ago with the goal of making cars for all people, giving them the “equal right of access to technology.” In other words, its intention is to sell affordable cars for the majority of consumers, so that innovations are not reserved only for those who have money.
The two models that will debut in the Old Continent are electrically powered but belong to different segments: while the X is a mid-size crossover, the GT is a sporty model.
Although not much information has been revealed about these cars, we can say that the first measures 461 centimeters in length (277 cm correspond to the wheelbase), 186 cm in width and 163 cm in height. It is powered by a 120 kW block (about 163 HP), powered by the energy accumulated in an LFP lithium-ion battery, which offers a range of about 420 kilometers (approval in the WLTP cycle is missing). With a top speed of 150 km/h, it accelerates to 100 km/h from a standstill in 9.5 seconds.
The driver has digital instrumentation behind the steering wheel and can control the infotainment system through a large screen located in the central part of the dashboard. The X will be a rival to models such as the MG Marvel R, the Aiways U5, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the Volkswagen ID.4.
For its part, the Neta GT is a four-seater electric sports car. It measures 4.72 cm long (277 are the wheelbase), 198 cm wide and 142 cm high. Its proportions are similar to those of cars such as the Audi A5 Coupé or the BMW 4 Series Coupé; Not so its propulsion system, which in the case of the aforementioned German models does not have an electric version.
The GT has a panoramic glass roof with an area of ??1.33 m2 that lets a lot of light into the cabin, increasing the feeling of space. The dashboard is dominated by a huge 17.6-inch central display, which is added to the digital instrument panel.
In China, the range has two mechanical versions, one with a 170 kW rear electric motor and another more powerful one, which adds a second motor to develop a total of 340 kW. The sports variant has a “launch” mode, which allows maximum acceleration from the first moment. Thus it can stop the clock in just 3.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. Depending on the battery capacity, the car offers a range of up to 660 km (calculated in the Chinese CLTC approval cycle).
