Geely to introduce a distinct 7-seater crossover in PH
Geely’s has officially announced the name of its new large crossover vehicle that is designed to seat seven in relative luxury and excellent safety.
It will be called the Okavango in the Philippines.
Automakers are often inspired by the natural world when naming their new vehicles and Geely is no different. The Chinese automaker must have been mystified by that place in the heart of southern Africa—the Okavango Delta—that is one of the world’s largest wetlands. It is the main source of water for a million people and is one of the most biodiverse places in Africa as it supports the world’s largest remaining elephant population as well as lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, hundreds of species of birds, and many more.
Like its namesake, the Geely Okavango is distinct as well as special. Apart from its cool name that will certainly draw more attention to this “wonderfully distinct” vehicle, Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP) said they will be introduced as a new segment in the Philippine automotive industry since it’s a 7-seater crossover.
“Geely Okavango is the coming together of the best features of an SUV and an MPV into a single 7-seater crossover. The Okavango is definitely a game changer for both the SUV and MPV segments—exquisite and well thought off in terms of design, space, and technology,” explained SGAP president and CEO Mikihisa Takayama.
The Okavango is Geely’s third offering after the Coolray and the Azkarra both of which are smaller five-seater crossovers.
Exciting features
Takayama said that the Okavango will definitely excite the market with the following reasons:
- While exact specifications of the Okavango have yet to be revealed, Takayama said it will be powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine jointly developed with Volvo. The Dual Variable-Valve Timing (DVVT) engine is paired to a 7-speed wet-type dual clutch transmission to generate a maximum 190 hp and 300 Nm of torque, a perfect balance of power optimization and fuel efficiency.
The Okavango offers three driving modes—Eco, Normal, and Sport—providing the driver three distinct driving characteristics.
Like the Azkarra Luxury, the Okavango features a 48-volt EMS system, a mild hybrid system that allows a certain degree of electric drive (providing an extra 13 horsepower and an extra 45 Nm of torque) while letting the engine rest in certain situations (driving downhill and on flat roads).
- , the Okavango could seat seven adults comfortably, especially in the third row. For those needing to haul cargo and other items, Okavango uses space so efficiently that the second and third-row seats can fold completely flat thanks to non-convex second-row flooring.
- The Okavango boasts of a 360-degree panoramic camera with a best-in-class guidance system and dynamic auxiliary lines three-zone air conditioning that will give passengers independent AC controls in the driver, front passenger, and rear passenger seats.
- In terms of safety, the Okavango is equipped with six SRS airbags, overspeed warning, electronic stability control, hill start assist, central locking with speed-sensing auto lock, as well as hill descent control.
- Design-wise, the Okavango carries the familiar expanding cosmos grille but comes with a muscular front face and creased hood, giving the vehicle a tough look. On either side of the signature grille is a set of L shaped LED daytime running lights as well as LED head and fog lamps.
SGAP announced that it already started the pre-sales of the Okavango yesterday (Oct. 17) and as an incentive for those who will reserve, significant savings of as much as P90,000 will be given. On top of this pre-order savings, SGAP will also provide a worry-free ownership with a three-year periodic maintenance package that includes oil, parts and labor only to those who will reserve and purchase during the pre-selling period.
For inquiries, contact your nearest Geely dealerships to ask about how to pre-order the Geely Okavango.
