Now on sale in China from $AU37,700, the Radar RD6 ute is a long-range electric alternative to a car-derived Ford Maverick, built by Chinese auto giant Geely.
The Radar RD6 electric ute – the latest model from Chinese car giant Geely, parent company of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and other marques – has gone on sale in China, priced from the equivalent of $AU37,700.
Revealed in July, the RD6 is the first model from Geely’s newest brand, Radar, and is an electric dual-cab ute offering up to 630km of claimed driving range, prices from $AU37,700 to $AU56,800, and passenger car-derived underpinnings.
Radar has not announced plans for an Australian launch – however if Geely plans to sell the RD6 outside of China, Volvo Australia has shown interest in assisting its parent company with establishing a sales network and distributing the car locally.
The Radar RD6’s dimensions – 5260mm long, 1900mm wide and 1830mm tall with a 3120mm wheelbase – make it just smaller than Australia’s top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
But it’s underpinned by Geely’s SEA platform for electric cars, which is shared with Geely group passenger cars and SUVs – a similar ethos to America’s car-derived Hyundai Santa Cruz and Ford Maverick pick-ups, which are based on family SUVs.
Payload is quoted as 450kg – less than half of a Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 diesel’s 997kg. The tub quotes a capacity of 1200 litres, complemented by a 70-litre storage space under the bonnet, and 48 litres under the rear seats.
Towing capacities are not quoted, however Geely has indicated cars on the SEA platform can tow up to 3000kg – though likely at the expense of range, which independent tests of larger US electric pick-ups have found to be cut in half with a trailer attached.
Powering all Chinese-market Radar RD6 utes is a 200kW electric motor driving the rear wheels – with no four-wheel-drive option available – for a hot-hatch-like claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of six seconds flat.
The entry-level model, priced from 178,800 Chinese yuan ($AU37,700), is fitted with a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack – similar to a base-model Tesla Model 3 – claiming 400km of driving range on China’s CLTC testing cycle.
However, it’s worth noting CLTC testing is known for being lenient – so driving range on Europe’s more realistic (but still lab-tested) WLTP standard would be closer to 300km.
This entry-level model is closest to Australia’s first electric ute, the Chinese LDV eT60, due in showrooms imminently with 330km of claimed WLTP driving range (but from an 88.5kWh battery), a 150kW/310Nm electric motor, 750kg payload and 1500kg braked towing capacity.
Buyers can upgrade to one of two mid-trim models – priced from 198,800 to 228,800 yuan (AU$42,000 to $48,000) – with 86kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries and 550km of claimed CLTC driving range.
The flagship model priced from 268,800 yuan ($AU56,800) adds a 100kWh NMC battery with a claimed 632km of CLTC driving range. All models are reportedly capable of 120kW DC fast charging.
Overseas media reports indicate available features in the RD6 include dual 12.3-inch touchscreens, a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, ambient cabin lighting, voice control, and ‘vehicle-to-load’ tech allowing the Radar to power small electrical devices, or even recharge other electric cars.
The 2023 Radar RD6 ute is now on sale in China, after the first cars rolled off the production line a few weeks ago.
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