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Chevy’s New Electric SUV Could Be Coming to Your Country, But Not America

  • The Captiva EV is based on the Chinese Wuling Starlight S but carries Chevy’s badge.
  • General Motors plans to launch the EV in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
  • Expect similar specs to the Wuling Starlight S, including a 317-mile driving range.

Chevrolet’s EV lineup is expanding at full throttle, and after introducing electric versions of the Blazer, Equinox, and Silverado, the brand is adding another familiar name to its global roster, and this time, it’s the Captiva. However, before you get too excited, know that this is another one of those β€œfor South America only” deals, so don’t expect it to land on U.S. shores anytime soon, if ever.

The Captiva name was first used in the mid-2000s for a compact SUV sold in certain markets like Europe, Australia, New Zealand, as well as parts of South East Asia, where it was also branded as the Daewoo Winstorm. After the original model was axed, GM revived the Captiva with a new version based on the Baojun 530, a Chinese model. Now, the Captiva has gone full electric, and it’s based on another Chinese offering.

Read: GM’s New Wuling Sunshine Is The Swiss Army Knife Of Chinese EVs

The model in question is the Wuling Starlight S (also known as the Xing Guang S), which is currently sold in China. Recent social media posts from General Motors in Brazil reveal that much of the Wuling’s design has been carried over to the Chevy, though it’s been tweaked just enough to better fit the Bowtie badge.

At the front, the Captiva EV sports narrow LEDs and turn signals, with the main headlamps placed lower down on the fascia. Despite being an electric vehicle, it still has a large black grille, a departure from the grille-free designs we’re used to seeing in more modern EVs. The rear end, however, is almost identical to the Wuling model, with the same taillights, tailgate, and black bumper.

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The Captiva EV will be sold in markets like Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, regions where its compact size and affordability are expected to hit the mark. Needless to say, the US remains firmly out of the picture.

Technical specifications for the new model have yet to be announced. However, we know that the all-electric version of the Starlight S has a claimed driving range of up to 317 miles (510 km) and can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.7 seconds. Similar specs can be expected for the Captiva EV, including the ability for the battery to be charged from 30-80% in 20 minutes.

Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Topples 911 Turbo S At Interlagos F1 Circuit

  • The all-electric sedan is powered by a pair of electric motors with a combined 1,019 hp.
  • Porsche’s track-focused EV needs less than 2 seconds to rocket to 60 mph (96 km/h).
  • The flagship Taycan also set storming lap times at the Nurburgring and Laguna Seca.

While the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra recently stole the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT’s thunder at the Shanghai International Circuit, Porsche is still eager to show the world just how potent its flagship EV is. In early February, it brought a purple Taycan Turbo GT to Brazil’s Interlagos circuit and set a new lap record at the Formula 1 track.

Behind the wheel of the Porsche was Felipe Nasr, a three-time IMSA champion and a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona. The Brazilian, who also had a stint in Formula 1, lapped the circuit in 1:42.1, almost 8 seconds faster than a Porsche Taycan Turbo S, and dropping almost a second to a 911 Turbo S, which lapped the same track in 1:43.087.

Read: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Smashes Taycan Turbo GT’s Lap Record At Shanghai Circuit

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that the Taycan Turbo GT set a new record given its specifications. Power comes from a pair of electric motors with a combined 1,019 hp, and as a recent Car and Driver test revealed, it can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in under 2 seconds.

While storming down the curved main straight of the circuit in Interlagos, the Porsche topped out at 272 km/h (169 mph) with Nasr behind the wheel. It launches out of the circuit’s high-speed corners like a rocket, picking up speed in a way that beggars belief. Of course, it’s nowhere near as quick as a Formula 1 car at the track, as they can lap the circuit in less than 1:08. Nevertheless, for a production car, the Taycan Turbo GT’s time is very impressive.

β€œIt’s amazing how quickly the car accelerates and delivers its power,” Nasr said after his run. β€œThe steering of the Taycan Turbo GT was very precise in the slow corners and remained stable even under heavy braking. The balance, the grip – a real performance machine.”

The record lap car had the optional Weissach performance package and was fitted with Pirelli Trofeo RS tires. Last year, the same car lapped WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in just 1:27.87, making it one of the quickest production cars to ever go around the Californian circuit.

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