The ever-expanding electric vehicle market in China is welcoming yet another new entrant, as Avatr introduces its fourth production model, the Avatr 06 sedan, which serves as an entry point in the brand’s lineup. The low-slung sedan is closely related to the Avatr 07 SUV that debuted earlier this year, combining Changan underpinnings, CATL batteries, and Huawei tech.

At first glance, the sedan resembles a smaller version of the Avatr 12 Gran Coupe. However, a closer look reveals more conventional proportions and a subtle evolution of the brand’s signature styling cues. These include slim, split-design LED headlights, a cleaner front bumper, and sleeker surfacing along the profile.

More: We Get Up Close To The Avatr 11 And 12 EVs From China Aiming To Shake Up The Luxury Market

The 06 sedan is also equipped with a suite of advanced sensors as part of the Huawei Qiankun ADAS system, including a roof-mounted LiDAR. The side mirrors have been replaced with cameras, a design choice that supposedly eliminates the need for a rear window—a trend that’s gaining traction, but still hard to embrace.The rear is finished off with a third brake light integrated into the edge of the sloping roofline, along with a discreet spoiler mounted on the tailgate.

The Avatr 06 measures 4,855 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, and 1,450 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,940 mm. That makes it 30 mm (1.2 inches) longer than the closely-related Avatr 07 crossover, and 135 mm (5.3 inches) longer than the Tesla Model 3.

Avatr / Weibo

While Avatr has yet to unveil the 06’s interior, it’s expected to follow in the footsteps of its more premium siblings, with a futuristic cockpit that includes large digital screens running Huawei’s Harmony OS and other high-tech features.

The 06 sedan shares the same CHN platform as the rest of the Avatr lineup. Although the company has not yet released full specifications, it’s safe to assume that the 06 will mirror the powertrain options of the 07 SUV. Expected variants include rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) electric versions. The RWD variant will likely produce 338 hp (252 kW), while the AWD model should generate around 590 hp (440 kW). Both will be powered by an 82 kWh battery pack.

Additionally, there will be EREV (extended range electric vehicle) versions, combining a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with a 39 kWh battery and offering the choice of one or two electric motors.

The Avatr 06 is set for a launch in China in early 2025, with the automaker hoping it will boost sales, particularly as the larger Avatr 11 and 12 models have fallen short of initial targets in the competitive Chinese EV market. Avatr is headquartered in Chongqing, with a development center in Shanghai and a design center in Munich, Germany.

Luxeed, the joint venture between Huawei and Chery, has unveiled the 2025 MY updates for the S7 electric sedan, one year after its debut. The updated EV brings a fresh color palette and a lower price point, with the aim of attracting buyers who might otherwise flock to the Tesla Model 3.

Originally launched in November 2023, the Luxeed S7 faced a sluggish start, largely due to supply issues. However, after re-introducing the electric sedan to the Chinese market in April 2024 with some minor tweaks, the 2025 MY version has now arrived, designed to ramp up customer demand and make a more significant impact in the competitive EV market.

More: Huawei’s Maextro S800 Looks Like Someone Put A Maybach, A Rolls And A Porsche In The Blender

The 4,971 mm (195.7 inches) long S7 was the first to showcase the group’s HIMA styling language, which has since been adopted across other Huawei-backed models like the Stelato S9 sedan, Aito M9 SUV, and the Luxeed R7 coupe SUV.

While the exterior remains unchanged for the 2025 MY, the new color options—Phantom Purple, Blue Wave, Metropolitan Red, and Sunshine Blue—give the S7 a more distinctive presence on the road. It also looks like the Luxeed S7 Ultra performance flagship also borrows some styling cues from the Tesla Model 3 Performance, sporting black 21-inch wheels, red Brembo brake calipers, and discreet aero add-ons.

Interior Upgrades And Tech

Inside, the 2025 S7 carries over much from the 2024 model, but with a few notable updates to its standard equipment. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 15.6-inch touchscreen run on Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4 software. The front seats feature zero-gravity technology, while the rear bench offers both heating and ventilation.

Luxeed has also added dual wireless charging pads and a 17-speaker audio system to enhance the cabin’s luxury feel. Furthermore, the Huawei ADS 2.0 system brings semi-autonomous driving capabilities and remote parking, using an array of sensors to assist the driver.

Powertrain And Chassis

The Luxeed S7 rides on the E0X architecture,shared with the Luxeed R7 coupe SUV, as well as the Exeed Sterra ES sedan and ET SUV. The same platform is expected to underpin the new Freelander EVs that will be introduced in China as part of Jaguar Land Rover’s joint venture with Chery.

The sedan is available with a rear-mounted electric motor producing 288 hp (215 kW / 292 PS), or dual electric motors producing a combined 489 hp (365 kW / 496 PS). The CATL-sourced battery packs have a capacity of 82 kWh or 100 kWh, with the latter offering a CLTC range of up to 855 km (531 miles) in the RWD version.

Cheaper Than The Tesla Model 3

The most significant news for 2025 is the Luxeed S7’s reduced price, with cuts ranging between ¥10,000-30,000 ($1,400-4,100) depending on the trim. The updated model now undercuts its primary rival, the Tesla Model 3, by a small margin—though it’s worth noting that Tesla could counter this move with more discounts sooner than you can say “Elon’s sending out another tweet.” .

SPECS

H/T to Car News China

Chinese products have come a long way in design, tech, quality, and luxury over the past few decades. So much so that the latest brand to emerge from the People’s Republic—Maextro—thinks it can rival Europe’s most opulent brands, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Maybach. Its debut model, the S800, promises similar grandeur at a fraction of the price.

Far from being a plucky upstart (or heaven forbid, some bizarre reboot of the Austin Maestro), the newly formed Maextro brand is a joint venture between tech giant Huawei and Chinese automaker JAC. It’s also the fourth and most ambitious member of Huawei’s HIMA project, taking its place above the Stelato (Huawei/BAIC), Luxeed (Huawei/Chery), and AITO (Huawei/Seres) collaborations.

More: Huawei CEO Says New Ultra-Premium EV Brand Will Surpass Maybach And Rolls-Royce

As the debut model for the fledgling brand, the Maextro S800 was unveiled ahead of its spring 2025 market launch. The electric sedan sticks to a tried-and-tested luxury formula: a long hood, a bowed roofline flowing cleanly into the rear, and a wheelbase that stretches out like it has something to prove.

Derivative Styling

While China’s auto industry has arguably progressed in design over the years, the Maextro S800 stumbles into a familiar trap—derivative styling. Rather than forging a bold new identity, it borrows liberally (and not always successfully) from Europe’s luxury playbook.

The disc wheels are unmistakably Rolls-Royce-inspired, the chrome-accented lower bumper intake feels like a Bentley afterthought, and the bi-tone exterior treatment screams Maybach. As for the rear, its slightly hunched profile is uncomfortably reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera. To its credit, the S800 does manage a few original touches, including unique star-patterned door handles and intricately designed LED lighting, but these flourishes aren’t quite enough to shake its patchwork aesthetic.

Size Matters, Apparently

Yu Chengdong (also known as Richard Yu), the CEO of Huawei Technologies Consumer Business Group, couldn’t resist boasting that the Maextro S800 is bigger than 99.99% of the cars on Chinese roads. Measuring 5,480 mm (215.7 inches) in length, 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) in width, and 1,536 mm (60.5 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 3,370 mm (132.7 inches), the S800 certainly isn’t lacking in size.

This footprint is very similar to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which served as a benchmark for the Chinese model. However, it falls 65 mm (2.6 inches) shy of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, and if you’re aiming for Phantom EWB levels of grandeur, you’ll need an extra 502 mm (19.8 inches) to get there.

A Glimpse Inside

The interior, revealed through a single teaser photo, hints at opulence but leaves much to the imagination. The so-called “starry sky” roof, a feature borrowed from Rolls-Royce’s greatest hits, offers a celestial ambiance, while high-quality materials for the upholstery aim to enhance the cabin’s appeal.

The back seats suggest a four-seater layout, catering to those who prefer being chauffeured over driving themselves. And because this is a Huawei-backed venture, you can expect the latest tech, including an AI-powered assistance system and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities.

Built on Huawei’s Tuling Intelligent Chassis, the Maextro S800 remains tight-lipped on its full electric powertrain specs. Those details are expected to drop closer to its market launch in spring 2025.

Pricing

However, one thing is already clear; this EV is priced to compete. Pre-orders in China are now open with a deposit of ¥20,000 ($2,800), and final pricing is anticipated to fall between ¥1-1.5 million ($137,800-$206,700). That slots the S800 directly against heavyweights like the Mercedes-Benz EQS and BMW i7 in the luxury electric sedan segment.

Photos: Maextro, Chu Xiaomin, Wild 11 / Weibo