This is the new Zotye Damai X5, it was unveiled earlier today on the Shanghai Auto Show in China. The Zotye Damai X5, formerly known as the Zotye T500, is a new mid-sized SUV that will be launched on the Chinese car market in the second half of the year. Zotye has been quite busy with the design, earlier on it had a Range Rover grille, and later on we saw a grille with the Zotye Z.
The interior looks all right, albeit a bit dark and the design of the various vents doesn’t really match with the rest of the dashboard.
Design is a curious mix of the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Audi Q5, especially visible from the side.
Exhaust pipes subtly hidden far under the bumper. Wheels of of the right size and alloys are sporty.
The Zotye Damai X5 will be powered by by 1.5 and 1.5 turbo four-cylinder petrol engines with 120 and 150 horses respectively, mated to a five-speed manual or a CVT.
Price will start around 60.000 and end around 75.000 yuan. The T500 will be positioned under the Zotye T600 SUV, a vehicle that looks very much like an Audi Q5.
A rather modest grille and a bumper-wide skid pad; this is the new Zotye Damai X5 from China.
I’d peg this one as a “CUV”, that is, a crossover utility vehicle. Seems the term “SUV” is too liberally applied these days.
Here’s a link that talks about the differences.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/cuv-vs-suv.html
Of course the discussion continues for now.