The second-generation Suzuki Alto car was rebranded under the Jiangnan TT name for the Chinese market. Zotye, a Chinese automaker that previously produced Suzuki and Fiat-based cars, purchased Jiangnan before the latter went bankrupt. What characteristics does a Chinese electric vehicle have with a second-generation Suzuki Alto from the 1980s? Unexpected as it may be, the explanation for Jiangnan U2 is a shared design history. Jiangnan Automobile, formerly known for manufacturing rebadged Suzuki Altos as one of China's cheapest cars, is back this year with a far more up-to-date model.
However, the Jiangnan U2 is a new electric city car, as the BAIC Ruixiang Hoen O2 largely inspired it. While it shares many of the latter's body panels, its distinctive front end is likely inspired by the Jiangnan TT (2001-2010), which was the name of a rebadged and sold-in-China version of the second-generation Suzuki Alto (1984-1988).
For its retro-futuristic style, the black fascia with rounded rectangular LED headlights may remind certain people of a Honda e. The aerodynamic windscreen, short overhangs, and short hood give it a similar profile to the Ruixiang Hoen O2. Additional exterior features of the EV include a rear spoiler, panoramic sunroof, sleek door handles, and large 17-inch alloy wheels.
The new Jiangnan U2 is an electric city car, measuring 3,840 millimeters in length on a wheelbase of 2,521. We have no inside shots available, but we can make out fabric-upholstered seats and a standalone infotainment screen in the center stack.
A 74hp and 120Nm or a 107hp and 160Nm generating engine will power the front wheels of the Jiangnan U2. It will also come with two different lithium-iron-phosphate battery options, with 305km and 406km of range, possibly as defined by Chinese standards.
Although we are unaware of the Jiangnan U2's price or when it will be released in the Chinese market, the manufacturer is well-known for producing reasonably priced automobiles. Until its bankruptcy, Zotye controlled Jiangnan, a Chinese automaker that made vehicles based on the Suzuki and Fiat platforms. In the meantime, we'll seek information about the company's future electric cars.
