Haval X Dog breaks cover in China with bizarre steering wheel screen
The quirky Chinese SUV will go on
sale overseas early next year.
A new mid-sized SUV model built by Haval – known as the ‘X Dog’ – has arrived in Chinese showrooms, and new photos published by CarNewsChina.com give the best look yet at the vehicle’s exterior, interior, finish and oddities.
Five separate screens feature inside the cabin, with the typical infotainment, instrument and climate control displays joined by a small screen on the passenger side of the dashboard and, in what’s likely a production-car first, a bizarre infotainment interface on the steering wheel.
The images follow just weeks after Hyundai filed patents for a similar steering wheel-mounted screen system – though unlike the new Haval, there’s no word on whether the South Korean brand’s filings will ever make it to a production car.
The screens are fitted between hard plastic surfaces and imitation leather trim, while on the outside alloy wheels (with Mini Electric-like accents) sit at all four corners under squared-off wheel arches cladded in black plastic.
Colour coordination throughout – across the interior trim, exterior paint, and alloy highlights – is attention grabbing. A white roof and LED headlights appear to be fitted as standard.
According to online reports, the Haval X Dog will be powered by a 126kW 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine at the entry level, or a flagship 171kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
A plug-in hybrid variant – which would likely sit at the top of the range – is also reportedly in development.
The Haval X Dog will go on sale in China in the first quarter of next year (January to March, inclusive), with pricing yet to be locked in.
Australia plans are unclear for now, however the brand’s local arm has previously expressed interest in the similar-by-name Big Dog and Tank 300 SUVs.
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