China's leading SUV manufacturer has launched its latest assault on the Australian market with the stunning new HAVAL H6 medium SUV.

With one of the most powerful engines in its class, European styling, long list of standard features and razor-sharp pricing, the new HAVAL H6 is on track to lead the company's sales charge in Australia with a two-model line-up.

HAVAL Australia Chief Marketing Officer Tim Smith said the H6 was the vehicle that would take the company to a new level in Australia.

"The H6 is perfectly positioned to build on the strong foundations we have created in our first year in the market. We now have a competitor that offers a fantastic proposition for Australian customers in the medium SUV segment – one of the biggest in the country.

"It starts with a powertrain that offers sensational performance to a market that craves performance. With 145kW and 315 Newton-metres, our entry-level H6 offers more than 25 percent power and more than 50 percent torque compared with the biggest selling models in the segment.

"All that power comes with a long list of standard features. The Premium redefines the term 'entry level', coming standard with 17-inch alloys, dual zone climate control, keyless entry and start, front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera and blind spot monitoring.

"Move up to the LUX and you get heated Comfort-Tek seating front and rear, a huge panoramic sunroof, 19-inch alloys and adaptive Xenon headlamps."

Mr Smith said the H6 had already established itself in China, the world's largest automotive market where it continued to set new records.

"The HAVAL H6 range has sold more than a million units and is consistently the biggest selling SUV in China. In the 2016 calendar year to date, it is the fifth biggest selling SUV in the world."

The H6 will launch in Australia with a two-model line-up – the entry-level Premium and range-topping LUX.

It will launch at a special driveaway price of $29,990 for the Premium and $33,990 for the LUX. The driveaway pricing offer will run until December 31, 2016.

Every HAVAL H6 will come standard with a five-year, 100,000km warranty and five years'roadside assistance.

Key features
H6 Premium
2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged engine
Euro V emissions 
6-speed Getrag DCT451 dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters
17-inch alloy wheels
Halogen headlamps
LED daytime running lamps
Front foglamps
Blind Spot Monitoring
Fabric seats
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
ISOFIX
Six airbags, including full-length side curtain airbags
Bosch V9.0 ESP with BA, EBD
Hill-start Assist Control
Hill Descent Control
Front parking sensors
Rear parking sensors
Reverse camera
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
Keyless entry
Keyless start
7-inch colour LCD screen
7-speaker audio system (2 tweeters, 4 bass, 1 centre channel)
Bluetooth hands-free with audio streaming
Privacy glass
Dual zone climate control air-conditioning
Rear-seat A/C outlet
Pollen filter

H6 LUX adds
19-inch alloy wheels
Panoramic sunroof
Comfort-Tek seats with heated front and rear seats
8-way power adjustable driver's seat
4-way power adjustable passenger seat
8-speaker sound system (adds sub-woofer)
Xenon headlamps with automatic levelling
Passenger side curbside camera

Design
HAVAL Design Director Pierre Leclercq said the new H6 represented a new global design direction for the company.

"The development of future HAVAL models is heading toward a much more globally orientated philosophy, and the H6 is leading that direction.

"It's a dynamic design, incorporating a fluid waistline and floating roof tapered to the rear and a fashionable hexagonal grille, which is very important for recognition.

"The design philosophy we are implementing is to keep the design simple, but strong. We don't want to over-complicate the theme or the surfacing, but rather keep it simple."

Leclercq said the design team invested a lot of time on the proportions of the vehicle to achieve the right stance.

"If you look at the proportions of the H6, it has a very good stance on the road, and this is something I am very proud of with this model. The shoulders, the arches, the front, the rear all have the right amount of muscle to suggest the sporting intent of the vehicle."

He said the philosophy behind the H6 interior was very simple. 

"The exterior has to look sporty, but the interior has to fulfil the customer's demands. It's a very comfortable interior with lots of room, and a clean, ergonomic design.

"Similar to the exterior design thinking, we want to develop interiors that are simple, but strong The interior design on H6 is very clear and very easy to read. And I'm very proud of the execution of all the details. I think you can clearly see we have taken another step up in the design quality," he said.

Powertrain
HAVAL's new H6 will be the first SUV launched by the company boasting a fast-shifting dual clutch transmission.

"We're putting the 'Sport' back in Sports Utility Vehicle with the all-new H6," said Smith. "With 145 kilowatts of power and 315 Nm on tap, we wanted to maximise the sporting ability of the H6 with a transmission that perfectly matched it.

The H6 will come standard with a Getrag Powershift 6DCT451 electronically controlled transmission. While it has the same function as an automatic transmission, in operation it more closely resembles a manual transmission but removes the need for a clutch pedal.

The design of the transmission includes three shafts and two clutches (wet double clutch), controlled by sophisticated electronics and hydraulics.  The transmission features a split (divided) input shaft with a clutch for each shaft that works independently of each other. Clutch 1 transmits the power to the input shaft for the odd gears (1, 3, 5, and R) while the second clutch controls power to the input shaft for the even gears (2, 4, and 6).

A sophisticated control unit constantly monitors information from myriad inputs including throttle position, engine and road speed to continuously determine the optimum shift point. 

The gears are pre-selected, that is, one clutch ensures the current gear ends up in the correct position while the other clutch simultaneously prepares the next gear. 

This set-up means that the power transfer from the engine to the transmission is not interrupted when shifting, which takes just hundredths of a second. This also allows shifting to take place while under load so a permanent power transfer can be maintained. Alternatively, a manual mode can be engaged to give the driver full control. 

"The shortened reaction times when shifting (compared to conventional converter multi-step automatic transmissions) allow for more fun while driving and provide a responsive driving experience," said Smith.

"Compared to traditional torque converters, the Getrag DCT in the H6 has the advantage of optimised start-up and shifting procedures. 

"As well, it combines the high efficiency of a manual transmission with sophisticated electronics to achieve a clear reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to traditional automatic transmissions," said Smith.

Blind spot monitoring
H6 equipped with digital radar detection that constantly keeps check of the area around the vehicle and "looks" for vehicles located either side. By monitoring rear areas that may not be visible through side view mirrors, it helps drivers focus on the road, providing peace of mind and increased road safety. 

When a vehicle enters the blind spot of the H6, the side mirror-mounted indicator light flashes as a visible warning. It stays illuminated until the car in the adjacent lane moves in front of you. If the driver engages the turning signal to move across to the occupied lane, a loud warning sounds to alert the driver of the possible danger.

Every HAVAL H6 will come standard with blind spot monitoring as part of its armoury of safety equipment.

Paint colours

The new HAVAL H6 will be available in seven colours, all of which are available at no extra charge to the customer:
Ebony
Bronze
Atlantic Blue
Sleek Silver
Monza
Titanium
Pure White