Back in August, Jetour Auto Philippines Inc. (JAPI) received recognition from the Department of Energy (DOE) for a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle called the S08 i-DM. Also sold under the Soueast brand of Chery, the S08 i-DM is a 7-seater crossover SUV that benefits from a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Once revealed, the S08 i-DM will join Jetour’s lineup of PHEVs in the country, which already includes the likes of the T1, T2, X70 Lightning, Dashing, and G700 models.

Fast forward to October, and the brand has released teaser images of the upcoming PHEV. While JAPI has yet to give it an official name, the distinct exterior design cues already give us plenty to expect. 

For starters, it gets the distinct C-shaped LED daytime running lights that are accompanied by a center light bar on the grille. And if you brighten up the front fascia teaser, you can see the horizontal grille slats, which are also found in international examples. Also present are the stylish LED taillights, which give the S08 i-DM a more dynamic appearance. Complementing the overall design are massive multi-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in semi low-profile tires.

Official specifications have yet to be revealed by JAPI. However, based on what other markets get, the S08 i-DM measures 4810mm long, 1930mm wide, and 1705mm tall on a 2820mm wheelbase. As mentioned earlier, it can seat a total of seven people thanks to a third row and has a 70-liter fuel tank.

The S08’s i-DM powertrain consists of a 1.5L turbocharged engine that makes 142 PS with 215 Nm of torque. It is then assisted by an electric motor that produces 150 kW (or 204 PS) with 310 Nm of torque. The motor gets its power from an 18.4 kWh battery pack from CATL, which gives the S08 i-DM an EV range of up to 85 km, based on the WLTC standard. Jetour did not reveal its total system range, but we won’t be surprised if the S08 i-DM can do up to 1,000 km with a fully charged battery and on a full tank of gas.

With Jetour already teasing the S08 i-DM ahead of its Philippine launch, perhaps we can expect the automaker to hold its official launch before the year ends. Does this mean the X70 Lightning will be replaced by the S08 i-DM, or will the two plug-in hybrid crossover SUVs coexist with one another?