CARS OF THE WORLD

Dongfeng Forthing Yacht 2022.

Dongfeng’s novelty combines simple technology and refined interior. The Chinese began selling the minivan seven times cheaper than the Toyota Alphard.

Dongfeng began selling a seven-seater minivan Forthing Yacht and offered a very attractive price list.

The single-truck 4.85 meters long with a solid set of basic options is priced at 121,900 — 154,900 yuan (the equivalent of 18.5 — 23.5 thousand dollars), which means the Chinese minivan is almost seven times cheaper than the Toyota Alphard (before spring it cost 839 thousand yuan in Celestial Empire, which amounts to 127 thousand dollars).

Dongfeng Forthing Yacht is 23 centimeters behind the Toyota Alphard in height and 10 centimeters behind in length, besides the «Chinese» has a usual hinged rear door.

But the layout is similar: there are separate seats on the second row (with optional electric adjustments and tables), there is a full third row of seats, and there is a level floor in the cabin.

Already in the basic package minivan has LED headlights, light-alloy 18-inch wheels, multimedia system with 10.25-inch touchscreen and voice control, six airbags, keyless entry and climate control.

The top version has Nappa leather trim, a composite panoramic sunroof, multicontour front and rear seats with heating, ventilation, massage and memory, eight airbags, adaptive cruise control with pedestrian detection and auto-parking.

The secret of low price is simple: Dongfeng has staked on a plain chassis with rear semi-independent suspension; there is no alternative to a 1.5-liter turbo engine (197 powers, 285 Nm), a robotized gearbox and a front-drive.

But the Forthing Yacht is quite economical: in the mixed cycle, the minivan consumes no more than 6.8 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers of run.

Chinese dealers already have Dongfeng Forthing Yacht minivans. The novelty has an extended warranty of eight years or 160 thousand kilometers.

Dongfeng is not in a hurry to sell the model abroad because the demand for one-vehicle vehicles falls outside of the Celestial Empire.