American car company General Motors (GM) has officially launched a new affordable electric vehicle (EV) called Menlo, starting at around $23,000. However, unless you live in or visit China, you won’t be driving one.
The Menlo comes after GM announced they will introduce two new EV’s based off of what they learned from the Bolt EV. The Menlo’s design is inspired by the Chevrolet FNR-X all-purpose sports concept vehicle.
This all-new fully electric Chevrolet Menlo EV has a good looking sports sedan/crossover body style that reminds me of a Subaru Outback. Similarly, it sits up higher than a car but slightly smaller than an SUV.
Scott Lawson is the general director of Chevrolet SAIC-GM in Shanghai, in the press release he described the company’s new EV:
Along with being a new energy vehicle, the Chevrolet Menlo inherits Chevrolet’s sporty DNA that dates back to its founding by racecar drivers. It will meet the performance and styling demands of our customers and at the same time provide the efficiency that new energy vehicle owners expect.
Specs
Menlo offers an estimated electric range of 250 miles (410 kilometers) from a full charge, generating 110 kW of maximum power and 350 Nm of maximum torque. The battery can be recharged to an 80% capacity in just 40 minutes using a direct current (DC) fast charger. GM offers a quality assurance warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km for the battery, motor, and electric control systems.
GM is using a new-generation “highly efficient pure electric drive system that ensures a smooth, quiet and natural driving experience.”
Depending on how you’re feeling, Menlo has three driving modes and three energy recovery modes;
“The economical, normal and sporty driving modes support base acceleration, standard acceleration, and enhanced acceleration. The energy recovery modes of light free recovery, medium efficient recovery and strong energy recovery likewise support personal preferences for a balance between driving performance and energy consumption.”
The Menlo offers a roomy interior that has 28 storage spaces with up to 1,077 liters of cargo space. Adding to the appeal of the vehicle is a panoramic skylight with laminated glass that blocks out 96% of UV rays while providing sound and heat insulation.
The multi-layered center console has a “10.1-inch ultra-thin suspension type center control LCD touchscreen, [and an] 8-inch full-color TFT LCD instrument panel”.
Safety
The Chevrolet Menlo features a new-generation “MyLink+ infotainment system with OnStar.” GM’s press release details the following safety standards:
Safety is a priority in the Chevrolet Menlo. Its advanced technologies include Bosch’s 9.3 Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Forward Collision Alert (FCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), Automatic Parking Assist (APA), Following Distance Indicator (FDI) and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
All in all, this sounds like a very nice EV from Chevrolet and GM. The question is, why is the new Menlo only available in China?
People are becoming much more environmentally conscious around the world and, quite frankly, would like to have more affordable options like this Menlo available for purchase. Hopefully, GM will consider bringing this model to the U.S. and European markets.
