The new JAECOO 8 SHS-P has completed a journey of more than 700 miles from Paris to Bilbao on a single tank of fuel and one full battery charge, demonstrating the long distance capability of the brand’s flagship hybrid SUV.
The challenge took place during last month’s European Professional Club Rugby Finals and formed part of OMODA&JAECOO’s partnership as Official Automotive Partner of the tournament.
Two JAECOO 8 SHS-P vehicles travelled from the French capital through France and into northern Spain before arriving in Bilbao in time for one of the biggest weekends in European rugby.
The route passed through Chartres, Le Mans, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Saint Émilion, Biarritz and San Sebastián before reaching its destination.
Designed to showcase the capabilities of JAECOO’s Super Hybrid System technology, the journey highlighted the vehicle’s ability to combine electric driving with long range touring.
According to the manufacturer, the JAECOO 8 SHS-P offers up to 83 miles of electric only driving and a combined driving range of more than 700 miles under WLTP testing standards.
The model combines a 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine with a dedicated hybrid transmission and a 34.46 kWh battery.
Together, the system produces 428 PS and 580 Nm of torque, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 5.8 seconds.
Joining the Road to Bilbao campaign were popular rugby podcast hosts Ben Youngs and Dan Cole, who travelled in a specially liveried JAECOO 7 SHS-P.
Supporters were able to follow the journey through social media updates, behind the scenes content and a dedicated podcast episode recorded during the trip.
The vehicles were also displayed in Bilbao during the finals weekend, where visitors to the Champions Rugby Village had the opportunity to see the cars and take part in interactive activities organised by JAECOO.
Gary Lan, Chief Executive of OMODA&JAECOO UK, said:
“Rugby is built on passion, endurance and bringing people together, which made this journey especially meaningful for us.
“Those same qualities are reflected in the JAECOO 8 SHS-P through its long-range capability, intelligent Super Hybrid System technology and confident performance.
“The Road to Bilbao event gave us the opportunity to share that experience with supporters and celebrate one of the biggest weekends in European rugby alongside fans.”
The journey coincided with the Investec Champions Cup Final, where Union Bordeaux Bègles defeated Leinster Rugby at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium.
The JAECOO 8 SHS-P recently launched in the UK and is available through the company’s nationwide dealer network.
For motorists interested in combining electric driving with long distance practicality, the Paris to Bilbao challenge offered a real world demonstration of what the latest generation of hybrid technology can achieve.
