2024 is about to conclude and interestingly this year was observed somewhat stable in terms of what we saw in 2023 like a series of price hikes and incessant disruptions in production lineups of local car makers.

In contrast, local car companies observed stability and took some bold decision to add variety in their electric and hybrid lineup, reflecting their inclination towards sustainable mobility. It is pertinent to mention that this year EVs and hybrids took the automotive market by storm this year.

Here’s a recap of the year’s most significant car launches that left a lasting impact on the market.

BYD Cars (Seal & Atto 3)

    a) BYD SEAL

D-segment sedan BYD Seal competes with the likes of Tesla Model 3 and embraces ‘Ocean aesthetics’ as the new design concept. Its sloping body shape makes its appearance sleeker, helping to improve performance. The distinctive double U-shaped headlamps and grille combine to form an X-shaped front end that exudes style and sportiness.

Moving inside, leather paired with an Alcantara finish and diamond stitching makes you feel luxurious. It comes with features like volume, AC, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, as well as a Swarovski-style crystal gear lever, which adds a premium vibe to the interior.

The BYD Seal offers an impressive range of up to 570 km, powered by BYD’s 82.5 kWh Blade Battery. With rapid charging, it can go from 10% to 80% in just about 37 minutes.

     b) BYD Atto 3

Atto 3 is a fully electric C-category SUV that may compete with the successful Hyundai Tucson, KIA Sportage, and Changan Oshan X7.

On the outer side, the front end has bi-projector LED headlamps and DRLs. The front grille has a fin-line structure to improve the vehicle’s aerodynamics. SS styling, radar, and a 360-degree camera are also included for the driver’s utility.

Highlighting the rear end, fins are added on the rear quarter glass, which comes with an added marine-styling feature. Besides, there are Atto 3 badging, parking sensors, and dot matrix taillights.

Once you slip into this car, there is a lot to inspire you. A neat combo of black and light blue with red stitching, bucket seats on the front, plenty of cabin room, Airplane cockpit-like styling along with hard buttons, a futuristic steering wheel, a cluster panel with the highest visibility, and a panoramic sunroof are all the major features.

Other add-ons include an audio recognition feature, a rotating screen, a wireless charger, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a start/stop button. On the other hand, Blind Spot Monitoring, 6 airbags, defogger parking sensors, collision warning, and hand brakes make you feel safe and assist you.

Deepal Cars (S07 & L07)

     a) Deepal L07

It comes with a unique and aggressive front panel boasts LED start petal Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), 19-inch alloy wheels with two-tone rims vying with Toyota crown or BMW i5.

Highlighting the rear profile, again, LED star flame though-type taillights translating the Chinese trend. The cabin make you feel there is all premium around you. From multi-color and dynamic ambient lighting to perforated synthetic leather seats, Sony surround system laced with 14 speakers to 10.2 Inches LCD Meter, 14.6-inch sunflower touch screen.

Deepal’s newly unveiled sedan is powered with permanent magnet synchronous motor producing power of 258 PS and 320Nm torque. The drive range of the EV is 540 km.

      b) Deepal S07

At the front, it features a distinctive Chinese ‘Pedal of Power’ design that integrates DRLs and indicators, while the headlamps are positioned below.

The interior is crafted for a luxurious experience. The doors are adorned with wooden claddings, and the cockpit features Bentley-inspired styling elements, including a console with a built-in cool box. A 15.5-inch floating screen controls all functions, accessible via gesture control.

This SUV is equipped with a 66.8 kWh battery pack that produces 250 hp and 320 Nm of torque. It offers nearly twice the range of the Audi e-tron. With the S07, Deepal has aimed to address charging concerns by reducing charging time to just 30 minutes and extending the vehicle’s range.

Toyota Corolla Cross CKD

The hybrid variant of the car is equipped with a 1.8L 2ZR-FXE engine that produces a combined power of 167Hp, whereas the gasoline engine 2ZR-FE produces a power of 138Hp and a 172N-m torque.

It comes with the same bold grill, Bi-beam LEDs, Fog lights, and DRLs in the top-line variant, and you can get all of these in halogen bulb formats in the base variant.

However, Interior boasts a 7-inch digital infotainment cluster panel in the hybrid, which turns into an analog speedometer and RPM gauge in the ICE one.

 

Thanks to the OEM, it has kept all the safety features the same as the hybrid variant with Hill Assist, Dual-Zone Climate Control, 7 Airbags, and Traction Control, bout the Blind Spot Monitoring System will be missed.

Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

Elantra Hybrid has a smart stream 1.6L GDI Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine mated to a permanent magnet synchronous motor, producing a maximum power of 33kW/43hp and torque of 170 Nm. This system’s combined output is 139 hp and 264 Nm torque.

The newly unveiled vehicle is powered by a lithium-ion polymer battery with a capacity and power output of 1.32kWh and 42kW, respectively.

it comes with a purely new front fascia and rear profile, flaunting the company’s parametric design concept. Wraparound LED headlights with a Parametric Jewel Pattern grille sharpen the front. Highlighting the rear profile, LED taillights stretch across the width of the car.

The Elantra’s interior perfectly complements its bold, futuristic exterior. Stepping inside, you’re immediately enveloped by a cockpit-like design, where the dashboard and center console gracefully curve toward the driver, creating a driver-centric space.

MG HS’ exterior flaunts LED Head and taillights, Sequential Indicators Front and rear, Dual Exhaust. Well, to be fair, there are no significant changes in the new one compared to the 1.5T.

The interior of the car comes with options like Ambient Light Full Spectrum, sports seats, a 7-inch Digital Cluster, Central Storage with Cooling Function, 10.1-inch Infotainment Screen (Apple Car Play & Android Auto), 5 Driving Modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Custom & Super Sport), MG Puddle Light, etc.

The car is powered with 2000cc Turbo engine producing an impressive 226 horsepower and 360Nm of torque with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and a top speed of 210 kilometers/hour.

Between these biggest launches, which car launch made a bigger impact on the Pakistani market in 2024? Feel free to express your thoughts in the comments.