Haval H6 Hybrid here within weeks

HAVAL has announced local pricing and specification details for its forthcoming H6 Hybrid medium SUV. The two-wheel-drive petrol-electric variant, which is due in local showrooms within weeks, is based on the range-topping H6 Ultra and will be priced from $44,990 drive-away.

The H6 Hybrid is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine in combination with a two-speed 130kW electric motor. The newcomer has a combined system output of 179kW/530Nm and a claimed average fuel consumption figure of 5.2 litres per 100km (on the ADR combined cycle).

"The addition of the Haval H6 Hybrid to our SUV line-up marks another milestone for GWM,” GWM head of marketing and communications Steve Maciver said.

“We've made no secret of the fact that electrification will play an important part of our future product plans and it starts right here with the Haval H6 Hybrid. 

"With an efficient petrol engine, electric drive motor and hybrid transmission, not only does the H6 Hybrid offer excellent fuel efficiency but (it’s) rewarding drive too," he added.

Drive to the front wheels is via Great Wall Motor’s Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (or DHT) which combines the petrol engine and electric motor with an electronically controlled transmission to provide what GWM says is “excellent acceleration and performance at low speeds with increased efficiency and power at higher speeds.”

The manufacturer claims the driving experience of the H6 Hybrid is similar to that of a battery-electric vehicle, and that its DHT offers multiple drive modes including EV, Series, Parallel and Regeneration. It says the lightweight system is optimised to provide “maximum efficiency across all speed and load conditions”.

Visually, the H6 Hybrid can be differentiated from other derivatives in the medium SUV range by its bespoke grille, addition door-trim garnishing and centrally mounted brake lights. 

Its luxury specification is the same as the H6 Ultra’s, however. It includes 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go functionality, leather trim, six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, front-seat heating and ventilation, heated steering wheel, electric tailgate, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, head-up display, panoramic sunroof and wireless charging pad.

Infotainment and driver information comes courtesy of 12.3-inch touch-sensitive- and 10.25-inch colour LED screens, the former including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Haval H6 Hybrid’s safety and driver assistance features include a 360-degree camera system, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, driver-fatigue monitoring system, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, and fully automatic parking.

All Haval passenger vehicles are backed by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years’ roadside assistance and capped-price servicing.

The Haval H6 range will be further expanded by the addition of the H6 GT (see links below for more information) later this year. Further pricing and specification details for the stylish SUV-Coupe will be announced closer to the model’s local launch.