Chinese language auto large Geely’s Riddara RD6 electrical ute has been launched in New Zealand with the identical worth as the favored BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute – NZ$69,990 (~A$63,350) earlier than on-road prices – forward of first buyer deliveries throughout the ditch in September.
Confirmed final yr for worldwide export markets together with Australia, the place it will likely be often called the Riddara RD6 moderately than the Radar RD6 as in China on account of a trademark dispute, the battery-electric dual-cab ute additionally hits the Kiwi market at across the similar worth because the mid-range diesel-powered Ford Ranger XLT dual-cab 4×4.
If it launches with an identical worth in Australia, the RD6 will likely be by far the most cost effective all-electric ute to be bought Down Underneath, the place the LDV eT60 grew to become the primary and up to now solely such car out there in 2022, priced at $92,990 earlier than on-road prices.
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Nonetheless, the rear-wheel drive eT60 will quickly get replaced by the newer, four-wheel drive LDV eTerron 9 dual-cab, whereas a number of different dual-cab 4×4 electrical utes, together with the Isuzu D-Max EV.
Thus far there’s no signal of the not too long ago confirmed plug-in hybrid model of the Riddara RD6 being launched in New Zealand (not to mention Australia), the place the pure-electric RD6 dual-cab will likely be out there in a single high-spec mannequin variant.
The NZ-spec RD6 is fitted with dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain providing a complete system output of 315kW of energy – sufficient for Geely to assert a 0-100km/h dash time of simply 4.5 seconds.
Each electrical motors are fed by a 73kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a claimed WLTP vary of 360km.
Single-motor variations and a spread of different energy pack choices together with smaller LFP batteries and bigger nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries providing capacities of as much as 100kWh can be found in different markets.
Nonetheless, a key distinction to the eT60, eTerron 9, D-Max EV, plug-in hybrid utes just like the Shark 6, Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV – and actually each different ute out there in Australia – is that the RD6 is predicated on a car-like monocoque platform, moderately than a extra rugged ladder body.
Nonetheless, New Zealand’s RD6 nonetheless gives a most payload of 1030kg and a braked towing capability of 3000kg, which is lower than Australia’s hottest diesel utes however greater than the Shark 6.
The Riddara title was trademarked in Australia by Geely in March 2023, and the RD6 is anticipated to be bought alongside current Geely fashions together with the Geely EX5 mid-size electrical SUV and the Starray EM-i mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV throughout the Geely Auto Australia seller community.
Apart from its namesake model and Radar/Riddara, the Geely group contains a number different auto manufacturers together with Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr, all of that are distributed in New Zealand by the Giltrap Group’s new NordEast division.
