Nezha S is another Tesla Model 3 rival from China with serious intentions

The number of Tesla Model 3 competitors is growing rapidly, and more and more Chinese automakers are entering the game with quite serious intentions. The latest newcomer is the Nezha S, a rather attractive electric four-door sedan that was introduced as standard after Eureka 03 2020 concept and pre-production model from 2021. Like many other new models, the Nezha S had to debut at the Beijing Motor Show, which was postponed due to the pandemic, so the company unveiled it online.

Nezha or Neta is a fairly new brand created in 2018 by Hozon Auto. Its lineup consists of two SUVs called the U and V, with the S being the latest addition. The production version accurately reflects the style of the concept we saw last year, with a rather upscale style compared to previous models from Hozon.

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The front follows the trend of split headlights, but the upper blocks are very thin. A sculptural nose with stylish water intakes, curved wings and a clean profile design make the Nezha S an attractive vehicle. Behind us we find full-width LED taillights, a built-in spoiler, a restrained diffuser and a sloping roofline that complete the aerodynamic look.

In terms of dimensions, the Nezha S has 4,800 mm (188.9 inches) in length, 2,000 mm (78.4 inches) in width and 1,400 mm (55.1 inches) in height, with a wide wheelbase of 2,900 mm (114.2 inches). This footprint makes it slightly larger than the Tesla Model 3, and more in line with its Chinese-made competitors, including BMW i3Nio ET5, BYD Seal and Xpeng X7.

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Inside the highlight is a massive infotainment touchscreen in portrait orientation combined with a minimal digital dashboard, main display and an optional touchscreen in front of the passenger. There is also a fashionable 1216-watt audio system with 21 speakers, including roof-mounted speakers and built-in headrests, as well as heated, ventilated and massage seats. For an upscale look, premium materials are used: Alcantara, leather, wood and metal, which stand out from the surrounding lighting.

The sedan is the first of many models based on Shanhai’s new modular architecture, which supports both fully electric (BEV) and options with range extenders (EREV). The company has not yet announced detailed specifications, but they expect the NEDC range to be 710 km (441 miles) for the electric model and up to 1,100 km (684 miles) for the range extender. They also announced Fr. low power consumption 12 kW / h / 100 km thanks to the HozonEPT4.0 battery temperature control system developed by Huawei and a 92 percent efficient electric motor.

Hozon has set a high bar when it comes to technology, in order to provide its latest sedan with a stand-alone level 4 of 13 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, five-millimeter-wave radar and two Lidars. Keep in mind, Mercedes was the first automaker introduce Level 3 autonomy in the production car (S-Class), starting in 2022, so go to level 4 – a bold statement.

We don’t know the price of Nezha S and whether it will be available outside of China, but we will keep an eye on Hozon official website for any updates.