- Source: Voyah Free
The Voyah Free is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by Dongfeng under the Voyah brand.
Introduced to the Chinese market in the third quarter of 2021, it was designed alongside Italdesign Giugiaro. It was showcased first as a concept car during the 2020 Beijing Auto Show. The vehicle is constructed on Dongfeng's Electric Smart Secure Architecture (ESSA) platform, which offers multiple premium features such as improved suspension and driving assistance functions.
The extended-range model of the Voyah Free is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder range extender, which achieves a cruising range of 860 km (530 mi) a 0 to 100 km/h figure of 4.6 seconds. The all-electric variant has a battery capacity of 88 kWh or 106.4/106.7 kWh for the Long Range model, with a comprehensive cruising range of 500 km (310 mi) and a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of 4.8 seconds. The four-wheel drive model features dual front and rear motors.
Voyah offers a limited edition model, the Voyah Free DNA, based on the standard Voyah Free. This variant achieves higher performance, with a 0–100 km/h acceleration of 4.3 seconds, dual motors powering front and rear wheels, a maximum power of 510 kW (680 hp), and a peak torque of 1,040 N⋅m (770 lbf⋅ft).
Overview
The Voyah Free was initially showcased as the Voyah i-Free Concept during the 2020 Beijing Auto Show in September 2020 by Voyah, a luxury NEV brand under Dongfeng Motor. The production Free crossover was co-designed with Italdesign Giugiaro. On 18 December 2020, Voyah officially launched its first model, the Free. This vehicle is offered in two power configurations: extended range and pure electric. The NEDC comprehensive cruising range stands at 860 kilometres (530 mi) for the extended range model and 500 kilometres (310 mi) for the pure electric variant.
The Voyah Free is constructed on Dongfeng's Electric Smart Secure Architecture (ESSA) platform. Its suspension system combines front double wishbones and rear multi-links, utilising all-aluminum subframes and connecting rods for chassis components. High-end models feature air suspension, automatically lowering during the transition to high-energy driving mode, with collaborative efforts from companies Bosch and Nio Inc.
Equipped with L2 advanced automatic driving assistance functions, the Voyah Free incorporates 3-millimetre (0.1 in) wave radars as sensing hardware. The vehicle features 9 cameras and 12 ultrasonic radars to facilitate driving assistance functions, including full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic braking, 360° panoramic imaging, and blind-spot monitoring. Additionally, an active night vision system, effective within 150 metres (490 ft; 160 yd) in front, identifies pedestrians and animals. Series production began in late January 2021.
Specifications
The power of the Voyah Free extended range model comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder range extender and a 500 kW (671 hp; 680 PS) electric motor. The range extender of the extended range model is the Dongfeng C15TDR series engine with a thermal efficiency of 41.07% with a rated power of 60 kW (80 hp; 82 PS), and the peak power is 80 kW (107 hp; 109 PS). The NEDC comprehensive cruising range of the extended-range model is 860 kilometres (530 mi). The combined maximum power of the extended-range model is 500 kW (671 hp; 680 PS) and the peak torque is 1,000 N⋅m (738 lb⋅ft; 102 kg⋅m), total rated power of the electric motors is equal to the maximum 30 minute power and is 174 kW (233 hp; 237 PS). The 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration takes 4.6 seconds for the range-extended model, and the maximum speed is 200 km/h (120 mph).
In the all-electric variant, the battery capacity is 88 kWh (320 MJ); or, in the Long Range model, 106.4 or 106.7 kWh (383 or 384 MJ) (the net capacity is 100 kWh [360 MJ]).
The NEDC comprehensive cruising range of the pure electric model is 500 kilometres (310 mi), and the 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration takes 4.8 seconds for the pure electric model. The Voyah Free 4WD model is equipped with dual front and rear motors with a combined maximum power of 510 kW (684 hp; 693 PS) and peak torque of 1,040 N⋅m (767 lb⋅ft; 106 kg⋅m).
The electric model was discontinued in August 2023, leaving only a 1.5-litre model.
Voyah Free DNA
Voyah Free DNA is a limited edition model based on the Voyah Free featuring even higher performance numbers and a special body kit. The Voyah Free DNA achieves higher performance than the regular high output model of the Voyah Free, with a 0–100-kilometre-per-hour (0–62 mph) acceleration of 4.3 seconds, equipped with dual motors powering the front and rear wheels with a comprehensive maximum power of 510 kW (684 hp; 693 PS) and a peak torque of 1,040 N⋅m (767 lb⋅ft; 106 kg⋅m), total rated power of the electric motors is equal to the maximum 30 minute power and is 178 kW (239 hp; 242 PS). The top speed of the Voyah Free DNA can reach 200 km/h (120 mph), and the shortest braking distance from 100 to 0 kilometres per hour (62 to 0 mph) is only 33.8 metres (111 ft; 37.0 yd).
See also
List of electric cars currently available