Barely a week goes by now without a new Chinese automaker launching into Europe. The latest to join the market is Changan, one of the most venerable. In fact, in a former guise this was the first company in China to manufacture automobiles.
Now Changan is entering the EU and UK with not one but three brands. The first vehicle arrives on the Deepal marque. The Deepal S07 is, unsurprisingly, a medium-sized SUV – the most popular car format.
But does it have an edge sto stand out from the crowd? The first notable thing about the Deepal S07 and Changan in general is that the company’s global design center is not in China. It has been located in Turin, Italy since 2001. For this reason, Changan’s global design director Bertrand Bach claims the Deepal S07 has a European aesthetic, and I’d tend to agree with that.
Although the angular nose is now quite common in pure BEV designs now, the Deepal S07’s implementation is quite striking. It’s not exactly aggressive but certainly purposeful. Like so many recent SUVs, the Deepal S07 has a coupe look with a slantier back than a regular vehicle in this class.
However, there’s a bit of design trickery here, as the trim line from the C-pillar to the rear slopes but there is some roofline above this, meaning the rear is more upright than it looks. It’s not the first time I’ve seen this design method – the Smart #3 uses it too. But that doesn’t stop it being a good idea for making a car look sportier.
The interior has a pr.
