Jaecoo J8 PHEV seven-seat to arrive in Q3

Jaecoo is adding plug-in hybrid – or Super Hybrid – power to its J8 large SUV, with the new AWD SHS due in local showrooms in the third quarter of the year (July-September) with a third row of seating.

While the J8 arrived locally a year ago exclusively with petrol power, a five-seat configuration and the two Track and Ridge variants, Jaecoo says buyers have been asking for a large SUV with more seats.

“Our customers have been asking for a seven-seat SUV and we’re more than happy to meet their demands with the compelling J8 SHS,” Omoda Jaecoo Australia chief commercial officer Roy Munoz said.

The J8 SHS’ powertrain is shared with the Omoda 9 launched here in July last year; it outputs a combined 395kW/650Nm and drives all four wheels.

In the Omoda 9, the combination’s good for a sub-five-second 0-100km/h time and up to 169km (NEDC) of electric range.

A full tank of petrol and a full charge of the 34kWh battery offers a claimed total range of up to 1100km, with the battery able to be recharged at 70kW when using DC power.

While Omoda Jaecoo Australia is guarding J8 SHS seven-seat pricing and specifications until closer to launch, the new model will likely sit on top of the J8 range and be priced between the existing petrol J8 Ridge ($54,990 d/a) and the Omoda 9 ($61,990 d/a).

While the right-hand drive example shown at a Sydney preview event was an evaluation vehicle, it indicates the new J8 SHS will become the premium Jaecoo model offered here, in a spec similar to the current Ridge AWD, further layered with three rows of seating and of course the PHEV powertrain.

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