VINCAR EV launches all-electric Aion Y Plus in Singapore
06 Apr 2024|46,569 views
As the number of new names in the local automotive world continues to grow, a fresh face has thrown its hat into the electric ring. A face studded by 'Angel Wing' LED-signatures, in fact.
On 5 April 2024, the Aion Y Plus was officially unveiled to members of the media at VINCAR EV's new Aion showroom at 24 Leng Kee Road. The launch of the electric crossover also concurrently marked a handful of firsts: The first time that the Aion showroom opened its doors to guests, the first time VINCAR is taking on the role of an authorised distributor, and also the first time that GAC Aion is entering the Singapore market.
Those unfamiliar with the brand should note that the GAC Group - or Guangzhou Automotive Group - is actually fairly established as one of China's leading manufacturers. The state-owned company was founded all the way back in June 1997, and counts joint ventures with Toyota and Honda as vital building blocks for its carmaking expertise today.
GAC Aion, in turn, was founded in 2017 solely to develop electric cars, and has experienced steady growth since. Last year, the company delivered more than 483,000 EVs to customers. The company is also quick to note that its electric vehicles (EVs) have been built on dedicated electric architecture from the very beginning - dubbed the Aion Electric Platform (AEP).
Built atop of the AEP 2.0, it should thus come as no surprise that Aion Y Plus swings in with convincing credentials, despite clearly being positioned as a budget-friendly EV.
For starters, there is its unique and unmistakable exterior styling - dominated most notably by those 'Angel Wing' LED signatures up front, which wrap around the car’s grille-less front. Despite its SUV-billing, the Y Plus also has a rather interesting shape that skews more towards an MPV, and features sleek, flushed door handles.
Still, one of the biggest strengths of the Y Plus touted by GAC Aion is the car's interior, which has been crafted to be spacious, versatile and vibrant. The latter quality comes courtesy of a whopping total of five interior colour combinations, which will match the car's paintwork.
While the Y Plus' boxy silhouette already ensures (unsurprisingly) that headroom is good throughout, the car also boasts a generous wheelbase of 2,750mm - impressive considering the car is just 4,535mm long. What's more, its floor has been designed to be completely flat, with a live demonstration showing just how easy it is to ‘run’ across the second row.
That's not where it ends. With the front headrests removed and the two front seats reclined, the cabin effectively turns into a 'flat bed' area, which gives occupants the space to kick back and relax. Marketing materials (and Aion-branded microphones on display in the showroom) indicate that a karaoke app could soon be available on Y Plus' infotainment system.
Speaking of this, the Aion Y Plus carries the sort of digitalisation expected on a 2024 car. A 14.6-inch touchscreen takes centrestage up front, offering a full suite of infotainment options (and Apple CarPlay connectivity), while the driver gets a 10.25-inch instrument cluster.
Returning to the car's budget-friendly credentials, the powertrain fitted onto the Y Plus has ensured that it will be eligible for a Category A COE.
A single, front axle-mounted motor develops 100kW (134bhp) and 225Nm of instant torque, sending the car from 0 to 100km/h in 9.8 seconds. According to an Aion spokesperson, this powertrain has been tuned to be more progressive and linear in its feel, and should help to ensure that the car is comfortable to drive.
Powering the Aion Y Plus, too, is a 63.2kWh battery which gives the car a combined WLTP-rated range of up to 430km, and up to 563km in city driving. Hooking the car up to a 100kW DC charger should see its battery recharged from 10 to 80% in just 40 minutes, while a 6.6kW AC charger will manage an entirely full recharge in 9.5 hours.
The car's battery also features an in-house developed 'Magazine Battery' technology, which is claimed by GAC Aion to offer some of the best standards in battery safety performance in the industry. Instead of just nail penetration tests, the Magazine Battery was apparently put through more rigorous bullet penetration testing to ensure it remains non-flammable even when subject to extreme damage.
The Aion Y Plus also comes loaded with a generous equipment list as standard, including a six-way powered seat for the driver; a panoramic sunroof; a Bongiovi six-speaker premium sound system; and safety essentials including six airbags, and driving aids such as cruise control, ABS and ESP.
A higher-tier trim level - fittingly named the Aion Y Plus Premium - is scheduled for launch in Singapore later in 2024, adding in goodies such as a four-way powered seat for the front passenger and ventilation for the driver's seat. The Premium trim will also boast the full suite of driver's assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.
The media preview of the Aion Y Plus marks the start of a packed schedule of events for the Aion brand and VINCAR EV in Singapore.
A special customer launch event will take place on 6 April 2023 (Saturday) at the new Aion showroom (which, by the way, can host up to four cars at once), during which the Aion Y Plus will officially go on sale. Prices start from $145,988 with COE (non-guaranteed). Thereafter, the brand will also make an appearance at Expo over the weekend of The Car Expo, taking place across 13 and 14 April.
Looking slightly further ahead, plans are also already underway to bring two more Aion models to - including an electric sedan - to the Singapore market.
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vincent Tan, Managing Director for VINCAR EV expressed his confidence that GAC Aion would soon “become a household name in Singapore”, promising, "We will offer Aion customers the best customer experience and aftersales care."
Car model | Price as of press time (including COE) |
Aion Y Plus 63.2kWh | $145,988 |
As the number of new names in the local automotive world continues to grow, a fresh face has thrown its hat into the electric ring. A face studded by 'Angel Wing' LED-signatures, in fact.
On 5 April 2024, the Aion Y Plus was officially unveiled to members of the media at VINCAR EV's new Aion showroom at 24 Leng Kee Road. The launch of the electric crossover also concurrently marked a handful of firsts: The first time that the Aion showroom opened its doors to guests, the first time VINCAR is taking on the role of an authorised distributor, and also the first time that GAC Aion is entering the Singapore market.
Those unfamiliar with the brand should note that the GAC Group - or Guangzhou Automotive Group - is actually fairly established as one of China's leading manufacturers. The state-owned company was founded all the way back in June 1997, and counts joint ventures with Toyota and Honda as vital building blocks for its carmaking expertise today.
GAC Aion, in turn, was founded in 2017 solely to develop electric cars, and has experienced steady growth since. Last year, the company delivered more than 483,000 EVs to customers. The company is also quick to note that its electric vehicles (EVs) have been built on dedicated electric architecture from the very beginning - dubbed the Aion Electric Platform (AEP).
Built atop of the AEP 2.0, it should thus come as no surprise that Aion Y Plus swings in with convincing credentials, despite clearly being positioned as a budget-friendly EV.
For starters, there is its unique and unmistakable exterior styling - dominated most notably by those 'Angel Wing' LED signatures up front, which wrap around the car’s grille-less front. Despite its SUV-billing, the Y Plus also has a rather interesting shape that skews more towards an MPV, and features sleek, flushed door handles.
Still, one of the biggest strengths of the Y Plus touted by GAC Aion is the car's interior, which has been crafted to be spacious, versatile and vibrant. The latter quality comes courtesy of a whopping total of five interior colour combinations, which will match the car's paintwork.
While the Y Plus' boxy silhouette already ensures (unsurprisingly) that headroom is good throughout, the car also boasts a generous wheelbase of 2,750mm - impressive considering the car is just 4,535mm long. What's more, its floor has been designed to be completely flat, with a live demonstration showing just how easy it is to ‘run’ across the second row.
That's not where it ends. With the front headrests removed and the two front seats reclined, the cabin effectively turns into a 'flat bed' area, which gives occupants the space to kick back and relax. Marketing materials (and Aion-branded microphones on display in the showroom) indicate that a karaoke app could soon be available on Y Plus' infotainment system.
Speaking of this, the Aion Y Plus carries the sort of digitalisation expected on a 2024 car. A 14.6-inch touchscreen takes centrestage up front, offering a full suite of infotainment options (and Apple CarPlay connectivity), while the driver gets a 10.25-inch instrument cluster.
Returning to the car's budget-friendly credentials, the powertrain fitted onto the Y Plus has ensured that it will be eligible for a Category A COE.
A single, front axle-mounted motor develops 100kW (134bhp) and 225Nm of instant torque, sending the car from 0 to 100km/h in 9.8 seconds. According to an Aion spokesperson, this powertrain has been tuned to be more progressive and linear in its feel, and should help to ensure that the car is comfortable to drive.
Powering the Aion Y Plus, too, is a 63.2kWh battery which gives the car a combined WLTP-rated range of up to 430km, and up to 563km in city driving. Hooking the car up to a 100kW DC charger should see its battery recharged from 10 to 80% in just 40 minutes, while a 6.6kW AC charger will manage an entirely full recharge in 9.5 hours.
The car's battery also features an in-house developed 'Magazine Battery' technology, which is claimed by GAC Aion to offer some of the best standards in battery safety performance in the industry. Instead of just nail penetration tests, the Magazine Battery was apparently put through more rigorous bullet penetration testing to ensure it remains non-flammable even when subject to extreme damage.
The Aion Y Plus also comes loaded with a generous equipment list as standard, including a six-way powered seat for the driver; a panoramic sunroof; a Bongiovi six-speaker premium sound system; and safety essentials including six airbags, and driving aids such as cruise control, ABS and ESP.
A higher-tier trim level - fittingly named the Aion Y Plus Premium - is scheduled for launch in Singapore later in 2024, adding in goodies such as a four-way powered seat for the front passenger and ventilation for the driver's seat. The Premium trim will also boast the full suite of driver's assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.
The media preview of the Aion Y Plus marks the start of a packed schedule of events for the Aion brand and VINCAR EV in Singapore.
A special customer launch event will take place on 6 April 2023 (Saturday) at the new Aion showroom (which, by the way, can host up to four cars at once), during which the Aion Y Plus will officially go on sale. Prices start from $145,988 with COE (non-guaranteed). Thereafter, the brand will also make an appearance at Expo over the weekend of The Car Expo, taking place across 13 and 14 April.
Looking slightly further ahead, plans are also already underway to bring two more Aion models to - including an electric sedan - to the Singapore market.
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vincent Tan, Managing Director for VINCAR EV expressed his confidence that GAC Aion would soon “become a household name in Singapore”, promising, "We will offer Aion customers the best customer experience and aftersales care."
Car model | Price as of press time (including COE) |
Aion Y Plus 63.2kWh | $145,988 |
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