At Auto China 2024, Geely’s pick-up truck brand Radar revealed its newest model, the Horizon. This is an upgraded dual-motor all-wheel-drive version of the RD6, launched back in November 2022.
The big news is the addition of a front motor to complement the 272 PS/385 Nm rear motor, resulting in a total system output of 428 PS (315 kW) and 590 Nm of torque. That’s enough to shave one and a half seconds off the zero-to-100 km/h acceleration time, which it completes in just 4.5 seconds – on its way to a top speed of 190 km/h.
On the Horizon, you get the choice of either a 73 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery or an 86 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) unit, delivering a range of 460 and 520 km respectively on China’s lenient CLTC cycle.
Radar is touting the Horizon’s renewed go-anywhere ability – the truck is able to switch from rear- to all-wheel drive in as little as 600 ms, and it also comes with seven drive modes, including the new snow, mud, cross-country and water wading settings. Speaking of which, the Horizon has an impressive maximum water wading depth of 815 mm.
Elsewhere, the payload – the RD6’s Achilles heel – has been upgraded and is now rated at over 800 kg across all variants. In fact, Radar has beefed up the payload rating for the rear-wheel-drive RD6 as well – it used to be around 400 kg, but now even the base model can carry up to 790 kg. Towing capacity for the Horizon, meanwhile, is rated at 3,000 kg.
As per the RD6, the Horizon (despite looking like half a Proton X90) is based on Geely’s electric Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). Measuring 5.26 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and 1.88 metres tall, the double-cab truck is slightly shorter than the 5.33-metre-long Toyota Hilux. Surprisingly, however, its bed is exactly the same length and almost as wide, at 1,545 by 1,450 mm.
Radar claims the Horizon can fit up to 1,200 litres of cargo at the back, and there’s also a 70 litre front boot. One unique advantage is up to 22 kW of vehicle-to-load (V2L) output, including 15 kW through the charging port, 6 kW through a 230-volt outlet in the bed and another 2.2 kW through two more 230-volt sockets in the front boot and cabin.
On the outside, the Horizon looks almost identical to the RD6 – yes, that includes the X90-style front end – with the only changes being the massive illuminated Radar badge on the grille and a black roof option. But that all changes on the inside.
Here, the X90/Geely Okavango-derived interior has been swapped out for a brand-new dashboard and door cards, the former incorporating a full-width air-con vent design, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a massive 14.6-inch freestanding infotainment touchscreen. You also now get a “floating” centre console with a Qi wireless charger.
Other features are an eight-speaker surround sound system, Alipay payment integration and Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features. The latter includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane centring assist, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring with collision prevention, rear collision warning and rear cross traffic alert with auto brake.
While Radar is currently a China-only brand, it’s preparing to enter overseas markets soon, using the Riddara brand name due to trademark issues. The company has even gone through the trouble of engineering the RD6 for right-hand drive (likely using X90 interior parts), clearly with an eye to exporting it to big pick-up truck markets such as Australia, Thailand and the rest of ASEAN.
This raises the possibility of the RD6 coming to Malaysia, possibly with Proton branding. What do you think – should the national carmaker bring this in as the spiritual successor to the Arena? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
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Promise to let Proton exinct peacefully and let us enjoy the real deal ?
Looks a hell lot more useful as a pickup than Cybertruck
Not sure what’s going on up in the chains in P1, I’m pretty shocked how relaxed they are when new & affordable models especially from Mainland gonna give them a tough time ahead. B & C seg suv competition is on the rise yet no new about facelift nor new models at all.
Why should we be worried? Just look at how Chery is nicely sabotaging themselves in mesia. More of such incidents to come. Soon all these brands will collapse like their real estate companies
Please stop associating upcoming Gely model with legacy PROTON models, that was PROTON in their Golden Era, they are full of fighting spirit, the talents there have so much to prove, they’re global standards.
These people on the net love to criticised PROTON like they owe their grandmother’s money. I’ve the opportunity to work with the R&D team, they are the most passionate car people. alas not everything go as planned due to market sentiment and whole lot of other misfortune. But that PROTON pedigree in ride and handling and body structure design / manufacture,(chassis strength with Ultra High tensile steel) can put most China model to shame my friend.
All the while I thought Proton is run by a bunch of lazy fellows that just like to copy.
Now you are telling me they are a group of passionate hardworking car people.
Oh dear, if this is true and is already Proton at its best, we really have no hope.
You get the feeling that Proton aficionados are in the minority. Many who comment here can’t even afford to buy a new Saga or Persona much less an X50! And probably still driving a Vios Dugong or crappy 20 year old Civic!
It happens all the time.
Pick-up truck needs to withstand rough usage. Does Proton/Geely cars have good record in withstanding rough usage?
Padahal broken door handles also blame customers don’t know how to open door.
This will be hot seller!. But pick up truck like this doing 4.5sec for a century sprint, scares me. I doubt a 4WD vehicle of this size should hv such acceleration. Dangerous!!!
I hope car makers will have sense to limit such acceleration to sports car and not normal sedan and pick up truck. Dynamically it will be a challenge to control.
Proton shld hv a pick up. EV or no EV, double or single cabin where the road tax would not cause any pain in the arse.