The Geely Monjaro EM-i has received a Guinness World Record for ‘The fastest crossing of the Black and White Desert (Sahara) by a plug-in hybrid-powered production SUV.’ The Monjaro traveled 188.6km in 4hr29min51sec, crossing varied terrain with unpredictable levels of grip, airborne dust, and extreme heat.
Geely says the SUV went through “five challenges designed to push its limits.” These include “extreme handling and stability, consecutive steep-slope climbs, cross-axle recovery, ride comfort over rough terrain, and acceleration at a low state of charge.”
PHOTO BY Geely
The Monjaro debuts the brand’s e-AWD system, which can adjust front-to-rear torque distribution anywhere from 100:0, with all torque biased toward the front wheels, to 50:50, which splits torque evenly. The system works in tandem with Geely’s traction control technology to reduce wheel slippage by up to 50%.
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Propelling the Monjaro is the brand’s EM-i Super Hybrid system. It uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with two electric motors, cranking out 335hp and 667Nm of torque. Meanwhile, to absorb bumps and ruts, the Continuous Damping Control suspension adjusts up to 50 times per second, with a latency of 20 milliseconds.
The new Guinness World Record was set on September 4, 2026, in Egypt, and is attributed to Geely Auto International Corporation. The company has given global markets, including us, a glimpse of how the Monjaro EM-i performs in extreme conditions. We’re looking forward to how the SUV stacks up against its competitors in our market when it arrives on our shores later this month. What do you think of the Monjaro so far? Share your thoughts in the comments.