Chinese carmaker Niutron has released the first official images of its debut model, the NV SUV. The mid-sized SUV is set to be offered as a pure electric vehicle or with a more conventional hybrid powertrain.
According to China-based car website AutoHome, the retro-styled family SUV should roll off production lines in September this year. From a styling perspective, the NV features headlamps not unlike the examples found on the Ford Bronco. The overall design is conservative, with hints of Land Rover Defender also noticeable. Fashionable retracting door handles make an appearance, most likely to better the drag coefficient and preserve range.
The fairly innocuous side profile appears original (if a touch bland) although the light bar round-back has a hint of Peugeot's 2008 and 3008, crossovers not sold in the USA. Size-wise, the Niutron measures approximately 4.9 meters long, 1.95 meters wide, and has a wheelbase of 2.9 meters. This makes it not much smaller than the current-generation Ford Explorer, which is also available as a hybrid.
Headquartered in Beijing, Niutron hasn't revealed intricate details about the NV's engine options but has said the SUV will boast an electric four-wheel-drive system. Both the hybrid and electric models are claimed to hit 62 mph in 5.9 seconds. No interior details have been specified as yet, except for the fact that the newcomer is a five-seater.
While there's no word as to whether it will be arriving in the United States, Niutron is one of several Chinese carmakers with a keen focus on electromobility. Perhaps the best-known company is Nio, who very recently unveiled a mid-sized sedan with a promising 621 miles of travel range. The Tesla-challenging company hopes to expand into more markets by 2025, including the United States.
If the NV ever came to the US, it would have to do battle with a number of already established brands selling electrified SUVs. Perhaps keen pricing would tempt buyers, but for now, it's highly unlikely the NV Hybrid and its electric sibling will make it stateside.