General Motors’ Chinese-market joint venture with SAIC and Wuling is getting ready to launch its second electric vehicle under the Baojun marque: the Baojun E200. The follow-up to the $5,000Â baojun E100, the new E200 features new design both inside and out; quieter operation; and a longer total driving range of 130 miles on a full charge (according to New European Driving Cycle testing), thanks to a more dense battery system. That driving range represents a 6-mile improvement over the latest version of the E100, and a 34-mile improvement over the original E100.
Shh!
Reducing racket was a key focus for the 2019 Baojun E200. GM and its joint-venture partners combined parts of the motor and reducer for the first time in order to reduce motor vibration and transmission noise, and during acceleration from 2,600 to 3,800 rpm, the gearbox puts out just 40 to 45 decibels – about the same amount of racket you might hear in a library. A low-noise compressor and low-noise fan in the air-conditioning system contribute to still more noise reduction, and at idle speed, the system emits as little as 42.9 decibels.
Design
Like its predecessor, the E100, the 2019 Baojun E200 is a two-seater aimed more at urban commutes than cross-country road trips. Even still, the pint-sized EV boasts eleven storage spaces, including slots in the armrests, card slots, and a concealed space within the passenger seat. Fold the passenger seat forward and you’ll have access to storage for larger items.
The exterior design is much in the same spirit as the E100 – Baojun’s first-ever “new-energy vehicle” – but with a slightly more sophisticated, upscale look. There will be no mistaking it for a Bentley, but the front fascia’s satin-finish surfaces and bracket-shaped side inlets elevate the E200’s appearance above that of its predecessor. Inside, it’s more of the same, with a more intriguing, geometrically complex aesthetic than the E100’s cabin. An interactive system provides information on charging and parking navigation, power supply, vehicle inspection, and other important data.
The GM Authority Take
The 2019 Baojun E200 is an important product for GM in China, representing the first of a slew of new electrified vehicles the automaker has in the works. Granted, its predecessor hardly went gangbusters; since the E100 was launched in August, 2017, just over 22k examples have been sold, although sales were limited to a handful of markets.
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