Seres has just launched in the Philippines. If you haven’t yet heard of the brand, well, we can’t blame you. While the entry of Chinese car brands in the country has been a dime-a-dozen in the past years, Seres Auto, through its local distributor QSJ Motors Philippines, aims to stand out with its introduction of new energy vehicles that feature high technology and luxury.
As a bit of background, Seres was established in 1986 and has spent time building its reputation focusing mainly in electrification. This includes battery systems, electric drives, and electric control modules.
All its vehicles are based on what it dubs the MF platform. This platform offers diverse power options, which, it claims, is the only platform in the industry that is compatible with pure electric, range-extended, and hybrid power options. To be fair, the fact that it ticks all the boxes when it comes to electrification does show that it is quite a versatile foundation to base cars on.
Key to Seres’ potential for success is its range extender technology. While nothing absolutely novel (we’ve had the Nissan Kicks for years), Seres’ technology is set apart by the amplification of all the factors that make range extenders appealing. The drive of a pure EV, with a motor generator to charge the battery without the need to plug-in, should mean EV performance minus the dreaded range anxiety of other electrified vehicles.
The launch in Okada was graced with three models that were introduced by Kevin Chiang, the managing director of QSJ Motors Philippines: the Seres 5, the Seres 5 Saker Falcon Edition (SF), and the Seres 7.
While details are still stark, all three models had one thing in common—they were shockingly (pun intended) well put together. Interiors were fully decked out in leather, while very tastefully done wood accents helped make the vehicles stand out from a sea of similarly positioned vehicles.
Seres 5 and Seres 5 SF
The Seres 5 is a five-door electrified crossover that has been benchmarked against the Porsche Macan GTS. While the estimated 4.4sec 0-100kph time is impressive on paper, we would still need time to test the 5 so that we can see if it can really stand toe-to-toe against the German marque.
What did stand out more was the design and the quality of the car we got to sit in. While having a Macan-ish silhouette, the 5 still looked good in its own right; it had nice proportions and an attractive face. We particularly liked the way the 5 squatted on the ground, closer to the look of a tall hatchback rather than an SUV. The interior materials felt like they lived up to the claim of this being a premium vehicle, with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a very bright and clear infotainment screen.
Also launched was the Seres 5 Saker Falcon Edition, which came with a panoramic glass roof, some more tech features, and more important, a unique tear streak front lighting element that helped the SF’s fascia stand out from the regular 5.
Seres 7
The Seres 7 is a three-row electrified SUV with a front end that looks reminiscent of a Range Rover. It has a classy demeanor compared to the smaller 5, but similarly has a top-notch interior that showcases what happens when a brand takes tactility seriously.
What stands out in the class, however, is the addition of the captain seats in the second row. This includes a full ottoman and control over the passenger seat to get a full recline going on. This, coupled with the panoramic glass roof and the automatic step board, does further the agenda that this is not your run-of-the-mill EV.
While details were scarce regarding the vehicles themselves, we are more than intrigued to try these out on a future date. If anything, we want to see just what Seres has to offer, knowing that it is trying to position itself as a premium Chinese manufacturer. Time will tell if it can live up to that moniker.
