Chery Automobile, the Chinese parent company of the Omoda and Jaecoo passenger-car/SUV brands, has unveiled a radical adventure vehicle called the New Journeo Concept.
As the name (sort of) suggests, it's a show car designed for journeys to far-off places, converting into a mobile base camp once you arrive.
Chery claims it "combines pioneering technologies, sustainable materials and a revolutionary design". It was designed under the leadership of the 30-strong team at the Chery Advanced Design Centre Europe in Raunheim, Germany.
"With the New Journeo Concept, we are taking up the challenge of making mobility even smarter, more efficient and more environmentally friendly,’ says Jochen Tueting, managing director of Chery's European Development and Design Centre.
"This vehicle is more than just a study - it is Travel 4.0, our vision for a sustainable and connected future".
The 4-seater combines off-road capabilities with luxurious comfort and can be transformed into a "first-class mobile base camp".
The one- piece body is optimised for aerodynamic efficiency and interior spaciousness. The moveable instrument panel and retractable tailgate increase cabin length by an additional 150cm.
The dashboard has a minimalist design, with a yoke steering wheel and concealed air vents. The 180-degree rotating front seats and console move on concealed underfloor rails, allowing flexible arrangement of "furnishings".
The interior has two rows of seats with an island between them, which has a mint-coloured décor and a suede-covered floor.
A unique feature of this model is the 400mm extendable rear bench seat, which offers additional space for relaxing. When extended, the seat can be opened completely, transforming the interior into a spacious, luxurious lounge area with an unobstructed view through the glass tailgate.
There is also a multifunctional, modular front luggage compartment with variable bench seating, a mobile kitchen and a barbecue. Floating pillars support an "intelligent" roof rack.
The Journeo is powered by Chery's Kunpeng Super Performance Electric Hybrid C-DM system, which consists of a 2.0-litre turbo engine and an electric motor, with a combined range of up to 2500km.
The concept vehicle is also equipped with the CPilot 5.0 driving assistance system, which offers functions such as intelligent scanning of the surroundings to support navigation at high speeds and supports the parking aid in urban areas. The plan is for the system to be able to scan unpaved roads in the future and then actively and automatically adjust the suspension accordingly.
