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Hybrid SUV takes on Egypt’s Black and White Deserts in record attempt
A production plug-in hybrid SUV has completed a 188.6km crossing of Egypt’s Black and White deserts, facing loose sand, rocky terrain and temperatures reaching up to 70°C during a Guinness World Records attempt. The Geely Monjaro EM-i Ultra completed the route from the Black Desert to the White Desert in 4hr 29min 51sec, according to information provided by the company.
The attempt, conducted under the supervision of Guinness World Records, sought recognition for the fastest crossing of the Black and White Desert by a production plug-in hybrid SUV. The official result was due to be announced at an event in Cairo on September 15. The vehicle used for the crossing remained in its production specification, without off-road modifications or upgrades, according to Geely.
The route presented a combination of nine different road surfaces, including loose sand, gravel, rocky sections, hard crust and rock slabs, as well as cross-axle trenches. The vehicle also encountered blowing sand, crosswinds, intense sunlight and significant changes in temperature and visibility. Rather than being limited to the record attempt, the desert drive formed part of a wider testing programme carried out by Geely's international team in collaboration with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC).
Five additional tests examined the vehicle's handling, traction, power delivery and electrified powertrain under desert conditions. One of the tests involved climbing a soft-sand slope measuring 15.3m in height and 79.6m in length. The vehicle reached a maximum instantaneous angle of 28°, equivalent to a 53% gradient, and completed the climb in a single attempt, according to the test results provided by Geely. Another test placed the SUV on uneven terrain where individual wheels could lose contact with the ground.
The test examined how its all-wheel-drive system distributed torque and controlled wheel slip. Heat was another factor. During testing in the Black Desert, surface temperatures reached 50–60°C, while tests in the White Desert recorded surface temperatures of up to 60–70°C.
The vehicle was driven over the rocky Black Desert terrain at 30, 50 and 70kph to assess suspension response and stability. The reported vibration measurements increased with speed but remained within the lower end of the reference range cited by the company.
Acceleration was also tested at two battery charge levels. At 80% state of charge, the vehicle recorded 0–100kph in 8.42 seconds, compared with 10.12 seconds at 30% state of charge. The Monjaro EM-i Ultra used for the tests has a 1.5TD engine and electric motor, with a stated combined output of 250kW and 667Nm of torque. It has a 29.8kWh LFP battery and all-wheel drive.
The desert crossing was particularly significant because the vehicle was tested over a prolonged period on natural terrain rather than a prepared off-road course. According to Geely, the vehicle's GEA Evo architecture and EM-i hybrid system were used throughout the tests, with the company examining how the systems responded to changing terrain, traction and battery charge levels.
The challenge comes as the Monjaro EM-i is introduced in Egypt, with Geely describing the model as part of its wider expansion of plug-in hybrid vehicles into global markets. The Guinness attempt ultimately placed the focus on a practical question: how a production hybrid SUV performs when it is taken far beyond conventional road conditions and subjected to prolonged heat, loose surfaces and unpredictable terrain.