The Avatr 15 is China’s latest answer to the Tesla Model Y

Avatr has released teasers of the exterior of the 15, showing it under camouflage. The company’s latest model features a sporty design with a curvy bonnet and roofline and a sleek glasshouse. Flush-fitted door handles, digital mirrors, and super-slim tail lights give it a high-tech appearance, while muscular haunches and big C-shaped DRLs underline its ruggedness.

The Avatr 15 is targeted at customers with an active lifestyle. The first teasers show it featuring cross bars, a roof basket, a load net, and a tow hitch. The tow hitch also gives away the fact that the upcoming SUV would be capable of towing, not to say it wasn’t expected.

Physical controls like switches and buttons would be countable on a single hand, with most of the comfort and infotainment controls integrated into a tablet-like large touchscreen infotainment system attached to the centre of a sleek dashboard. An ultra-wide virtual instrument cluster also appears to be part of the in-cabin electronics. The steering wheel would be a compact three-spoke unit with a chunky centre pad and a flat bottom, so it should give the driver a sporty feeling.

According to a report from Autohome, the Avatr 15 will sit on the CHN platform with 800-volt architecture. It will be available in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive variants, with LFP and NCM battery packs sourced from CATL. On a full charge, it should deliver a CLTC range of up to over 650 kilometres. There will also be a range extender variant, which will employ a 1.5-litre engine, presumably a petrol-powered unit, and allow travelling more than 1,000 km in one go.

Avatr plans to enter Europe by 2025 and is also considering manufacturing vehicles in the region, former CEO Tan Benhong told Automotive News Europe in 2023. The first exports, however, are set for 2024, initially to Thailand. Exports will initially be prioritised in Central Asia, North Africa, South America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As mentioned above, the next step will be to enter the EU markets and finally North America. The company was still evaluating the models for Europe, but it’s safe to assume that the Avatr 15 would definitely be on the list. In China, the SUV will go on sale in the second half of 2024.

carnewschina.com, autonews.com, autohome.com.cn (in Chinese)