Geely’s Radar RD6 electrical ute will get PHEV energy

Geely has blessed its Radar RD6 electrical ute with the choice of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, and there’s each probability it could possibly be bought in Australia.

Revealed on the latest Shanghai motor present, the brand new dual-cab PHEV will reportedly supply greater than 1000km of mixed driving vary – about double the 517km CLTC vary of the all-electric RD6 with its largest battery pack.

The Radar RD6 PHEV is the primary pickup to be outfitted with Geely’s Thor EM-i ‘tremendous hybrid’ system, which already powers different fashions throughout the Chinese language carmaker’s huge model and mannequin lineup.

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It combines a front-mounted 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a three-speed devoted hybrid transmission (3DHT) with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, enabling it to run on both petrol or electrical energy, or a mix of each.

In accordance with CarNewsChina, the association is a “dual-motor redundancy design, permitting continued operation in case of a single motor failure”.

Geely claims the hybrid powertrain supplies responsive efficiency throughout varied situations, together with high-altitude climbs and uneven terrain, and says the three-speed gearbox is designed to steadiness efficiency and gasoline effectivity, notably at larger speeds.

The hybrid system was examined in excessive situations together with high-speed, high-altitude, and low-temperature environments, and has handed China’s S-grade hybrid system reliability certification, which incorporates over 1000 bench exams, 400,000 hours of check time, and 40 million kilometres of car endurance driving exams.

Geely says it has a thermal effectivity of 44.26 per cent and that clever power administration reduces its gasoline consumption by 21 per cent in comparison with equal petrol-powered pickups.

The Radar RD6 is claimed to speed up from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds, however few different particulars have been offered.

Nevertheless, within the 2025 Geely Galaxy Starship 7 SUV, the EM-I combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 82kW of energy and 136Nm of torque with a 160kW/262Nm electrical motor to ship a complete system output of 242kW.

CLTC gasoline consumption is claimed to be 3.75L/100km, 0-100km/h acceleration is said at 7.5 seconds, and prime velocity is listed at 180km/h.

Two battery capacities can be found in China – 8.5kWh and 19.09kWh, providing pure-electric ranges of 55km and 120km respectively – every with a complete claimed vary of 1420km (CLTC).

The RD6 PHEV additionally introduces Geely’s new ‘Omni Stack’ power platform together with vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality that permits it to cost electrical home equipment, and its new “Shuttle” connectivity platform that may join the ute to drones and cloud-based programs, permitting distant management and information programs integration.

The Radar RD6 has already been not directly confirmed for Australian launch, and a PHEV model would give the Chinese language model a rival for the favored plug-in hybrid utes just like the BYD Shark 6 and the upcoming GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger PHEV.

Revealed in China greater than two years in the past, the RD6 swapped Radar badging for the Riddara model identify for right-hand drive export markets together with Thailand, the place it was launched in November.

Each Radar and Riddara are manufacturers underneath the large Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the dad or mum firm of Volvo, Polestar, Sensible, Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Lotus and Geely itself, which arrived in Australia earlier this 12 months with the EX5 mid-size electrical SUV.

In early 2024, Geely confirmed its Radar offshoot for launch in Australia and New Zealand.

“Radar Auto will speed up its enlargement into abroad markets, repeatedly increasing to markets in Asia-Pacific, Central Asia, Thailand, Center East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.

Nevertheless, Geely’s try to file an Australian trademark for the Radar identify was blocked by a Singapore-based tyre firm that sells Radar tyres in a number of nations, so the RD6 is prone to put on the Riddara identify right here, though Radar utes have additionally been bought with Geely badges in different left-hand-drive export markets.

In November, the vice-president of Geely Auto, Michael Tune, confirmed a dual-cab ute from the carmaker can be bought in Australia, with out naming the RD6 or offering any particular launch timing.

“Pickup vans are a particular class in Australia. We don’t contemplate them as common household automobiles,” mentioned Mr Tune.

“I’m very clear that pickup vans have essential markets globally.

“The proportion of pickup vans in right-hand drive markets is bigger than in left-hand drive markets, however the reality is that pickup truck demand varies considerably throughout completely different areas,” he added, referring to the truth that industrial utility automobiles account for about 20 per cent of Australia’s new automobile market.

Gentle industrial automobiles notched up over 270,000 registrations right here in 2024, accounting for greater than 22 per cent of the whole new-vehicle market, the overwhelming majority of which had been pickup or cab/chassis utes. So it’s no shock the dominant diesel-powered legacy fashions led by the Ranger and HiLux are dealing with rising competitors from a number of latest entrants.

However Mr Tune made it clear that Geely’s first ute will supply quite a lot of powertrains.

“We’ve got already made strategic plans concerning pickup vans, and it’s not nearly BEV pickup vans – now we have additionally deliberate for diversified power options,” he mentioned, probably referring to combustion, hybrid and plug-in hybrid fashions.

Mr Tune additionally mentioned Geely will guarantee its merchandise are proper for Australia by way of specs and the driving expertise. The model beforehand confirmed an area chassis and ADAS tuning program for the EX5 and Mr Tune mentioned Geely will do the identical with subsequent new fashions.

In Thailand, the Riddara RD6 is obtainable in single-motor rear-wheel drive electrical kind with two completely different battery packs, whereas an all-wheel drive model of the Radar RD6 referred to as the Horizon is bought in China.

The only electrical motor within the Riddara RD6 produces 200kW of energy and 384Nm of torque. It’s fed by both a 63kWh battery pack that provides a CLTC claimed vary of 385km, or an 86kWh battery pack with a CLTC vary of 517km.

China’s RD6 Horizon employs twin electrical motors producing a mixed 315kW and 594Nm, powered by 73kWh or 86kWh battery packs delivering a respective 460km and 520km (CLTC).

Geely claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds for the Radar RD6 AWD, and seven.3 seconds for the Riddara RD6 RWD export model. Braked towing capacities are listed at 2500kg and 3000kg, and payloads at as much as 775kg and 865kg, respectively.

Underpinned by a car-like monocoque platform with four-wheel impartial suspension fairly than a ladder body with dwell rear axle like Australia’s top-selling utes, the RD6 measures 5260mm lengthy, 1900mm vast and 1865mm tall, on a 3120mm wheelbase, making it comparable in dimension to the present Toyota HiLux.

The RD6’s tray measures 1525mm lengthy, 1425mm vast and 540mm excessive, which is barely smaller than the tubs of Australia’s hottest dual-cabs.