SAIC’s Roewe plug-in hybrid sedan has set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered by a PHEV. The Roewe D7 DMH has successfully completed a record-breaking 2,208-kilometer (1,372-mile) journey across China in just four days. This extraordinary achievement was accomplished without the need for any additional fuel or charging.
The four-door sedan, which made its debut in China last year, averaged an impressive fuel consumption of 2.49 liters per 100 kilometers (94.5 MPG). This remarkable efficiency places SAIC alongside other Chinese automakers like BYD, Chery, and Geely, who have also introduced PHEVs with a combined range exceeding 2,000 kilometers.
The D7 DMH’s endurance was tested under diverse conditions, including gravel roads, dirt tracks, snow, ice, and wet tarmac. It even conquered a significant altitude difference of 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) and braved temperatures as low as -8°C (17.6°F).
Powering the D7 DMH is a plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline engine generating 110 horsepower (82 kW) and an electric motor delivering 201 horsepower (150 kW). The official figures suggest a combined range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles), with an electric-only range of 125 kilometers (78 miles) from its 21.4 kWh battery. However, the record-breaking journey exceeded this claimed range by a significant margin, demonstrating the potential for extended range when driven efficiently.
The Roewe D7 DMH has been available since November 2023. While it’s unclear if the record-setting vehicle was a standard model or a modified variant, the underlying technology is impressive.
According to the information released for the record, the 1.5-liter engine boasts a remarkable 43% thermal efficiency and an ultra-high compression ratio of 16:1, contributing to the vehicle’s exceptional fuel economy and overall performance.
