IMAGINE if Bo and Luke Duke had one of these to evade Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane.
It’s a Denza Bao 5.
Denza Bao 5 can be dropped from 33ft and still drive off Credit: Supplied
Bao 5 has a ladder-frame chassis and three diff locks sending torque wherever it is needed Credit: Supplied
Boa and Luke Duke?
Not as cool as the General Lee.
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Not much is.
But way more likely to survive a river jump.
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They totalled at least 300 Dodge Chargers filming Dukes Of Hazzard back in the day.
Whereas this Chinese 4×4 is nails.
It can be dropped from 33ft – a typical two-storey house – and still drive off.
Plonk two cars on its roof and the hydraulic suspension will still lift or lower by 14cm.
Plus, it has SIXTEEN drive modes – including sand, snow, rock, mountains, wading, race and tug-o-war. Must try that last one.
As with all proper off-roaders, Bao 5 has a ladder-frame chassis and three diff locks sending torque wherever it is needed. Except these are e-diffs and the centre lock reacts 30 times faster than a mechanical set-up can.
The heart of the car is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with two e-motors producing 544hp and 760Nm of torques. Not slow, then.
Plug it in to brim the 31kWh battery and fill up the fuel tank and it’ll do 519 miles in one go.
There is a lush cabin crowned by three digital screens Credit: Supplied
At least 300 Dodge Chargers were totalled filming Dukes Of Hazzard Credit: Getty – Contributor
Or 56 miles gliding along in EV mode without waking the petrol engine.
The battery pack is a structural part of the car and even doubles as a giant power bank for inflating paddle boards or whatever.
Climb aboard – with the help of an electric footplate – and you are greeted with a lush cabin crowned by three digital screens.
Actually, make that four. Head-up Display projects essential data directly on to the windscreen.
It has a Lambo-style flight deck of controls, leather massaging seats with headrest speakers and a 4.5-litre food box in the centre console.
That’s my favourite gadget.
It can be set to -6C for rocket ice lollies or 50C for keeping takeaways hot.
There are some nice design touches in here, too, like the C-shaped ends of the dashboard combining grab handles and air vents and the chain link-style door handles/armrests.
I can’t believe I’ve got this far without mentioning the D-word. Defender.
You won’t be surprised to learn that the base Defender 110 S plug-in hybrid costs more and has a shorter EV range.
Your call. I’d go General Lee with a Dixie horn.
Almost as legendary as the radio calls from Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane: “I’m in hot pursuit.”
