Chinese Automaker Attempted Land Rover's Viral Stair Climb. The Outcome Wasn't Positive | Carscoops

      A stunt at Heaven’s Gate ended poorly, leading to an apology from the company.

      Chery's Fulwin X3L experienced a significant embarrassment during its attempt at Heaven’s Gate when a safety rope became tangled around a front wheel, resulting in a power loss. The SUV skidded down a railing and ultimately crashed through a fence at the landmark.

      In 2018, the Range Rover Sport successfully ascended the 999 steps to China’s Heaven’s Gate in a spectacular stunt that solidified Land Rover’s reputation for off-road capability and made international news. This achievement was part of a larger Dragon Road challenge and proved to be a major marketing success for Land Rover.

      Chinese automakers took notice and seemed to think, why not mimic not just Land Rover's designs but also its entire marketing strategy? Unfortunately for Chery, their effort took a disastrous turn.

      In the video, you can see that the Defender-like Fulwin X3L managed to climb about three-quarters of the way up the steep staircase when a loud noise is heard. A black part falls off the SUV, which loses control and veers to the right. The vehicle then loses speed, stops, and begins to roll backward.

      It appears to scrape against a railing before crashing into and toppling a fence. The vehicle then jerks around for a moment before the clip concludes.

      Needless to say, this incident was a significant embarrassment for Chery, prompting the company to take to social media to apologize for the failure in marketing. They stated that the “extreme challenge test” was held on November 12 but was “interrupted due to an unexpected incident, which garnered widespread attention.”

      Chery further explained that an initial investigation indicated a safety rope detached and became wrapped around the right wheel of the SUV. This caused a loss of power, ultimately leading to the vehicle colliding with the guardrail and damaging the fence.

      The company acknowledged that the failure highlighted oversights and a lack of adequate risk assessments. They sincerely apologized for the damage and committed to doing their utmost to make repairs and provide compensation. Additionally, they expressed apologies to tourists and the general public.

      An Interesting SUV Nonetheless

      The Fulwin X3L has a starting price of $15,451 (¥109,900) and is equipped with a range-extended powertrain that includes a 1.5-liter engine, a 33.7 kWh battery pack, and options for a rear- or dual-motor all-wheel drive system.

      The all-wheel drive variant delivers a combined output of 422 hp (315 kW / 428 PS) and 372 lb-ft (505 Nm) of torque. It also boasts an electric-only range of 127 miles (205 km) and an overall range of 671 miles (1,080 km).

      While the powertrain is noteworthy, Chery takes particular pride in its off-road capabilities, likely explaining their attempt to mirror Land Rover. The X3L features 8.9 inches (225 mm) of ground clearance along with approach and departure angles of 22° and 30°.

      Other features include a tank turn function, 21-inch wheels, and various off-road driving modes.