This Chinese Van Thinks It's a Transformer - Chery Journeo
Image Credit: Chery.
A van. Not just any van, mind you, but a "concept" van. Which, in automotive terms, roughly translates to "we threw a bunch of ideas at a wall and hoped something would stick." This thing is supposed to be your ticket to freedom, your escape from the soul-crushing monotony of city life. Except, it's Chinese, so you'll probably be escaping to a slightly less crowded part of China.
This Chinese contraption is trying to redefine "adventure." Chery has unveiled the "Journeo" thing, which, honestly, sounds like something you'd order at a particularly pretentious coffee shop. But, here we are. Not a coffee - a van to change the world. Oh boy…
Image Credit: Chery.
This 204-inch-long beast is powered by what Chery calls a "Kunpeng Super Performance Electric Hybrid C-DM system." Which, in plain English, means it's a hybrid. Yes, a hybrid. Not fully electric. I know, I know, I'm as disappointed as you are. Apparently, the future version will go a staggering 1,550 miles on a tank of gas and a full battery. That's like driving from New York to Key Largo without stopping. Which, frankly, sounds like my idea of hell.
Here's where it gets interesting. This van, which is only slightly longer than a long-wheelbase Volkswagen Multivan, only has four seats. The rear seats turn into a "daybed." A daybed. In a van. Apparently, it's for "taking in the views." Because, you know, who needs a proper bed when you can lie awkwardly on a glorified bench seat?
The clever bit is the slide-out glass pod and a retractable dashboard that add a whopping 59 inches of interior length. But if you're thinking about sleeping in this thing, you might want to bring an inflatable mattress. That "daybed" looks like it was designed for a particularly small hobbit.
The front trunk turns into a mobile kitchen, complete with a grill. I like that idea; nothing says "adventure" like grilling a steak in the middle of nowhere. And the front grille panel drops down to form a "curved loveseat." Comfort really is the key when you're cooking roadkill. Yeah.
Image Credit: Chery.
And then there's the rooftop module. It's not a cargo box but a solar-powered storage unit for the deployable awning. Which, by the way, looks like three flower petals. Apparently, aerodynamics and functionality are less important than looking like a giant daisy.
This whole thing was designed by Chery's team in Germany, which explains why it looks like something a German engineer would design after a particularly heavy night at Oktoberfest. It debuted at the Guangzhou Auto Show as the "Jinyun," and now it's being shown off in Germany as the Journeo. It seems they couldn't decide on a name.
The Journeo is supposed to preview features that'll appear on Chery's Omoda and Jaeco vehicles, which are launching in Germany in 2025. So, get ready, Germany. You're about to be inundated with Chinese vans that think they're transformers.
Image Credit: Chery.
Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of this creation. It's a hybrid, it's got a daybed, it's got a grill in the frunk, and it's got an awning that looks like flowers. Did they throw a bunch of random features into a blender and hit "pulse?" Well, at least it's WAY different. Who knows, maybe this thing will revolutionize the way we think about adventure vans. Or maybe it'll just end up in a landfill somewhere. Don't you just love concept vehicles?
