Showing a teaser image of a new car ahead of its launch is the height of cheekiness if not rising potential buyer’s expectations adversely, but we’d argue that revealing a car’s launch over a year ahead of its market introduction is just as cheeky. That’s exactly what China’s Hozon Auto has done with its Neta sub-brand, and specially with a car called the Neta GT.
Speaking at a press conference last week, Dato’ SM Azli SM Nasimuddin Kamal, the Executive Chairman of Intro Synergy, the local distributor of Neta Malaysia, stated that the reason for the delay is that we will be receiving a “upgraded” version of the Neta GT rather than the vehicle that was displayed during the motor show.
Dato’ SM Azli refrained from providing any additional information, but if we had to speculate, we would say that it would only be a minor spec bump to be introduced alongside the model’s right-hand-drive conversion works, given that the model was only formally launched in China last year and was still a left-hand-drive model when it was revealed at the this year’s Malaysia Auto Show.
The Neta GT comes in two specs and is regarded as an “affordable” electric sports car in China. With a single rear axle motor producing 231 horsepower and 310 Nm, the base GT 560 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 6.7 seconds.
The flagship Neta GT 580 AWD, on the other hand, has an extra motor on the front axle for an all-wheel drive setup that pumps out 462 horsepower and 620 Nm. This allows Neta’s grand tourer to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. Based on the CLTC test cycle, Neta says the GT boasts a range of 560 kms thanks to its 64.27 kWh battery pack, but we’d like to point out that potential buyers should take that range with a pinch of salt simply because CLTC figures are exaggerated and a more real-world figure would be around 460 km. Meanwhile, the 580 AWD spec has a bigger 78 kWh battery and claims to cover 580 kms on a single charge—but we’d estimate around 470.
One insider close to Neta says that the company is attempting to sell the Neta GT below RM200k in Malaysia, adhering to the car’s original business strategy in its native nation.
Is the Neta GT’s two-door grand tourer body style enough to convince you to choose it over more expensive competitors in the same market segment—and, more crucially, over ICE-powered alternatives—at that price?
CARLIST THOUGHTS
If the Neta GT does go on sale for under RM200,000, that will make it one of the most desirable and affordable electric coupes on the market. And given that it should easily clear 400km of range, while generating a quick 3.7 seconds for the jump to 100 km/h, and boasting street cred as good as it does, then we may be looking at one of the hits of 2024.