Omoda & Jaecoo is taking its hybrid technology testing beyond conventional road evaluations, with an upcoming driving event that combines real-world performance challenges with music, nightlife, and gaming experiences.
Scheduled for October 21 to 22, the Omoda Super Hybrid Marathon is part of the brand’s “Drive To The Next vibe” International User Summit, running from October 19 to 24. The event will bring together international media and key opinion consumers (KOCs) to evaluate the company’s Super Hybrid System (SHS) across different driving conditions.
Three models will participate: the Omoda 4 SHS-H, Omoda 5 NEXT, and Omoda 7 SHS-H. Their performance will be assessed on urban roads, highways, winding mountain roads, and other routes, with attention given to power delivery, driving refinement, energy consumption, and combined driving range.
The tests are intended to demonstrate how the hybrid system performs in everyday situations, from stop-and-go city traffic to sustained highway cruising and changing road conditions.
One of the event’s highlights will be the world premiere of a 5-kWh battery technology featured in the Omoda 7 SHS-H. Although the vehicle is a conventional hybrid that does not require external charging, Omoda & Jaecoo says the larger battery is designed to deliver benefits beyond energy efficiency, including quieter operation, smoother driving, and more responsive performance. The company also plans to demonstrate how the technology can support additional lifestyle-oriented features.
That lifestyle angle is central to the marathon. Alongside the driving tests, participants will experience three themes: AI Music, Night Vibe, and Gaming Vibe.
The AI Music experience will turn the vehicle’s intelligent cockpit into a mobile music space, offering personalized music recommendations and karaoke sessions against a sunset backdrop by the Qiantang River.
After dark, the event will introduce a trunk-side nightclub concept featuring neon lighting, drinks, and a mobile bar. The idea is to show how a parked vehicle can serve as a social space rather than simply a means of transportation.
Gaming will provide another dimension to the experience, with the in-car display paired with a customized game controller to create a mobile gaming station during breaks.
Omoda & Jaecoo positions the event as a demonstration of how its Super Hybrid System, which covers both hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), can combine efficiency and performance with technology-led experiences.
The marathon will put those claims to the test while exploring how hybrid vehicles might fit into changing travel and leisure habits.
Autocar’s Take
Omoda & Jaecoo is taking an interesting approach to showcasing hybrid technology. Instead of focusing solely on fuel efficiency and performance figures, the Super Hybrid Marathon also highlights how vehicles could become part of the owner’s leisure time. The Omoda 7 SHS-H’s 5-kWh battery technology is particularly worth watching, although its real-world benefits will depend on how the system performs beyond the event.
The music and gaming activities add a lifestyle dimension, but the driving tests remain the more important part. Ultimately, real-world efficiency, refinement, and reliability will determine whether these hybrid vehicles can deliver on their promises.
