Crown Motors bags GWM and Haval franchise deal

By Steve UMIDHA

Crown Motors Group Ltd has been appointed the sole distributor and seller of GWM and Haval car brands in Kenya.

The fondly known HAVAL brand set its roots in Kenya with the launch of the Jolion, P-Series and H6. A few years later, we are excited to introduce the latest GWM range to the portfolio.

Earlier this month, GWM announced its new strategy to encapsulate all vehicles from the GWM and HAVAL Portfolio’s under the GWM brand. The GWM Brand will be the umbrella brand for the rest of the product portfolio which includes the HAVAL products.

The strategy, known as “One GWM” aims to create a strong brand presence and customer centric approach for the brand in the markets that it operates in.

Haval Kenya is proud to introduce the ORA, the first electric vehicle to be added to GWM’s product line up. The TANK 300 makes its debut to the GWM Range as the ultimate off-road vehicle that combines luxury and toughness. The HAVAL H6 GT is the final addition to the GWM family, providing the perfect blend of performance and SUV versatility to the range.

ORA

Design

Innovative, fashionable and purely electric, the ORA introduces a new era for GWM in Kenya, bringing a fresh new approach to electric mobility. User centricity is paramount to the ORA, developed from the beginning together with those who will drive the cars.

The interior of the ORA promises a blend of old school charisma and advanced technology while the exterior styling seamlessly marries timeless charm with contemporary flair.

Its unique teardrop shape and streamlined side profile add modern aerodynamics to the mix coupled with the round headlights and distinctive tailgate design which evoke a nostalgic feel.

Performance

With a 48kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, the electric motor in the entry-level standard range 300 Super Luxury delivers a consumption of 16.7kWh/100 km for a range of up to 310 km (WLTP cycle) making it the most economical vehicle in its class.

Recharging of the battery in the 300 Super Luxury from 10% to 89% with a 64kW DC charge will take around 50 minutes.

With an 11kW AC charger it will take around 5.5 hours to completely recharge the battery in the 300 Super Luxury. The bespoke suspension for the front-wheel drive ORA consists of MacPherson struts in front and a vertical arm torsion beam, giving the ORA good ride and handling qualities.

Four driving modes (Standard, ECO, Sport, Auto and ECO+) can be selected via the drive mode selector, and the electric power steering (EPS) system has three selections: Light, Comfort and Sport.

Interior

The interior of the ORA immerses you in an environment that expertly combines high-quality, vegan-friendly materials with sheer luxury and palpable attention to detail, resonating a refined taste that sets this EV apart from the rest.

Two 10.25-inch touchscreens are seamlessly integrated into the front panel, with every function just a touch away.

A standout feature is the rotary-style gear selector, ensuring a modern and intuitive approach to gear selection. The infotainment system with Apple CarPlay compatibility ensures permanent connectivity, even on the move, and with automatic remote software updates the vehicle keeps evolving to make sure you have the latest features at your fingertips.

The ORA is now available for purchase from Crown Motors Limited starting at: KES 5 969 118
ORA loves you, and you will love ORA!

TANK

Renowned for its toughness and true off-road capabilities, the GWM TANK 300 makes its debut in Kenya. TANK is already a well-established off-road lifestyle brand in China and in other global markets such as Australia, where owners share a love for the great outdoors and for finding roads less travelled.

The new model not only introduces the TANK brand but with it a new world of pure-bred off-road performance and, as is commonplace for all GWM models, an unmatched level of luxury, design, and styling.

Exterior

The TANK 300 is built on a proprietary and very strong ladder frame chassis. The chassis and bodyshell use mostly 1500 Mpa steel for greater rigidity and crash-test performance.

Mounted to the ladder frame is a modern multi-link rear suspension and a durable double-wishbone front suspension for greater on-road comfort that does not impede the off-road capabilities.

The high-strength passenger cell is fitted to the top of the ladder frame with special rubber mountings that absorb road noise and vibration for a truly luxurious driving experience inside the cabin. Multiple towing and recovery hooks are fitted directly to the chassis, and the drivetrain is anchored with special dynamic mounts and a balancer shaft to contribute to the in-cabin comfort.

Design

The TANK 300 cuts a unique profile that shows it is made-for-purpose. GWM designers created a smoothed-out angular profile that tips the hat to off-road vehicles from the past yet stands firmly in a modern environment.

This is also true of the newly designed TANK logo fitted on the stunning black grille. Consisting of two capital letters – a “T” and a “U”, the new logo symbolises the brand’s focus on Technology and modern Trends, while never losing focus on the User (phonetically also referring to You) and the fact that the brand seeks to Unite fans of the great outdoors.

Some of the stand-out design features include the round LED headlamps that are dissected by bright LED daytime running lights.

The side profile frames off the large alloy wheels with black fender extensions. The fenders are connected to a black running board. The door handles, large side mirrors and roof rails are treated in a similar black finish.

At the back, there are squared LED tail lamps, a door-mounted spare wheel – also fitted with a full-sized alloy wheel – and a square rear bumper with integrated tow bar mounting bracket and 12Volt power plug. The rear luggage door is hydraulically assisted, and a spare wheel cover is standard.

Off-road Performance

Moving from design to the off-road credentials of the TANK 300, a family trait that all future GWM TANK models will be known for.

The TANK 300 is built on a very solid foundation with a sturdy off-road chassis, high-strength passenger cell and a suspension system developed to offer the best of all worlds. GWM has developed a unique 4×4 system on this sturdy platform.

The All-Terrain Driving System with Multi-Terrain Select will be available on the internal combustion models.

All TANK 300 models have an electronically controlled rear differential lock for technical off-road driving as standard. The vehicle is also offered with two sturdy sections of underbody protection. Before mentioning the many off-road systems fitted to the TANK 300, a brief review of its key statistics: The TANK 300 offers 224 mm of ground clearance and has an approach angle of 33 degrees.

The departure angle is an equally impressive 34 degrees, while the ramp-over angle is 23.1 degrees. The TANK 300 has a maximum climb gradient rating of 70%, and all models, including the hybrid version, have a maximum wading depth of 700 mm.

• Crawl Control Operation (CCO)

The TANK 300 is fitted with a specialised Crawl Cruise Control system for slow-and-steady can be selected and controlled from inside the cabin, with the ability to change the crawl speed as required.

• Tank Turn

Another unique feature available on all TANK 300 models is Tank Turn. The system locks the inside back wheel and drives all available power to the other wheels to allow the TANK 300 to turn around with virtually no forward or backward movement. This is an especially appealing feature in technical off-road driving.

• Chassis View Camera

All TANK 300 models are fitted with an array of cameras that give the driver a bird’s eye view of the vehicle when parking or manoeuvring in tight spaces.

A unique additional feature is Chassis View, which uses artificial intelligence to make a composite of the camera views to eliminate the body from the video feed.

This gives the driver a near complete view of the terrain under the vehicle, as well as around it, to allow for more confident off-road driving. All these and many more features are easily controllable from selector switches around the gearshift and several off-road menus on the large, high-definition touchscreen in the cabin.

The TANK 300 petrol models are equipped with a next-generation turbo-petrol engine with variable boost technology and direct injection. It offers ample power and torque and will, thanks to the on- and off-road management systems, offer great all-round driveability.

Power: 162 kW @ 5 500 r/min

Torque: 380 Nm @ 1 800 r/min to 3 600 r/min

Transmission: 8-speed Automatic gearbox

Fuel consumption: 9.5 litres / 100 km

Interior

The TANK 300 will undoubtedly set a new benchmark for luxury in its class. But this does not come at the expense of the practicality that adventurers look for in their vehicle. The TANK 300 features luxuries that are unmatched both in quantity and at the model price.

Dual 12.3” high-definition LCD screens form one large screen that offers a fully customisable instrument cluster and a large infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen also displays the images from the various external cameras and offers full control over the vehicle’s comfort and off-road systems.

The dual-screen system displays off-road ready information such as altitude, air pressure, compass, body roll angle, steering wheel and wheel angle and tyre pressure. The Super Luxury models feature a choice of 7 ambient colours while quilted leather abounds in the cabin, including in the door panels and, using micro-fibre leather, on the steering wheel.

All models feature a steering wheel that is adjustable in all directions, has controls for the infotainment, phone and cruise-control systems as well as feature paddle shifters for the automatic transmission.

Charging port options include Type A and C in the front row and Type A in the rear as well as a 12V charging port in the luggage compartment. The TANK 300 boasts a six-way electric adjustment for the driver and four ways for the passenger on the Super Luxury specification.

To add to this long list of features – Bluetooth, dual zone climate control with rear high and low mounted air vents, high-performance sound, electric windows all round, privacy glass, a soundproof windshield and side windows for the front occupants as well as automatic low and high beams amongst many more luxuries.

Safety and security

GWM’s unwavering focus on safety and security is clear in the list of standard safety features on all versions of the TANK 300. With vehicle stability control (ESC, ESP and ETC), Hydraulic Brake Assist, Anti-Slip Regulation and Traction Control (AST and TCS) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), the TANK 300 is a front-runner in its class when it comes to safety.

Other driving features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), lane departure warning, traffic jam assistance and driver fatigue monitoring make the TANK 300 a valued companion for every adventure.

The TANK 300 is now available for purchase from Crown Motors Limited starting at: KES 8 686 765

H6 GT

Adding to its growing range of new-generation SUVs, Crown Motors Limited introduces the highly anticipated H6 GT- creating street envy on Kenyan roads.

Design

The All-New H6 GT is reshaping the way SUVs look. Paving the way for a distinguished design, the H6 GT offers a more streamlined body, wheel arch cladding as well as gloss black accents, and carbon fibre inserts on the front and back. The rear is finished with a roof-mounted spoiler and lip spoiler enhancing the fastback rear.

To further entice customers, the H6 GT offers the driver 235/55 R19 sporty alloy wheels in a black finish, gloss black roof rails and exterior mirrors, and subtle yet noticeable aerodynamic kit with aero side skirts and sporty rear diffuser. This SUV’s striking appearance is dangerously enviable, standing out from the crowd every time you leave your home.

Performance

Combining sleek and sporty exterior lines with SUV practicality, the new 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine packs a punch with 155kW @ 6000r.p.m and 325N.m. @ 1500r.p.m. The power is delivered through a 7-speed DCT when and where you need it, matched with a torque-on-demand (TOD) 4WD system, the H6 GT is built around the driver with a beautifully crafted interior giving a balance of versatility and modern luxuries to effortlessly perform in everyday life.

This SUV is also the first Haval in the country to have ‘Race Mode’, with the Sport exhaust tone with a more aggressive throttle and transmission response.

Interior

To reinforce its ambitious stance, you’ll find that the interior delivers sophisticated comfort with sporty green trimming and stitching with Alcantara inserts. With a driver-centric design, the H6 GT boasts branded and heated seats, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, and a 12.3-inch central display that sits atop the beautifully crafted, dual-tier dash panel.

The centre display is also ideal for the 360-degree view camera system that makes parking a breeze. Integrated into the camera system the GT offers, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Intelligent cruise, Intelligent cornering, traffic jam assist, Pre-collision warning with automatic emergency braking (AEB Pedestrian and Cyclist), Lane Departure Alert (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Blind spot detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

This refined SUV is visually in sync with the power it packs with its striking good looks complimented by great performance and world-class technology. The H6 GT sends a strong statement to the SUV market in Kenya as it continues to evolve and further shows GWM’s commitment to its valued customers.

Exterior

When it comes to the HAVAL H6 GT, it certainly is created to heighten the perfect balance of style, versatility, luxury and modern technology. There is also plenty of room to move with generous space for up to five adults and accompanying luggage, making it ideal for city trips or more adventurous roads. The standout Coupe styling is marked by a unique design feature of aero side skirts which only adds to its enhanced visual accents.

This sportier-looking H6 GT presents a different offering to the H6 SUV, while still complementing the H6’s current distinctive style language. And it’s not just that sloping roofline with a panoramic sunroof that sets it apart.

The unveiling of the All-New H6 GT is the start of new possibilities to come for GWM Kenya, painting a picture for a robust product line-up that put the individual first with world-class technology, at phenomenal pricing.

The performance of GWM has been remarkable in recent years and we hope to bring the same spirit to Kenya with the launch of three spectacular products, each with its own unique flair. We look forward to welcoming our customers to our Crown Motors Group Limited Showroom in Sameer Business Park, Nairobi to experience these new vehicles in all their glory.

The H6 GT is now available for purchase from Crown Motors Limited starting at: KES 7 910 294