Deepal eyeing wacky E07 SUV for Australia

The Australian outpost of Chinese newcomer Deepal has announced it’s exploring the idea of importing a wild SUV that can transform into a dual-cab ute at the touch of a button.

Mimicking the Tesla Cybertruck’s wedgy shape, the baffling creation is already available in China as the Changan Nevo E07 SUV and was created to overcome restrictions on pick-ups in its native market.

When asked if the E07 was on the local radar, Deepal Australia general manager Cormac Cafolla said he thought the SUV-cum-ute could work in Australia.

“Look, I think everyone who comes in, their eyes are drawn to the large SUV, given the kind of consumer attraction into that product in the Australian market,” he told carsales.

“We explore every opportunity we can.”

Said to offer a far better payload than any conventional SUV, the E07 measures in at 5045mm long, 1996mm wide and stands 1695mm tall, with a generous 3120mm wheelbase.

Powertrain options comprise multiple battery-electric (single- and dual-motor) set-ups as well as a range-extender hybrid.

If given the greenlight for Australia, it’s understood the E07 will be rebranded as the Deepal E07 and slot into an SUV-centric portfolio alongside the Tesla Model Y-rivalling S07 (here next month), Prado-chasing G318 (early 2025) and compact S05 (TBC).

A mid-sized sedan (L07) is also on the cards as one of nine models tipped to be headed Down Under within the next few years.

Commenting on the other models, Cafolla said the local operation would “push as hard as” it could “to make sure” products of interest to Aussie consumers “hit the roads here”.

- With Feann Torr

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