Chinese automaker Wuling makes its Italian debut with the Y3 Max and Y8 Max, two plug-in hybrid vehicles equipped with 20.5 kWh LFP batteries and electric motors delivering 150 kW.
Chinese automotive manufacturer Wuling is entering the Italian market through Kngloo, its official European importer and distributor. The initial range comprises two plug-in hybrid models, the Y3 Max SUV and the Y8 Max seven-seat MPV, combining Atkinson-cycle petrol engines with electric traction systems and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology.
Both vehicles feature a declared total driving range of 1,100 km, while their electric driving ranges differ according to vehicle configuration and energy requirements.
Y3 Max: a 150 kW electric motor
The Y3 Max SUV integrates a naturally aspirated, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with a maximum power output of 78 kW and peak torque of 130 Nm. The electric traction motor delivers 150 kW and 310 Nm, making electric propulsion a central element of the hybrid powertrain.
Energy storage is provided by a 20.5 kWh LFP battery, enabling a declared electric driving range of 140 km under the WLTP cycle. The vehicle features regenerative energy recovery, intelligent battery heating and thermal management, as well as intelligent charging of the low-voltage battery.
The electrical architecture also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, with an external power output of up to 3.3 kW, allowing the traction battery to supply electrical devices.
AC charging at 3.3 kW takes approximately 6.5 hours to bring the battery from 20% to 100% state of charge (SOC), while DC fast charging from 30% to 80% takes 30 minutes.
With a kerb weight of 1,700 kg, the Y3 Max records a declared combined WLTP fuel consumption of 1.80 l/100 km, rising to 4.96 l/100 km at minimum battery SOC.
Y8 Max: permanent magnet synchronous motor
The seven-seat Y8 Max adopts a front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid powertrain integrating a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with a permanent magnet synchronous traction motor. The combustion engine delivers a maximum net power of 75 kW at 5,800 rpm and peak torque of 130 Nm between 4,600 and 5,000 rpm.
The vehicle is equipped with a 20.5 kWh Shen Lian LFP battery featuring liquid cooling and intelligent heating and thermal management. Its declared electric driving range is 100 km under the WLTP cycle.
Despite sharing the same nominal battery capacity as the Y3 Max, the larger MPV has a lower electric driving range. The Y8 Max has a kerb weight of 1,818 kg, a length of 4,910 mm and a wheelbase of 2,910 mm.
Charging specifications are similar to those of the SUV, with 3.3 kW AC charging taking approximately 6.7 hours from 20% to 100% SOC and DC fast charging taking 30 minutes from 30% to 80%.
The declared WLTP electricity consumption is 16.2 kWh/100 km, while combined fuel consumption stands at 1.83 l/100 km, increasing to 5.3 l/100 km with a depleted battery.
A new player in the European electrified vehicle market
Wuling is part of SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile (SGMW), a joint venture established in 2002 by SAIC Motor, General Motors and Guangxi Automobile Group. The manufacturer has reached a cumulative production milestone of 32 million vehicles.
The Italian launch includes two flagship stores in Milan and Rome, with plans to expand distribution through local dealer partnerships. Kngloo currently operates across Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Portugal, with a European network of more than 60 sales outlets.
