OMODA is on the rise, and everyone seems to be caught up in the craze of getting one. Well, listen up because the brand is set to expand the popular C5 lineup with the local introduction of the C5 SHS in March. As it stands, the C5 model is the best-selling model in the O&J brand (OMODA and Jaecoo) stable, and with this, they aim to attract more people to the dealers and promote a feel-good attitude about being eco-friendly to the world.
“The upcoming C5 SHS represents the next step in expanding the OMODA lineup, introducing a sophisticated hybrid system that balances strong performance with impressive efficiency,” said Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager at OMODA & JAECOO South Africa. “Paired with our advanced Super Hybrid System and a feature-rich, comfortable and stylish package, the C5 SHS offers excellent value for money while delivering a refined and responsible driving experience.”
The exterior remains the same, with some touches that suggest there is some electric wizardry happening beneath the panels. The fascia of the vehicle takes from the recently introduced OMODA C5 X, which debuted a cleaner front appearance, tweaked DRLs, and a redesigned front grille that has a honeycomb-like pattern.
The side profile might be where you spot that either someone has really good aftermarket wheel taste or that this car has some hybrid flavor in its demeanor, since you get new alloys that are partially closed off in an effort to lower the drag coefficient.
Inside expect a typical OMODA affair with brilliant textiles, soft touch materials and some of the latest technologies handles by large screens for the driver and infotainment but now there are some touches that remind you that this is the SHS.
Other interior highlights include the 12.3-inch dual-screen layout with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as 20 driver assistance systems such as Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist.
The C5 SHS is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an 1.83 kWh LFP battery which supplies a electric motor, delivering a combined output of 165 kW and 310 N.m of torque. A time of 0–100 km/h is claimed to be completed in just 7.9 seconds.
OMODA says the C5 SHS should achieve he C5 SHS achieves a fuel consumption figure of 5.3 L/100 km, enabling a driving range of more than 1,000 km on a single tank, oh and of course power is sent to the front wheels via Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) seen in most Chinese NEV vehicles.
It should be interesting to see what is next for the OMODA brand because a worthy mention is that one of their newly introduced vehicles , in the form of the C7, is currently in the running for the crown of Car of the Year by the annual COTY competition held by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.