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EV, NEWS

Sepang Circuit enlivened by attendance of over 100 electric cars

The Sepang Circuit usually filled with the roar of engines, was brought to life by the presence of over 100 electric vehicle (EV) owners from Malaysia and Singapore.

During the recent Dongfeng Track Day event, participants were given the chance to experience driving on the iconic circuit themselves.

Outstanding Reception

The turnout this year was remarkable, especially compared to the approximately 30 participants recorded last year.

Amin Ashaari, co-founder and CEO of SoyaCincau, stated that this remarkable reception demonstrates the growing interest in EVs.

“This event is not about racing; it’s about giving EV owners the opportunity to experience the track and test their cars’ capabilities. We want to prove that there are no limits with EVs.”

The event began with a parade lap session to familiarize participants with the circuit, followed by four driving sessions, each lasting one hour.

Among the EV brands that participated were BMW, BYD, Dongfeng, Proton, Porsche, and Tesla.

Dongfeng Showcases New Cars

Soh Ming, CEO of Volt Auto Singapore and Malaysia, described their participation as a valuable first experience.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for us to test our cars on the track and collect data for improvements,” he explained.

He also expressed his desire to organize more track events in the future, in line with the brand’s involvement in sports such as football and pickleball in Singapore.

Dongfeng showcased three models: the 007, Vigo, and Box E2, while also offering taxi rides in the 007 model driven by professional drivers.

Participants Express Excitement

Kim Chan, 39, a first-time participant, described the experience as something new.

“It was fun, and I truly enjoyed it. I’ve attended races before, but this is my first time on the track. It also felt strange because it was so quiet.”

He added that the improvement in charging infrastructure has made him consider purchasing an EV as his next car.

Returning for the second time was Ee Sheeden, owner of a Tesla Model 3 Performance, who recorded a time of 2:27.90 in the time attack session.

As the founder of the Tesla modification center Exotic Mods, Ee acknowledged that he is a passionate EV enthusiast and has modified his car for track use.

“I removed the back seat and replaced the rear door with a fiberglass door to reduce the weight by 60 kg.”

Other winners in the time attack challenge included:

  • Firhat Mokhzani – Tesla Model 3 Performance (2:32.42)
  • Ryan Woon Tian Chong – Tesla Model 3 Performance (2:38.20)
EV, NEWS

Dongfeng Box EV receives 3-star Euro NCAP rating

Undeniably, Chinese automotive manufacturers are aggressively offering electric vehicle packages at more competitive prices.

However, aside from more affordable pricing, safety aspects must also be prioritized.

In Europe, the small-sized electric hatchback Dongfeng Nammi Box has only achieved a three-star rating out of a possible five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

In the latest tests conducted, Euro NCAP found that the EV had failures at several welding points, which could increase the risk of cabin deformation and compromise passenger protection.

This issue was detected during a partial overlap crash test, where the Dongfeng Box, traveling at a speed of 50 km/h, collided with a deformable barrier weighing 1,400 kg, also moving at 50 km/h.

In addition to an unstable body structure, the Dongfeng Box also had problems such as a locking mechanism that failed to operate post-impact, insufficient steering wheel airbag pressure to protect the driver’s head, and a dashboard structure that could cause injuries to the front passenger’s legs.

The Box was also reported to have failed in reducing the passenger-to-passenger impact in the front row in the event of a side-impact collision.

As a result, the Dongfeng Box achieved only 69 percent in the Adult Occupant Protection category and 67 percent in the Vulnerable Road Users category.

According to Euro NCAP, vehicle size is not a major issue, as several similarly sized electric vehicles tested previously have received four or five-star ratings.

“There are several affordable EVs such as the BYD Dolphin Surf, Firefly, MINI Cooper e, Lynk & Co 02, and Renault 4 and Renault 5 that have achieved four or five-star ratings, highlighting the safety gap between these EVs and the Dongfeng Box.”

“This failure must be addressed to align with competing models in the rapidly growing EV market,” Euro NCAP stated in a release.

EV

Dongfeng Box vs BYD Dolphin: which one should you buy?

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The market for electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia has been further enlivened by the arrival of the latest competitor, the Dongfeng Box. It is officially distributed by Central Auto Distributors Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of PEKEMA.

As you can see, the Box is a compact hatchback with a fresh design aimed at attracting younger consumers. With a starting price of RM100,700, it is a close competitor to the BYD Dolphin, making it one of the most affordable EVs in the country.

In this article, we will compare the Box and the Dolphin to help you make the best choice:

Size

The Box measures 4,020 mm in length, making it 270 mm shorter than the Dolphin. However, it is 40 mm wider than the Dolphin’s 1,810 mm, while both models share the same height of 1,570 mm.

Additionally, the Dolphin’s longer body gives it an advantage in wheelbase measurement, with a size of 2,700 mm compared to the Box’s 2,650 mm.

Another advantage of the Dolphin is its larger boot space of 345 litres, which is 19 litres more than the boot space of the Box.

Features

On the exterior, the Box comes equipped with front and rear LED lights, as well as 17-inch alloys for both variants, the E2 and E3. The Dolphin also features automatic LED lights with daytime running lights (DRL), heated side mirrors, and 16-inch wheels for the Dynamic Standard Range variant, moving up to 17 inches for the Premium Extended Range.

Inside, there are several similarities between the Box and the Dolphin, with both models featuring synthetic leather upholstery, a five-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, six speakers, and a wireless charger (50W for the Box).

However, the Dolphin appears to have the upper hand as it is also equipped with electric adjustment for the front seats and a panoramic sunroof.

Safety

For the Box, only the E3 variant is equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), while the Dolphin comes with driver assistance systems as standard. Both models are fitted with a 360-degree camera.

However, in terms of passive safety systems, the Box is somewhat disappointing as it only has two airbags, whereas the Dolphin has six.

Performance, Range & Charging

The Box is powered by a single electric motor at the front axle producing 95 PS and 160 Nm, allowing it to reach a top speed of 140 km/h.

In comparison, the Dolphin offers 95 PS and 180 Nm for the Dynamic Standard Range variant and 204 PS and 310 Nm for the Premium Extended Range.

How far can both EVs travel? The Box E2, equipped with a 31.45 kWh battery, offers a range of 330 km, while the Box E3 with a 42.3 kWh battery offers a range of 430 km. These figures are based on the CLTC cycle.

The Box supports AC charging (3.3 kW for the E2, 6.6 kW for the E3) as well as DC fast charging, capable of restoring the battery power from 30-80% in 30 minutes.

For the Dolphin, the Dynamic Standard Range variant comes with a 44.92 kWh LFP battery offering a range of 340 km. The Premium Extended Range variant has a larger 60.48 kWh battery, allowing it to travel up to 427 km. These figures are based on the more realistic WLTP cycle.

This model supports AC charging at 7 kW, while DC charging capacity varies between the two variants, with 60 kW for the Dynamic Standard Range and 80 kW for the Premium Extended Range, allowing 30-80% charging in under 30 minutes.

Price

If you are looking for an affordable EV as an entry point into the world of electric vehicles, both the Box and the Dolphin are among the most suitable candidates, but which one is more budget-friendly?

The Box is priced (OTR excluding insurance) starting from RM100,700 for the E2 and RM113,700 for the E3. It comes with a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and an eight-year/150,000 km battery warranty.

Meanwhile, the Dolphin starts at RM100,530 for the Dynamic Standard Range and RM125,530 for the Premium Extended Range.

Sime Darby Motors offers a six-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty, and an eight-year/150,000 km warranty for the drive unit.

EV, NEWS

2025 Dongfeng Box EV officially launched, two variants, priced from RM100,000

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Central Auto Distributors Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of PEKEMA, officially launched an electric hatchback model, the Dongfeng Box EV.

Offered in two main variants, the price of this charming EV is as follows:

  • Dongfeng Box E2: RM100,000
  • Dongfeng Box E3: RM113,000
  • Dongfeng Box E3 (white roof): RM115,000

Both variants are equipped with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, producing 95 PS and 160 Nm of torque, with a top speed of 140 km/h.

The difference between the two variants lies in battery capacity, where the E2 variant comes with a 31.45 kWh battery pack that offers a driving range of 330 km (CLTC cycle data).

Meanwhile, the E3 variant is equipped with a larger 42.3 kWh battery pack, allowing this EV to be driven up to 430 km on a full charge.

The Box EV also supports DC fast charging, allowing the battery pack to be charged from 30% to 80% in just 30 minutes.

As a compact car, the Dongfeng Box EV boasts several unique features, such as a floating roof design, frameless door windows, three-dimensional LED lights, and 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels.

The cabin is fitted with a five-inch cluster display, a 12.8-inch infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a frameless rearview mirror, an ambient lighting system with 32 colors, wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree camera, and automatic climate control.

In addition to the two-tone interior finish, the Box EV also features a glovebox that opens like a vanity table drawer.

In terms of dimensions, the Dongfeng Box EV measures 4,020 mm in length, 1,818 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,663 mm, directly competing with the BYD Dolphin.

The Dongfeng Box EV comes with two airbags and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, and parking assistance.

There are four color options available: white, purple, green, and blue.

Every purchase comes with a comprehensive warranty for the high-voltage battery for eight years or 150,000 km, and a five-year warranty for vehicle parts, also capped at 150,000 km.

Early customers who place orders for the Dongfeng Box model will enjoy special benefits including a portable charger worth RM1,088, cabin storage valued at RM1,250, and the option to choose one of three offers: a one-year charging credit worth RM3,000, a home wall charger valued at RM3,288, or a maintenance package worth RM3,000.

EV, NEWS

Dongfeng Box EV RHD unveiled, 95 PS, 430km range, Oct launch

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The Malaysian Association of Vehicle Importers and Traders (PEKEMA) through its subsidiary Central Auto Distributors Bhd (CADB) recently unveiled a compact electric vehicle set to be launched this October.

Here are some facts you need to know about the Dongfeng Box EV:

 

Dimensions

The Dongfeng Box EV is built on the Quantum Architecture S3 platform. It measures 4,020 mm in length, 1,818 mm in width, 1,570 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,663 mm.

In the Malaysian market, the Dongfeng Box EV will directly compete with the BYD Dolphin model.

 

Unique Features

This cute EV brings some unique features in its class.

These include a floating roof design, frameless doors, and neatly concealed door handles in the body panel. The appearance of the Dongfeng Box is complemented by a three-dimensional LED light structure and 17-inch two-tone rims.

 

Luxurious Cabin

The pre-production unit showcased features luxurious and premium materials, including leather upholstery, two-tone dashboard and door panel finishes.

Other features include a 5-inch digital cluster screen, a 12.8-inch customizable infotainment screen, frameless rearview mirror, 32-color ambient lighting system, wireless device charger, 360-degree camera, and automatic air conditioning system.

 

Power and Range

The standard Dongfeng Box EV comes with a single front-wheel-drive electric motor producing 95 PS and 160 Nm, with a maximum speed of 140 km/h.

Two battery capacities are available, namely 31.45 kWh with a range of 330 km or 42.3 kWh with a range of 430 km on a full charge. This EV also supports fast charging, allowing the battery to be charged from 30 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.

V2L function is also available to enable users to charge electrical appliances during outdoor activities.

 

Price

The selling price will only be announced closer to the official launch in October, expected to range from RM100,000 to RM120,000.