GEELY

Chinese conglomerate may bring new mild-hybrid SUV

Another year and another crossover has been launched. This time around, it's from Geely and they've gone all boxy with the Icon. Spun off from the Coolray platform, the Chinese automaker is keen to expand its crossover portfolio.
But while the Coolray and the Icon share the same architecture, the two couldn't be more different on the outside. Geely calls the look of the Icon a mix of “less is more” (or minimalist) and “8-bit analog form” and both ideas were stitched together to form a retro-futuristic design.
From bumper to bumper, the Icon adapts a squared-off look with more boxy details the closer you look. The slim daytime running lights are rectangular, along with the grill, headlight housings (located at the center of the fascia), and lower air intakes.



Another nod to the past is the box-flared wheel arches, a prominent bit of design from performance cars of the '80s. Over at the rear, there are more squares and rectangles to be seen from top to bottom. Like most crossovers, the entire lower half of the Icon has thick, unpainted cladding to give it a bit of an off-roader look.



The Icon's exterior theme carries over to the interior. For instance, the top of the dashboard is almost flat, and so is its fascia. It's the same case for the center console and door panels. Inside, you are greeted by two large screens, namely the fully digital instrument cluster and the infotainment display. Geely then opted to put in an electro-mechanical gear selector in the Icon, in tune with the entire car's theme.



While cabin air filtration isn't a feature commonly highlighted in cars today, Geely is keen to point theirs out. According to them, their Intelligent Air Purification System (IAPS) is N95 certified. They also claim that IAPS can isolate and eliminate over 99.7% of dust and harmful particulates including bacteria and viruses from entering the cabin.
As for safety equipment, the Icon is available with automatic emergency braking, semi-autonomous parking capabilities, pedestrian detection, and even a built-in video recorder. Also, one can specify the Icon with a “level 2+” autonomous driving system, which works in coordination with the sensors and cameras surrounding the car.
On to the engines and there are two to choose from. First is a turbocharged 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbo that's good for 174 PS and 255 Nm of torque. The other option is a mild-hybrid version of the standard mill. It gets more power and torque with the electric-assisted model putting out 188 PS and 300 Nm. Both then use a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.



The question now is this: Will the Icon be offered in the Philippines? Seeing how the Coolray has been selling so far, it is likely that Geely Philippines may want to add another crossover in the line-up. If you might not be the Icon, another new model is a possibility nonetheless. 

Source: Anton Andres