In Western markets, Honda has lagged behind several competitors in the race to develop and launch compelling battery-electric vehicles. However, over in China, the automaker has been more agile in responding to shifting market trends. The Ye P7 marks the first of three new EVs Honda is rolling out locally, demonstrating a strategic push to reclaim its footing in the electric vehicle arena.

The crossover, branded as the Ye P7, was initially previewed in April alongside the Ye S7 crossover and the Ye GT Concept, a sleek low-slung sedan. These newly released images showcase the Ye P7 in its production form for the first time. Thanks to the diligent disclosures from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, we now have access to additional technical specifications that shed light on this latest offering from Honda.

Read: Honda Takes On BYD With New Ye EV Brand, Shows SUVs And GT Concept

Honda plans to manufacture the Ye P7 in collaboration with its local joint venture partner, GAC. Measuring 4,750 mm (187 inches) in length, 1,930 mm (75.9 inches) in width, and standing 1,625 mm (63.9 inches) tall, the crossover boasts a long wheelbase of 2,930 mm (115.3 inches). The new electric model weighs in at 2,305 kg (5,081 lbs) and comes standard with imposing 21-inch wheels.

The battery pack is a lithium-ion unit sourced from CATL. While we don’t yet know the capacity of this battery, we do know it drives a 201 hp (150 kW) front-mounted motor and a 268 hp (200 kW) rear-mounted motor. That’s enough to send the Ye P7 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, making it substantially quicker than a Civic Type R.

Visually, Honda seems to have taken at least some inspiration from higher-end crossover vehicles like the Ferrari Purosangue and Toyota Crown Sport with lobster claw-shaped LED headlights and a light bar. The hood is quite pronounced, complete with bumps on either side that flow neatly to the base of the A-pillars.

Adding to the somewhat rugged looks of the crossover are squared-off gloss black fenders and angular skirts. One surprising feature that has made its way through to production from the concept model is the rear-facing door cameras in the place of traditional wing mirrors. Door handles that sit flush with the bodywork are also standard.

Spin around to the rear and there are LED taillights that match up nicely with the headlights. There’s also a large Honda badge and plenty of gloss black elements.

These photos don’t show the interior of the Ye P7 but the concept’s cabin looked pretty close to production. It included a massive central touchscreen display housing all important settings, including the HVAC controls. It also featured a single wireless phone charging pad and a dedicated digital instrument cluster perched towards the top of the dashboard.  

Thew new Honda Ye P7 is expected to make its market launch in China later this year.

GAC has shared the first photos of its Aion UT on social media, ahead of its official debut at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show on November 15. The Chinese hatchback is being marketed as a “global strategic model” and will feature a fully electric powertrain, with dimensions similar to the VW ID.3.

The GAC Aion UT adopts a friendly look, with plenty of curves, a grille-less front end and sleek LED headlights. Overall, the styling language is reminiscent of the recently revealed Geome Xingyuan by the rival Geely brand. The interior is typical of Chinese EVs with a large Tesla-like infotainment screen, a two-spoke steering wheel, a floating center console, and colorful inserts.

More: Does The New Aion V Electric SUV Remind You Of A T-Rex? GAC Thinks So

According to data from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the GAC Aion UT measures 4,270 mm (168.1 inches) in length, 1,850 mm (72.8 inches) in width, and 1,575 mm (62 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm (108.3 inches). These dimensions are comparable to other electric hatchbacks, including the VW ID.3, the MG4, and the global-spec BYD Dolphin.

Power comes from a single electric motor producing 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS). Energy is sourced in a lithium iron phosphate battery pack of unknown capacity. The official sketches suggest the EV will offer over 600 km (373 miles) of range, though the larger GAC Aion RT electric sedan, with its 68.1 kWh battery, is rated for up to 650 km (400 miles) of CLTC range.

Car News China reports that the GAC Aion UT will be priced from under ¥100,000 ($13,800) in the People’s Republic, matching the starting price of the BYD Dolphin (¥99,800 / $13,800). More importantly, the GAC Aion UT will undercut both the MG4 (¥115,800 / $16,000) and the VW ID.3 (¥129,900 / $18,000) in China.

GAC Aion is the best-selling sub-brand of the GAC Group, specializing in fully electric vehicles. Besides China, the marque currently operates in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The brand’s three “global strategic models” include the Aion V SUV, the Aion RT sedan, and the Aion UT hatchback.

GAC Aion / Weibo

Plug-in hybrids are often billed as a stepping stone to electric vehicles as they usually offer a modest electric-only range of around 30 to 40 miles. That’s enough to cover short commutes, but not much else. Beyond that, they rely on traditional engines, leaving much to be desired for those seeking true electric freedom.

However, it’s time to rethink plug-in hybrids as CATL has unveiled their new Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery, which promises to give PHEVs a range in excess of 249 miles (400 km). That’s presumably an optimistic CLTC figure, but that range matches the EPA estimate of the Audi e-tron GT and bests some versions of the Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW i4. It also trounces EPA figures for the Fiat 500e as well as variants of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.

More: CATL’s New LFP Battery Unlocks 373-Mile Range With 10-Minute Charge

Besides providing a significant increase in range, CATL says the battery supports 4C superfast charging. This means a quick 10 minute stop could deliver over 174 miles (280 km) of range, “dispelling range anxiety for EREV and PHEV owners.”

The magic behind Freevoy lies in advanced materials and cutting-edge chemistry. According to CATL, the battery’s design incorporates “surface modification technology for the cathode material, coupled with an innovative high-voltage electrolyte formulation, to create a nano protective layer. This effectively minimizes side reactions within the active layer.”

As CATL explains it, the inclusion of “high-activity, excited-state particles into the cathode material significantly enhances transport efficiency of lithium ions within the material. Supported by the SOC full-scene high-precision model developed by CATL, and the upgrade of BMS intelligent algorithm and hardware, the SOC control accuracy of Freevoy has been increased by 40%, and the overall pure electric utilization rate has increased by more than 10%, achieving a pure electric range of more than 249 miles (400 km).”

The company went on to say the Freevoy incorporates their sodium-ion battery technology as well as a multi-gradient layered electrode design. Of course, what really matters is the jaw-dropping range and CATL effectively said each improvement helped to add a few miles, combining to create a huge jump over traditional PHEV batteries.

Looking ahead, 30 hybrid models are set to roll out next year equipped with the Freevoy battery. Among the first to adopt it will be brands like Chery, GAC, Geely, and VOYAH, setting the stage for a new era of hybrids that might actually make going fully electric seem, well, not so urgent after all.