Chinese automaker BAIC has introduced the Stone 01, a plug-in hybrid four-wheel drive SUV that bears a striking resemblance to the new Land Rover Defender. From its overall shape to intricate details such as the wheels, side vents, and even the position of the fuel filler cap, the Stone 01 exudes a similar appearance to its Land Rover counterpart.
The resemblance is so uncanny that even Google’s internet image search classifies the Stone 01 as a Land Rover Defender. Additionally, the Stone 01’s tailgate opens through a vertically mounted handle located beside the spare tire carrier, a distinctive feature shared with the Land Rover.
According to Car News China, the Stone 01 shares similar dimensions with the modern Defender 110. Measuring 5,050 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width, and 1,869 mm in height, the Stone 01 closely matches the Land Rover Defender P400e, which measures 5,035 mm in length, 1,996 mm in width, and 1,970 mm in height.
The Stone 01 boasts a wheelbase of approximately 3,022 mm, which is 12 mm longer than the Defender 110. However, it does weigh slightly more than the equivalent Land Rover plug-in hybrid. Powering the Stone 01 is a 1.5-liter turbocharged 112 kW four-cylinder petrol engine, generating 150 kW and 200 kW with the assistance of a CATL battery pack.
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Consequently, the SUV has a reported weight of 3,189 kg, approximately 650 kg heavier than the Land Rover Defender P400e, which also operates on a petrol engine with plug-in hybrid technology. Car News China reveals that the Stone 01 is equipped with three lidar sensors that provide essential information to the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance systems.
Although the specific semi-autonomous driving technology featured in the model remains undisclosed, it is expected to offer impressive capabilities. The Stone 01 is projected to be priced between 300,000 and 500,000 Chinese Yuan (Rp. 628 million to Rp. 1 billion).
However, the Stone 01 is not the sole Land Rover Defender imitator set to make its debut this week. Chinese automotive giant Great Wall Motors (GWM) has previously unveiled the Haval Xianglong, which shares some design elements with the Defender. Notably, the Xianglong bears similarities to the Tank 300, a model already available in the Australian market. Like the Tank 300, the GWM Haval Xianglong will be offered with plug-in hybrid power in China.