GM's Baojun Yep Plus: The Electric Cuteness We Crave, But Will It Ever Make It to the West?
So, there I was, sipping my cup of tea, scrolling through the latest automotive news when I stumbled upon something rather intriguing: GM's Baojun Yep Plus, a name that's about as elegant and fitting as a hurricane in a teapot. But hey, don't let the name fool you; this little electric gem might just be the missing piece in the global EV puzzle.
You see, GM's Chinese joint venture with SAIC and Wuling has birthed this adorable creature they call the Baojun Yep Plus. Now, I don't know about you, but when I think of GM, I usually picture beefy pickup trucks and gas-guzzling SUVs. Yet, here we are, with the Yep Plus – a small, fashionable, and reasonably priced electric vehicle that's just begging for a chance to shine outside China.
First things first, let's talk size. The Yep Plus is like the cute puppy of the automotive world. At just about 158 inches long (or 3996 mm for our metric friends), it's even smaller than Ford's pint-sized Ecosport. To put it in perspective, it's about as long as a Suzuki Jimny 5-door – you know, the kind of car that makes you want to pack a picnic basket and go on a spontaneous adventure.
Now, I've written about the standard Yep before, and I've got to say, it was cute but a bit underpowered. With a paltry 67 horsepower and a top speed that barely kissed 60 mph, it was more of a city dweller than a highway cruiser. But thankfully, the Yep Plus is here to save the day!
GM's clever engineers have added some length, an extra set of doors, and a rear-mounted 101 horsepower motor that can propel this five-door cutie to a respectable 93 mph (or 150 km/h for those who prefer metric). Now, that's what I call entering the "real car" category (almost) – it's like the Yep went to EV boot camp and came back as a certified speedster with Plus moniker to prove its point.
I know, I know. You're probably thinking – "But what about the range?" Well, my dear readers, that's the kicker. GM hasn't spilled the beans on the exact battery size, but they did drop a hint on Chinese social media. They aim to hit 249 miles (or 401 km) on the CLTC cycle. Not too shabby for a vehicle of this size and price range, I must say.
Speaking of price, GM's keeping mum on that too, but if we're taking cues from the Chinese market, we're looking at a ballpark figure of $16,000 to $21,000. Now, that's what I call a bargain, especially in the world of electric vehicles.
However, my friends, there's a catch – while we're drooling over the Yep Plus, there's no guarantee it'll ever grace western roads. You see, importing Chinese-made EVs to the land of the free isn't as easy as ordering takeout. And with the current climate surrounding Chinese-made products, well, let's just say it's about as welcome as a skunk at a garden party.
But hope springs eternal, and who knows, maybe someone at GM will hear our cries and decide to bring this little wonder to the U.S. market. After all, Americans have a soft spot for cute, affordable SUVs, and the Baojun Yep Plus fits that bill perfectly.
In the meantime, we'll keep our fingers crossed and our eyes on the horizon, hoping that one day, the Baojun Yep Plus will be more than just a distant dream. Until then, keep your sense of adventure alive, and who knows, you might just stumble upon a Geo Tracker, all grown up and fully electric, on your next road trip. Now, wouldn't that be a sight to see? And in case you didn’t know what Geo tracker was - surely you remember Suzuki Vitara? See? You’ve learned something new today!
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
