After covering a distance of 1,400 km in Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX, Kazakhstan’s well-known automobile bloggers and influencers could see a rocket launch

Almost everyone has watched rocket launches on TV or YouTube, but seeing it with one’s own eyes while right on the launch pad was not possible until 2018 when Baikonur was opened for tourists. However, there are still not so many of those who have seen a launch in reality.

Before getting to Baikonur and to the launch pad, a team of well-known automobile bloggers and influencers of Kazakhstan travelled 1,400 km from Shymkent (via Kyzylorda) testing the new Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX available for sale from September 2022. The official distributor of Chery in Kazakhstan is First Motor Group (belonging to Astana Motors).

The main feature of Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX noted by the test drivers is its output — 197 horse powers enable a rather big car to quickly accelerate, which is of high importance for long‑distance highway travels.

«The car’s technical specifications provide confidence on the road — an output of almost 200 horse powers, seven-speed transmission, sport mode,” comments automobile expert Diyas Valikhan.

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is the brand’s first four-wheel drive vehicle in the country. It is also the fastest SUV in its class — 8.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h with a maximum speed of 195 km/h.

«I think the main feature of Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX is its interior. The seats felt very comfortable, we travelled from Shymkent to Baikonur, and I was not tired. The sound insulation is up to the mark. A comfortable car that meets all the demands. It also has both a 360 camera and adaptive cruise control,” noted automobile blogger Ruslan Mukanov.

The girls who participated in the trip — designer Aida Kaumenova and figure skater Xeniya Pankratova — also liked Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX.

First of all, they liked a vast interior space and a large luggage compartment ready to accommodate anything — from a new brand collection to a sports bag and gear. This premium seven-seater is very spacious. The second and third row seats can be folded down to increase the storage capacity to 2,101 liters.

«The interior of this SUV is similar to that of luxury cars,” said Aida Kaumenova.

Actually, experts note that the exterior, smart technologies, premium interior from Jaguar designers and five-star safety rating make this model a serious competitor for more expensive cars. However, the price of Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX starts from 18.9 million tenge.

After arriving at Baikonur, the team took some rest and set out for the Vostok launch pad, where the Progress MS-21 cargo spacecraft was launched as part of the 82nd International Space Station resupply mission.

After the launch, the travelers shared their impressions.

«It was a superb trip. I saw the cargo rocket take off with my own eyes. Seeing several tons rising into the air blows your imagination,” shared actor Nurlan Batyrov. «Travel throughout Kazakhstan with Chery and visit the most interesting places of our immense motherland.”

«It was very fast but incredibly cool. To see a multi-ton machine, so huge and powerful, taking off literally in a split second and disappearing into space!” recalls Yerden Telemissov. «We were jumping happily like children. Thanks a lot to Chery Kazakhstan for the trip. The main thing they’ve done is uniting people and providing them with an opportunity to travel over our native land, our Kazakhstan, in high-quality cars.”

Aigul Temeshova, Marketing Director at First Motor Group, explained why the company decided to invite automobile bloggers and influencers to test drive the new SUV and visit the cosmodrome.

«Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max was initially presented to guests by «pilots”. We have chosen this theme for a reason — the car is compared with a spacecraft as there is a turbine in the SUV heart created by Honeywell, a company developing aircraft engines. Besides, the first association that comes to mind when you get behind the wheel is «a cockpit”. You know, all those screens and systems, voice assistance, autopilot for parking. The level of comfort can be compared to that in the business class of a modern aircraft, for both the driver and his passengers. To continue with the theme, we decided to invite the team to visit the cosmodrome, have a non-standard test drive and understand how the car performs on a highway,” said Aigul Temeshova.

During the trip, the participants could enjoy the beauties of Kazakhstan, see the spacecraft launch and test the Chery car. You can also experience a new car and book a test drive at any dealership in your city: Astana, Almaty (including new Mycar Almaty at Kuljinsky Highway), Shymkent, Kostanai, Uralsk, Aktobe, Atyrau, Karaganda, Pavlodar, or have a test drive arranged at your place by online dealer chery.mycar.kz.

Eight more dealerships will open by the end of the year: another one in Astana, as well as new dealerships in Aktau, Zhezkazgan, Kokshetau, Kyzylorda, Taraz, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Petropavlovsk.