The Avatr 12 electric hatchback from Changan, CATL and Huawei was revealed at the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, Germany. It is a sporty hatchback that will hit the mass production on September 6. The Avatr 12 has up to 578 hp and massive screens inside. Let’s get to know it better.
First, we will remind you that Avatr was initially founded as a joint project between Changan New Energy and Nio in 2018. However, Nio distanced from this JV later. As a result, the Chinese EV maker was replaced by the biggest domestic battery maker, CATL. Currently, Changan holds over 40% of the shares while CATL owns over 17%. The rest belong to various investment funds. As for the Huawei, it isn’t a shareholder in this JV, However, it acts like the main supplier, providing Avatr electric motors, ‘brains’, and other parts.
Avatr 12 at the IAA Mobility 2023
Let’s start with the appearance of the Avatr 12. As we can see, it follows the brand’s design language that was introduced with the Avatr 11 SUV. Back to the Avatr 12, it has bi-leveled running lights and high beams integrated into the front bumper. The 12 has a sporty touch, which is an active grille in the lower part of the bumper.
Speaking about the general proportions of this vehicle, it strongly reminds the Porsche Panamera. However, some folks in Chinese social media also compared it with the Bugatti 16C Galibier. The Avatr 12 has slanted A-pillars, a sloped roofline and a relatively low belt line. Speaking about dimensions of the Avatr’s electric hatchback, they are 5020/1999/1460 mm with a wheelbase of 3020 mm. For clarity, it is 29 mm shorter, 62 mm wider and 37 mm lower than the mentioned Panamera. As for the Avatr 12’s wheelbase, it is 70 mm longer than the Panamera’s.
We should definitely highlight that the Avatr 12 hasn’t got a rear window. Instead, it has a large panoramic roof. But of course, its visibility is limited. So, you will need to look at the rearview camera most of the time. Speaking about cameras, this EV hatchback has side view cameras instead of traditional mirrors.
Inside, the Avatr 12 has a mix of minimalistic styling and high-quality materials. Its center panel has a giant floating touch screen with a row of physical buttons under it. Speaking about the center panel, it sits relatively low. Above the console, we can see a giant screen that acts like an instrument panel. It is about a meter long and has a customizable display. We should also highlight that this screen is surounded by two more monitors that project image from the side view cameras. The center tunnel of the Avatr 12 has two wireless charging pads, a pair of cup holders and a single air vent. As for the gear lever, it sits right behind the oval-shaped sporty steering wheel.
Avatr 12 powertrain and details
The Avatr 12 stands on the EP1 architecture and supports the CHN platform, developed by Changan, Huawei and CATL. In terms of powertrain, the Avatr 12 got two options. The first one is RWD with 230 kW (313 hp). And the second is 4WD with 425 kW (578 hp).
As mentioned, the first mass-production Avatr 12 will roll off the production line on September 6. This vehicle has already gone through both cold and hot temperature tests. Recently, Avatr shared the official pictures of the 12, participating in the hot weather tests in Taklamakan Desert’s Flaming Mountains near Turpan city, Xinjiang, China.
Source: IAA Mobility, Avatr Weibo
