Everyone expected another heavyweight off-roader in the spirit of the 917 and M817 — instead, Dongfeng showed up with something completely different. At the 29th Chengdu International Motor Show, the brand unveiled the Mengshi X700, the first model in its new X-series, and this one deliberately ditched the ladder frame. The unibody construction isn't an accident: the automaker is openly shifting focus away from hardcore off-roading and toward city driving, family trips and light weekend adventures.
That said, there's nothing small about the X700. It measures 5,035 mm long and 1,999 mm wide, rides on a substantial 2,920 mm wheelbase, and seats five. Approach and departure angles are rated at up to 30 and 31 degrees — solid numbers for a machine aiming at the family segment. The options list includes 18- or 20-inch wheels, a roof rack, an external storage box or spare tire, and a tow hitch rated for trailers up to 2.5 tonnes.
But the real story isn't the body — it's what's underneath. The X700 will be offered as a plug-in hybrid and as a version with a gasoline range extender. The PHEV gets batteries of 51.46 and 68.1 kWh, good for up to 228 and 285 km of electric range respectively; the later-registered EREV variant carries the 51.46 kWh pack and up to 244 km on the CLTC cycle. The platform runs on 800 volts — no longer a novelty, but table stakes for a vehicle positioned like this one.
And then there's Huawei. The automaker confirms a 896-line lidar unit and integration of Huawei Qiankun technology — the sensor is clearly visible on the car photographed in Chengdu. It's safer not to name the exact ADS suite version until an official announcement drops.
What emerged is an unexpected turn for Mengshi: the X700 stays boxy and visually rugged, but philosophically it now leans closer to a big family SUV than to its ladder-frame siblings. That's exactly why the unibody matters more than another decorative “off-road” cue — it's not a styling choice, it's a statement about what the X700 wants to be.
