And the gadgets: how did the Chinese sports car behave on the race track
After the withdrawal of German companies from Russia and the increase in recycling, the segment of powerful cars on the market has almost dried up. However, the Chinese car industry has something to offer to drive enthusiasts, albeit in an unusual format. To find out what the Avatr 12 "smartphone on wheels" is capable of, the Izvestia correspondent went to the Sochi former Formula 1 track.
The future is in the present
Avatr 12 (read as "one-two") is the second model in the line of the premium brand of the Changan concern in Russia after the one-one crossover. This is a five-meter fastback with an ultra-streamlined body, created by designer Nader Fagihzade, who previously worked for BMW for 17 years, and now draws all the "Avatars". He managed to find a brand style distinguishable from the rest of the "Chinese", recognizable largely due to the E-shaped head diodes.
Avatr 12 was created by ex-BMW artist Nader Fagihzade.
The manufacturer calls the Avatr 12 a "grand coupe" and does not hide that it was inspired by exotic supercars like the Ferrari Monza SP2, Lamborghini MC20 and McLaren Elva. The main exterior features are the absence of a rear window with an almost completely transparent roof, digital cameras instead of rear—view mirrors, and a retractable rear spoiler. The door handles are hidden, and the ban on the production of such machines in China is not yet in effect.
The door handles and spoiler are extendable
The one-two is much more surprising with its interior: a button-less rectangular steering wheel, an infinitely wide screen under the windshield, a combination of pleasant-to-touch materials (nappa, suede, microfiber) with ribbed plastic, both front electric seats with ottomans, and the most unusual wireless charging for a smartphone. Firstly, the podium on the central tunnel is made of natural birch or ash with different textures, depending on the finish chosen by the buyer. Secondly, the charging panel moves: if it "feels" the smartphone on itself, it descends (so the gadget will not fly around the cabin) and cools it from all sides through hidden air ducts.
The Avatr 12 cabin looks more like the cockpit of a spaceship
It is not only the "formula" steering wheel that requires the adaptation of driving habits. The most difficult thing turned out to be adjusting to the optional digital mirrors: during maneuvers, the gaze automatically falls on the outdoor cameras, and not on the screens hidden deep inside from the front racks. The displays display a smooth picture at 60 frames per second, the image is good even at night, the cameras have an auto-cleaning and anti-fog system.
It is quite difficult to understand the entire technological "stuffing" of Avatr 12. The organization of the systems is logical, but the point is different — the situation resembles buying a new smartphone, when everything takes a long time to set up until it truly becomes its own. The 35-inch display has widgets with a speedometer, tire pressure, audio application, compass and much more, their position can be juggled as you like and navigation can be displayed on the dashboard. The latter, by the way, is represented by the Petal Maps application, but it is planned to integrate the Yandex application soon.
There are so many settings in the media system that you can get lost in them for hours. But if you study everything, you will more than find something to impress passengers (and not only with the "greeting" of the departing spoiler). Doors equipped with door closers open automatically at the touch of a button, sensors will prevent them from hitting a car parked nearby or a wall. You can open or close all the doors by "poking" at the screen.
The E-shaped daytime running lights consist of 234 diodes
The power window control buttons are not located on the doors, but under the central screen. In case of an accident, the electric car has physical door opening handles hidden somewhere behind the armrests that recline at the touch of a button. The skills of evacuation from this car in an emergency situation require training.
Electrical power
The Avatr 12 has an all-wheel drive electric powertrain with a total output of 578 hp (650 Nm), which allows you to accelerate from zero to "hundred" in 3.9 seconds. It is stated that the system distributes thrust between the axles in 10 milliseconds, which helps improve vehicle dynamics and handling. The maximum speed is 220 km/h.
The CATL traction battery with a capacity of 94.5 kWh allows you to drive 565 km without stopping according to the NEDC measurement cycle, it is promised stable charging even at -30 °C. There is also a rear-wheel drive 313-horsepower version, which has a range of 45 km more, but the Russian office of the brand is confident that the main demand will be for the flagship modification.
Four-piston ventilated brakes from Brembo
The suspension is independent, multi-link, aluminum with pneumatic elements, and the rear structure is trapezoidal. The system of electronic stiffness control of shock absorbers of the German company ZF is applied. The suspension has four levels of operation, including adaptive, and can independently change position depending on road conditions in the range from 120 to 165 mm. Ventilated Brembo mechanisms with bright red calipers are responsible for braking.
Verstappen, watch out
To test what a sports car gadget is capable of, we went to Sochi's Sirius Autodrom, which has hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix for eight years in a row. It is very expensive to maintain a large track without international races, so its length was reduced from 5.8 to 2.3 km. Currently, there are track days for everyone and races of Russian series, in particular the revived youth Formula 4.
We were lucky with the weather, in the Imereti lowland the air warmed up to 18 °C. I set up a "racing" landing at the wheel (the width of the seat and steering wheel adjustments allows), turn on the sport mode and during the first lap I get used to the car, memorize the braking points and trajectory.
The all-wheel drive version of the Avatr 12 has a twin-engine powerplant with a capacity of 578 hp (650 Nm), acceleration to "hundreds" takes 3.9 seconds.
"60, keep the steering wheel steady, brake," says the instructor sitting on the right, who is worried about the safety of the car. His concern is understandable, as the Sochi circuit is known for its lack of gravel safety zones and its walls, which have embraced even the most experienced riders.
We're picking up the pace, going through a bunch of turns faster and faster. At the beginning of the third lap, we fly into a blind right arc, clamped in a "concrete vice", and ... drive past a sharp second turn on braking. No matter how powerful the brakes and tenacious the tires are (the Avatar comes with Dunlop e.Sport Maxx tires), both overheat quickly. The curb weight of the fastback is 2.3 tons! However, the two motors produce torque so instantaneously that the weight of the car is practically not felt.
The battery is discharged by about 15% in 15 minutes of active driving on the racetrack.%
If it was not easy to adjust to the accelerator pedal in urban mode — the car reacts very sharply to its light pressing, knocking down the smoothness of the ride — then other problems arise on the highway.
"Brake hard, but don't drop the pedal," the instructor points out the mistakes. Computer simulators forgive this style of control, as well as braking at the entrance to a turn. However, the Avatar also makes allowances, screwing into turns where, it would seem, the mechanical clutch is no longer enough to get to the apex.
Is the Avatr 12 suitable as a car for track trips? Yes rather than no. According to our measurements, in 15 minutes in the "combat" mode on the track (that's how long one regular race lasts), the battery consumes about 15% of the energy. For example, to get from Moscow to the race track in Volokolamsk, have fun there and return home, there should be enough charge.
The basic Avatr 12 in the rear—wheel drive version costs from 6.65 million rubles, the most affordable all—wheel drive - from 7.15 million rubles, the top-end - 7.8 million rubles.
On the other hand, it's important to understand that it's more of an everyday car than a sports car. On the track, there is a lack of feedback from the steering wheel, side support from the futuristic chair, and rigidity from the suspension, which has performed admirably on Adler roads. These features were confirmed by our experienced racing instructor. Nevertheless, all the synthetic properties of the sports car did not prevent the Izvestia correspondent, who was accustomed to sim racing, from taking first place in the time attack among fellow journalists.
Exotic is not for everyone
Electric vehicles in Russia are still a curiosity and are in very limited demand. According to Autostat, in 2025, a third fewer electric vehicles were sold in Russia than a year earlier, 12.5 thousand units. Avatr, although it took the fourth place in terms of sales of "green" cars on the Russian market, but the circulation of the electric crossover "one-one" did not exceed a thousand copies.
Izvestia correspondent to take first place in a time trial against fellow journalists
Avatr 12, apparently, will also become a niche product. A powerful "toy" for very wealthy people, who will clearly not have such a car in the garage, will cost at least 6.65 million rubles in the rear-wheel drive version, while the price of all-wheel drive varies from 7.15 million to 7.8 million rubles, depending on the configuration.
Sales of hybrid passenger cars in Russia last year, on the contrary, increased by almost 10%. In China, "one-two", by the way, is also available in a benzoelectric version with an internal combustion engine operating as a generator, but there are no plans to supply such a modification to our country yet. The first Avatr hybrid will appear in Russia in the summer, the debut of the model 07 is scheduled for the summer of 2026.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
