Emgrand EC7

The Geely Emgrand ( zh, c=吉利帝豪, hp=Jílì Dìháo), originally the Emgrand EC7, is a car produced by Chinese automaker Geely Auto. After the discontinuation of the Emgrand brand, the EC7 was renamed to the Geely Emgrand in 2014.

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First generation (Emgrand EC7; 2010)

The EC7 was the launch vehicle for the Emgrand ( zh, s=帝豪, p=Dìháo) brand, the medium-to-high-end luxury brand that was launched by Geely in July 2009. It was originally launched with multiple Mitsubishi-sourced engines, including a 1.5-litre 4G15 inline-four engine and a 1.8-litre 4G18 inline-four engine. A 2013 update of the EC7 added slightly smoked headlights, with no other changes.

File:Emgrand EC7 01 China 2012-04-15.jpg, EC7 (front)
File:Emgrand EC7 02 China 2012-04-15.jpg, EC7 (rear)
File:Emgrand EC7-RV China 2012-05-18.jpg, EC7-RV (front)
File:Geely Emgrand 7 Hatchback, Denpasar.jpg, EC7-RV (rear)
File:Emgrand EC7 China 2012-06-02.jpg, link=, EC7 (update)

Development

The car was developed from the outset as an export model. Geely enlisted the services of a range of suppliers, including Siemens for the electronic control system, Lear Corporation for the seats, and Saint-Gobain for the glass. The production line was equipped with products from Fuji, PDE, and Dürr AG.

Global sales

In preparation for its introduction into the European market, the EC7 scored 4 stars in the Euro NCAP tests, the first car designed and produced in China to do so. Prices were estimated at £10,000 for the 1.5 model on launch. As of October 2015, it was China's best-selling domestic sedan.

Iraq

In Iraq, the EC7 and the larger EC8 are assembled by the state-owned company SCAI.

Iran

In Iran, the EC7 and EC7-RV are sold by Geelran Company, Geely Auto's official selling agent in Iran.

Namibia

The EC7 was launched in Namibia in 2013 at the same time as in South Africa.

Russia

The Emgrand EC7 was made by Derways under CKD on May 23, 2012. Derways recalled EC7s made from May 23, 2014 to November 21, 2014 due to problems with brake hoses.

South Africa

The EC7 was officially launched in South Africa in 2013, being sold at R149,000.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the Emgrand EC7 is sold under the Micro brand, which is owned by Geely Auto.

Taiwan

The EC7 was sold as the Tobe M'way by Yulon in Taiwan from May 2012.

File:Tobe M'way 20130224 1.jpg, Tobe M'way (front)
File:Tobe M'way 20130224 2.jpg, Tobe M'way (rear)

United Kingdom

The car was scheduled to be launched into the United Kingdom market in late 2012. Geely established Geely Auto UK, a jointly-held subsidiary of Manganese Bronze Holdings and LTI based in Coventry.

In partnership with Manganese Bronze, Geely set up a 40-strong dealer organisation. Small family-style garages were chosen to sell the cars, being described as "the sort of garages that used to sell Škodas before the company was owned by Volkswagen, and the type of establishment that once might have sold Rovers."

Second generation (2014)

The second generation Geely Emgrand was shown to the public in the 2014 Beijing Auto Show carrying the new Geely ''Earth'' emblem. The replacement of the emblem marked the end of the Emgrand premium brand for Geely. The second generation Emgrand is based on the same platform as the EC7.

Facelift

The second-generation Emgrand sedan received a facelift in 2016 for the 2017 model year, donning Geely's "Cosmos" grille as well as redesigned taillights.

File:Emgrand EC7-RV facelift 01 Auto China 2014-04-23.jpg, Emgrand EC7-RV facelift (front)
File:Emgrand EC7-RV facelift 02 Auto China 2014-04-23.jpg, Emgrand EC7-RV facelift (rear)
File:2016 Geely Emgrand EC7-RV, front 8.5.18.jpg, Emgrand EC7-RV facelift
File:Geely New Emgrand EC7 (cropped).jpg, Geely Emgrand (front)
File:2017 Geely Emgrand EV, front 8.5.18.jpg, Geely Emgrand EV facelift (front)
File:2017 Geely Emgrand EV, rear 8.5.18.jpg, Geely Emgrand EV facelift (rear)

Global sales

Belarus

In Belarus, Belarusian-Chinese joint venture BelGee began production of the Geely Emgrand 7 in the autumn of 2018.

Russia

Despite the discontinuation of the Emgrand brand in the Chinese home market, the Geely Emgrand was still sold as the Emgrand EC7 in Russia. The second-generation EC7 was introduced to the Russian market by Derways in February 2016.

Third generation (2018)

The third-generation Emgrand went on sale in May 2018 as a sedan only. The third-generation model uses the same platform that underpins the first and second-generation models. The update features a revised front and a completely redesigned rear end.

File:2018 Geely Emgrand, rear 8.3.18.jpg, rear view
File:Geely Emgrand EV 001.jpg, Emgrand EV

A minor facelift for the 2019 model year was launched mainly for the then-newly launched National VI Emission Standard. The update features a slightly revised grille and intake inserts on the exterior, and a new GKUI infotainment system, enabling mobile phone connection, Amap, an online music database, voice control, Himalaya FM radio, and vehicle function controls via a mobile app.

2021 facelift

A facelift for the 2021 model year called the Geely Emgrand Up was launched in December 2020 alongside the Emgrand GL Up. The update is complete with what Geely calls the "4.0" design language and features a vertically slotted grille.

File:2021 Geely Emgrand (facelift, front).jpg, Geely Emgrand 2021 facelift
File:2021 Geely Emgrand (facelift, rear).jpg, rear view

Fourth generation (SS11; 2021)

News of the fourth-generation Emgrand sedan surfaced in May 2021. The Emgrand was officially launched in China in August that year. Different from previous models, the fourth generation Emgrand is based on a brand new platform and body, with styling in line with the brand's Preface sedan and Xingyue L crossover. Its engine is a ''JLC-4G15B'' 1.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-4 engine producing . The B-segment sedan sits on the brand's BMA platform and comes with the aforementioned 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine that is mated to either a five-speed manual or a CVT.

At the 2021 Chengdu Motor Show, Geely teased the arrival of the Emgrand L, with the brand's latest design language taken from the Vision Starburst concept.

2025 facelift

The Geely Emgrand received a facelift for the 2025 model year, It uses the same four-cylinder 1,500cc naturally aspirated engine and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, which produces 122 horsepower and 180 Nm of torque, The average fuel consumption is 5.8 liters per 100 km.

The facelifted Geely Emgrand 2025 was unveiled in the Egyptian market on January 15, 2025, and is produced by the Bavarian company's factory in 6 October City, which is the second factory to produce Geely cars in the Middle East and Africa after Ghabour Auto (GB Auto) that produced the first generation of the Geely Emgrand EC7 starting from 2013 to 2019 producing more than 150,000 vehicles.

Proton S70

Proton Holdings has rebadged and re-engineered the Geely Emgrand, producing the Proton S70. The S70 was debuted on 28 November 2023, and is equipped with more powerful and fuel saving 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. S70 is equipped with ADAS system and 5 star ASEAN NCAP safety rating. Four trim levels are available: Executive, Premium, Flagship, and Flagship X.

Sales

Notes

References

External links

{{Geely

EC7
Compact cars
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
Hatchbacks
Sedans
Euro NCAP large family cars
Cars introduced in 2009
2010s cars
Cars of China
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