Haval Dagou H7 prototype nabbed on the street

Chinese automaker Haval has begun testing a new modification of its second-generation Dagou SUV also known as the Dagou H7. Based on the few spy shots available thus far, AutoHome.cn supposes that it is a mild hybrid with no external charging capability. This implies that it could be simpler and cheaper than the Dagou Hi4 PHEV launched in China last spring.

There is no guarantee that the new H7 is a mild hybrid, but zooming in on the tailgate lets you just about discern the badge saying “HEV”. It stands for “Hybrid Electric Vehicle” and is normally mutually exclusive with PHEV, “Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle”. At the same time, there is no visible charging port anywhere on the body. All this makes us believe that the new model uses a smaller battery that it keeps charged through regenerative braking.

Only certain parts of the car are draped over, so the visual modifications will likely be minimal and boil down to a solid slab in place of the radiator grille.

All technical specifications are pending. AutoHome.cn reminds us that Great Wall Group – which the Haval brand is a part of – already has a large number of mild hybrid vehicles on sale. Some Tank SUVs and Great Wall pickup trucks running on these powertrains are mainly offered outside of China. A such, we won’t be surprised if the alleged Dagou H7 HEV also turns out to be an exports-only model.