The car reportedly received 6,000 orders in just five days
AITO has announced official pricing for its M5 SUV, three months after the EV made its debut in China. According to the automaker, the M5 will be available in three variants, with the range-topping variant costing 319,800 RMB (RM212,426).
Going a step down the lineup, the mid-spec M5 is priced at 279,800 RMB (RM185,856) while the entry-level variant goes for 249,800 RMB (RM165,929). These prices seem to have been well accepted by customers as the car reportedly received 6,000 orders in just five days. First deliveries are slated to start this month.
As a refresher, the M5 is built on Seres’ DE-i plaform which accommodates a range-extended electric powertrain. It measures in at 4,770 mm long, 1,930 mm wide and 1,625 mm, and has a wheelbase of 2,880 mm. Exterior design highlights include a gaping grille, pop-out door handles and wheel sizes ranging from 19 to 20 inches.
Under the hood, there’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine tasked solely to charge the motor electric. The entry-level M5, which is equipped with just one electric motor on the rear axle, thus giving it rear-wheel drive, has 272 hp. Both the mid- and top-spec M5 get a pair electric motors, which are tuned to make 428 hp and 720 Nm in the former and 496 hp in the latter.
When it comes to range, the combination of the internal combustion engine and a 40kWh battery offers a maximum operating range of 1,195 km, almost 100 km more than what is promised by the Hozon Auto Neta S, which also has a range-extended electric-petrol powertrain. Needless to say, the range differs between variants, taking factors such as weight and power into account.
As for the cabin, AITO describes it as “natural and lively”, thanks to features such as Nappa leather, a three-tank fragrance system, a panoramic sunroof and a 128-colour RGB ambient lighting system. Tech-wise, the M5 comes with a 10.4-inch digital instrument panel and a massive 15.6-inch central touchscreen, which is powered by Huawei’s Harmony OS.
The Chinese telecommunications giant also provided a 40 kW wireless charging system and a 1,000-watt sound system comprising a total of 19 speakers. These include speakers integrated directly into the driver’s headrest to communicate navigation instructions and other information.
Additionally, the M5 also comes with a personalised driving mode that uses 3D facial recognition to determine the identity of the driver to make necessary adjustments such as seat position, driving information and more. Of course, there’s also an “L2+” autonomous driving technology made possible by Harmony OS.
