Geely has teased the upcoming Zhanjian 700.
- It's heavily inspired by the Land Rover Defender.
- SUV features a tri-motor four-wheel drive system.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Land Rover must be blushing as Geely is gearing up to introduce the new Zhanjian 700. It apes the Defender and is being billed as an "AI all-terrain hardcore SUV."
The automaker isn't saying much at this point, but the model was previewed by a concept at last year's Shanghai auto show and looks more British than Chinese. The similarities are striking as both models have rectangular headlights with circular daytime running lights. The 700 even incorporates the Defender's single bar grille, although here it's illuminated and features a logo in the center.
More: Geely's Swimming Defender Clone Wants Land Rover's Lunch
The design déjà vu continues further back as we can see familiar body work and similar front fender vents. They're joined by plastic body cladding and a Defender-esque greenhouse. That being said, the 700 eschews Land Rover's side-mounted panel and features a beltline that kicks up at the rear doors.
Rounding out the highlights are a contrasting white roof, two-tone wheels, and a rear-mounted spare tire carrier. The model also has blacked out pillars as well as a roof rack.
The interior image isn't very revealing, but we can see a lever-style shifter with a leather grab handle. It's flanked by two metallic controls and one of them could be the drive mode selector.
While that remains to be seen, the 700 has high quality switchgear and a row of dedicated off-road buttons. This appears to include a ride height selector, a 4L button, and a locking rear diff.
Geely was tight-lipped on specifics, but said the model has an integrated frame as well as a tri-motor four-wheel drive system for "intelligent electric performance." While that implies the vehicle is fully electric, that might not be the case as there are doors on both sides of the rear fenders.
One of them could be a charging port, while the other is for the gas tank. This would make sense as previous reports have suggested the model could have a 1.5- or 2.0-liter engine as well as a 70 kWh battery pack.
While a number of questions remain, the Zhanjian 700 will likely debut at Auto China next month. We can expect to learn more then, but Geely hinted the SUV won't be cheap as it will
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Geely's new Zhanjian 700 SUV closely mimics the Land Rover Defender's design with nearly identical styling cues.
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This highlights China's ongoing automotive strategy of copying successful Western designs to compete globally.
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The 700 may feature a hybrid powertrain combining a gas engine with electric motors and 70 kWh battery pack.
