What does Leiling 185t mean?
3 Answers
Leiling 185t refers to the 1.2t turbocharged engine, which is a designation for the powertrain. Taking the 2017 Leiling as an example, it belongs to the compact car category with the following dimensions: length 4630mm, width 1775mm, height 1480mm, wheelbase 2700mm, fuel tank capacity 53l, and curb weight 1300kg. The 2017 Leiling features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. It is equipped with a 1.2l turbocharged engine producing a maximum horsepower of 116ps, maximum power of 85kw, and maximum torque of 185nm, paired with an 8-speed continuously variable transmission.
The code name 'Levin 185T' sounds quite professional, but it's actually simple when broken down. The '185' doesn't represent horsepower as many might think—it stands for 185 Newton-meters of torque, which essentially indicates the engine's power output. The 'T' stands for turbocharging technology, meaning the engine is equipped with a small fan to increase air intake. I've driven this 1.2T engine, and the most noticeable feature is how responsive the throttle feels at low speeds, making starts at traffic lights smooth and quick. Compared to the naturally aspirated Levin, this car definitely feels more powerful when climbing hills or overtaking, all while maintaining decent fuel efficiency—around 6-7 liters per 100 km in city driving. A car with higher torque simply feels more effortless to drive, and that's the whole point.
Last time I accompanied a friend to check out the Leiling, I researched the meaning of 185t. The key is the letter 't' - nowadays, models with a 't' are basically turbocharged vehicles. The number 185 represents the peak torque value, measured in Newton-meters. These small-displacement turbo cars are quite clever to drive - they save fuel when the turbo isn't engaged during normal commuting, but when you need acceleration, the turbo kicks in to deliver 40% more power. Toyota's 1.2T engine is particularly responsive with low-end torque tuning, and you can feel the thrust change around 1500 rpm. My friend later bought this car and said what satisfied him most was climbing hills with AC on in summer. With naturally aspirated cars before, it always felt sluggish in such situations, but now there's no such problem at all.
