Category: Chinese manufacturers

Have you ever heard of the SsangYong Chairman? It is a luxury Korean car based on an outdated Mercedes platform with an outdated six cylinder petrol engine and I saw the car once in my life in Sapporo, Japan. The situation might change with the next-generation as the Korean car maker has released the first teaser.

This time, the new Chairman is Ssangyong’s serious attempt to take on established rivals such as the S-Class or the 7-Series. The car will be based on a unique platform and will feature a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine hooked up to a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Oddly from the pictures, the engine looks like it comes from Stuttgart. The luxury saloon will grow in size and promises a roomier interior. The exterior styling will be derived from the WZ concept car unveiled at this year’s Seoul Motor Show.

Initially only sold in South Korea next year, the Chairman will go worldwide around 2010. The saloon is part of an ambitious plan which will see the launch of 30 new models until 2011 with the help of the parent company SAIC.

The convertible is still in its embryonic stages, but soon the MG TF won’t be alone. Indeed, Byd has finally unveiled the production version of the F8 model, which is mash-up between the Mercedes-Benz CLK and the Renault Megane CC.

Unlike its muses, the F8 sits high in order to be able to run on the Chinese roads. on the inside, the quality appears poor, but Byd’s engineers have worked hard to feature the car with a keyless entry system and electric metal folding roof. The engine is unknown, but according to the manufacturer, the F8 can reach 112mph and run the 0-60mph in less than 14 seconds.

The Byd F8 will compete with the MG TF and the future Chery M14 due to be on sale in 2009, which takes its styling cues form the Peugeot 307 CC.

Roewe, former MG Rover has announced it will launch two new models next year: the long-awaited 550 model and an expected SUV.

Secrecy continues to surround the final spec of the 550 model, although it is understood that the car will be powered by a turbocharged 1.8 litre engine taken from the future Roewe 750D, which will be also launched next year. At 4624 mm long, 1827 mm wide and 1480 mm high, the 550 is slightly shorter than the Roewe 750. It is rumoured that the saloon is based on a brand new platform. In the past, Chinese press reported it to be based either on a shortened platform of the 750 model or on the old Rover 45 platform. The car looks promising with its appealing design and for the first time, a Chinese carmaker might have a real contender for the Western markets.

The new SUV might be a surprise, but actually, this s natural move for the carmaker which also owns SsangYong. In order to reinforce the current line-up, Roewe won’t likely develop a new SUV fro scratch but will re-badge an existing model such as the Rexton or the Kyron.

The Chinese carmaker Byd has unveiled the F1 model. Despite such a name, the new vehicle is not a supercar, but a small hatchback , inspired by the Toyota Aygo sold in Europe.

Actually, the Byd F1 did more than takin cues from the tiny Aygo. It is a carbon copy! Byd even changed its BMWesque logo to adopt a chrome logo similar to Toyota.

While the Aygo has an entry price tag of £6,845, the Byd F1 will start at £1,500 or 23,000rmb.

Source: Autohome

On Tuesday, the Chinese carmaker Geely unveiled its new logo. Say goodbye to the mountain and welcome the new swirling shape that symbolizes the “corporate concept and spirit” of Geely. While the carmakers spend a lot of money to create a new logo, Geely chose a cheaper and original way to create a new one. In last January, it had launched a contest for designers all over the world to design a new logo. Two months later, two logo had been elected. The first one was a patriotic logo while the second one was more symbolic. The latter one won and the lucky winner is Yue Xian De. He will receive a £23,000 cash prize.

Despite being set up less than ten years ago, this is the third time Geely is changing its logo. The first one generated a complaint from Toyota and three years laters, Geely adopted a new logo that took inspiration from BMW.