Last week, the test drives for the election of the German Car Of The Year 2024 (GCOTY) took place in Alsfeld, Hessen, Germany. Two Aiways U6 SUV-Coupés faced competition from 56 different models and were able to back up the promising initial impression of the international media test drives in April 2023 around Lisbon.
The extensive test program for the election of the German Car Of The Year 2024 is already running for the sixth time. In an exciting format, the expert jury around Villa Raab in Alsfeld was able to put the most important innovations of this automotive year through their paces. Aiways provided two U6 SUV-Coupés for the three-day test program to give the voting journalists the most intensive look possible at the vehicles.
Dr. Alexander Klose, Executive Vice President Overseas Operations at Aiways, is enthusiastic about the event: “The GCTOY election has become a very important and respected award in the industry. Compared to a test drive or a driving demonstration, the direct comparison to the contestants is particularly exciting. Over three days, you can check every nuance of the vehicles and we hope that we were able to surprise and convince the jury with our new U6 SUV-Coupé.”
Aiways’ U6 SUV-Coupé takes the lead with intelligent lightweight construction
The overwhelming majority of the vehicles on the ballot this year were electrified models. The focus was therefore all the more on the topics of efficiency and consumption as well as general driving behavior. In all three respects, the new Aiways U6 SUV-Coupé was able to confirm the positive initial impression from the coverage of the international driving event in Lisbon in early summer.
The basis for this feedback is the MAS platform, which already impressed in the Aiways U5 SUV. It not only offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of drive and body configurations, but its design is particularly impressive. The body-in-white of the Aiways U6 SUV-Coupé is made from an intelligent mix of lightweight aluminum and high-strength steels, which ensures maximum safety and improved torsional rigidity. Some highly stressed parts of the structure, such as the front strut domes, are manufactured using an elaborate aluminum die-casting process that gave the developers many new degrees of freedom in the design and layout of the component. All in all, these intelligent lightweight design measures combined with the advanced material mix resulted in a curb weight of just 1,790 kilograms, which is not only superior in its class.
Intensive research and development work ensures efficiency advantages
Continuous research and development work has also enabled the powertrain to be optimized in terms of performance and weight. The new AI-PT engine, which is developed and manufactured independently by Aiways, is not only more powerful than its predecessor at 160 kW (218 hp), it is also smaller and 15 percent lighter, thanks to the focus on the best possible integration. Innovations in the field of intelligent temperature management – the new heat exchanger, for example, makes optimum use of the waste heat from the engine and uses it to condition the battery and interior – have thus significantly increased the overall efficiency of the powertrain in real traffic. The improved driving dynamics, resulting in a sprint value of 6.9 seconds for 0 – 100 km/h acceleration, also generated positive reviews.
“We are pleased to see that the GCOTY jury was able to intensively experience the development dynamics of Aiways during the extended test drives,” Zeeshan Shaikh, Head of Aiways Technical Center Munich, is pleased to say. “Last year, we made our first model available for testing with the U5 SUV and are now offering the U6 SUV-Coupé on the same platform, a vehicle that is optimized in every detail.”