Geely launched the Boyue in March last year, priced from 98,800 yuan to 157,800 yuan (between RM62,000 and RM98,000).
The introduction of the SUV is part of its transition to an SUV strategy that will see the company leverage on its strength in the sedan market to create a series of market-leading SUVs.
As with the GC9 sedan, the Boyue (also known as Emgrand Boyue) was developed in Geely Auto’s Hangzhou R&D centre where over 3000 employees are on hand to develop the vehicle. The Boyue was developed around a “Three Outstanding” principle in that the vehicle must be outstanding to drive, offer outstanding safety and outstanding levels of automotive intelligence.
The Boyue measures in at (LxWxH) 4519×1831×1694mm with a wheelbase of 2,670mm – making the Boyue one of the biggest vehicles in the compact SUV segment allowing Geely Auto engineers and designers to maximise the level of comfort available.
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Peter Horbury, who worked previously with Volvo as its designer and is now with Geely, was responsible for the Boyue’s design with input from the four global design studios located in California, Barcelona, Gothenburg and Shanghai where there are 300 global designers employed.
“With the Boyue, we wanted to make a vehicle that was tough and bold as an SUV should be, but at the same time it should have a graceful look that fits into the Geely brand character, we also wanted to create a new benchmark for Chinese SUV’s, and I believe we have created a high standard for others to try and reach,” said Horbury.
Designed to be robust, refined and sporty, the Boyue is aimed at younger buyers who seek a vehicle that has good aesthetics, is technology-laden and offers connectivity to cater to their daily lives.
The Boyue is powered by a choice of powertrain options: an older 2.0L naturally aspirated engine with 161hp paired with a 6-speed manual and a 1.8L Turbo Direct Injection engine (181hp) mated to a dual clutch automatic transmission. A 2.4-litre non-turbo mill is offered in the Middle East instead of the 1.8T.
Safety features include a 360-degree camera system and lane departure alert system. The Boyue features an air purifying system to keep the interior air quality clean.
Saying “Hello Boyue” will activate the cars intelligent G-Netlink system that features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems that will sync with users' cellphones. G-Netlink is also able to update the driver on the weather as it is linked to the Internet via a 4G connection that can be shared with passengers, allowing for full connectivity on the go.
The Boyue is the first Chinese SUV to feature CarPlay, and such support will be rolled out to other Geely vehicles soon.
