Forget everything you thought you knew about braking. Chinese manufacturer Chery is preparing to launch an SUV that completely eliminates the need for brake fluid.
The Asian manufacturers’ push into the high-end segment no longer boils down to stacking ever-larger touch screens. Today, the minds in the Middle Kingdom are challenging the fundamentals of our cars’ mechanics, questioning principles established for decades. The innovation race is taking a fascinating turn where Eastern brands strive to stand out with radical technological breakthroughs. The goal is to shake up traditional European and American manufacturers by setting new safety standards.
The End of Hydraulic Brake Systems
Exeed engineers, part of the Chery group, have completely tossed out old engineering manuals. Their new baby, the EX7, conceals a world premiere for a production car. It is the electromechanical braking, commonly abbreviated as EMB. Gone are the pipes running under the floor to deliver pressure, gone are the regular purging of fluid and bulky master cylinders. Now, the vehicle’s restraint is controlled by simple electrical impulses sent directly to the calipers. Li Xueyong, the brand’s development chief, joyfully presents the result of three long years of intensive laboratory research.
The central idea is to reduce the mechanical response time to the millisecond. Between the moment the driver presses the pedal and the exact moment the pads bite the discs, the delay literally evaporates. This discovery is part of an architecture named Flying Fish Chassis 3.0. By connecting EMB braking to top-notch suspensions, the SUV gains true synthetic nerves. The car’s electronic brain anticipates load transfers and corrects the vehicle’s posture in real-time, promising unwavering stability regardless of road conditions.
A Massive Over-Equipped Colossus
To wrap this concentration of savvy chips, a statuesque body capable of catching the eye was logically needed. The EX7 impresses with its generous dimensions approaching five meters in length and nearly two meters in width. Its extended wheelbase guarantees a royal legroom for rear passengers. The front design adopts optics split into two parts, highlighted by a slender light strip crossing the hood. The rear features concave volumes to emphasize visual depth, accented by a very contemporary continuous red line on the tailgate.
Underneath, the brand offers two distinct philosophies to attract a wide audience. Long-distance travelers will favor the version equipped with a range extender. A small 1.5 turbo thermal block exclusively acts as a generator to power a battery reaching around 40 kWh. This system allows for a little over 200 km of silent driving before gasoline steps in to recharge the batteries while on the move. Those who have definitively banished petrol from their garage will opt for the all-electric dual-motor version. With 165 horsepower up front and 308 horsepower sent to the rear wheels, the EX7 has no lack of power. Its large battery approaches 98 kWh, enough to confidently claim over 700 km of autonomy. Set to invade dealerships starting April 17 after spring pre-orders, this new player clearly aims to challenge established references like the Li Auto L8.
