Do you know Geometry? Chances are not, and to be honest, that’s completely normal. It is a young brand, founded in 2019 by the Chinese group Geely, which has several well-known manufacturers in our country, such as Volvo, Lynk & Co or Lotus, among others. And get ready to hear about it, as it slowly arrives with us with a first model, an electric SUV called Geometry C.
A lovely city dweller
Sold in Hungary via an importer, this one might not stay alone for long. Indeed, the manufacturer has just revealed new information on its city car, taking the name Panda Mini. If it had already been shown a few months earlier, the brand had not yet given much information about the one that could compete head-on with the Dacia Spring.
Adopting an adorable look reminiscent of the Japanese Kei Carsthis new Chinese creation displays a length of only 3.07 meters for 1.52 meters wide and 1.60 meters high. A very small size for the city car, whose wheelbase measures 2.02 meters. The front features two small round optics, which remind us in particular of the Honda E, while the rear is adorned with more conventional square lights. Several acid shades are available in the catalog, including blue, green or even pink and white.
For the first time, Geometry reveals images of the cockpit of the one that should also compete with Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. As shown by the pictures relayed by the Chinese site It Homethe presentation is rather classic while the city car is equipped with a 9.2-inch digital handset associated with a 8 inch touch screen. The latter is equipped with navigation and works in Bluetooth. However, we do not know if it is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
As you can imagine, the endowment is rather minimalist. Indeed, and as indicated Auto Home, the Panda Mini comes with central locking, height-adjustable headlights and electric windows. The reversing radar is also part of the staffing depending on the finish chosen. To note that the car can be unlocked with a smartphone, through the Geely Car Owner app. Some information, such as the volume of the trunk have not yet been communicated.
Less than 6,000 euros
Geometry takes the opportunity to say a little more about the technical sheet of its new creation, which comes in two battery sizes, with capacities of 9.61 kWh and 17.03 kWh. So, autonomy is between 120 and 200 kilometers according to the Chinese cycle CLTC much more optimized than our WLTP. It will then rather be necessary to count between about 100 and 170 kilometers in a single charge. For comparison, the Dacia Spring can travel up to 230 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle with its 27.4 kWh battery.
We must then count about 30 minutes to charge the car from 30 to 80% at a maximum power of 22 kW. The city car develops between 20 and 30 kW, the equivalent of 27 to 40 horsepower. The Spring oscillates between 44 and 65 horsepower in its new Extreme version unveiled a few weeks earlier.
If the precise launch date has not been announced by Geely, we now know the price of the city car. And the least we can say is that they defy all competition, while the car starts from 39,900 yuan, or approximately 5,478 euros. It’s cheaper than a Citroën Ami, which displays an entry ticket from 7,700 euros, while the Dacia Spring starts at 20,800 euros, ecological bonus not deducted. The most expensive version of the Panda Mini is displayed at 53,900 yuan, or 7,400 euros.
If the city car is only destined for China for now, it is not excluded that one day it will make its arrival in Europe like the Geometry C. If this is the case one day, its price should be much higher, but it should in any case do a lot of damage to the European references in the segment. One more threat for specialists, who already take a very dim view of this invasion of Chinese manufacturers on the Old Continent…