Berichten in September 2010
Zotye 5008 Electric Policecar
Published on September 26, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Zotye brought an electric policecar to an auto-parts show in Beijing. It is called the ’5008 EV’ and based on the 5008, itself based on the Daihatsu Terios. Zotye is no BYD and bought a licence from Daihatsu for use of the platform. The 5008 EV has a range, all numers claimed by Zotye, of 200 km, a top speed of 100 km/h and uses 12kwh per 100 km by an avarage speed of 40km/h.
New MG3 Spied Again, again
Published on September 26, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
MG keeps testing barely camouflaged MG3′s in public, then leaving the cars unattended. Might they do this on purpose? Well, I’ll play along because the set includes one good pic of the interior. Sporty with an very flashy gearknob and handbrake.
The MG3 gets an 1.5 litre engine with 108hp and 135nm. Price will start around 70.000 yuan. The production car will likely debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in December.
Spy Shot: Dongfeng-Fensheng S30 Touring
Published on September 26, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Dongfeng Auto keeps expaning the Fensheing-brand. Today they sell the S30 sedan, the H30 hatchback and soon the H30 Cross wil join the line. In the first half of next year a fourth car will be added; the Fengsheng S30 Touring. It will get the 1.6 and a more powerful 2.0. Price expected to start around 70.000 yuan and end around 100.000. Wagons are slowly becoming more populair in China, in the years behind nobody wanted them because the Chinese believed ‘m for farmers.
Maybach 62S Debuts at the Chengdu Auto Show
Published on September 25, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The new Maybach 62S debuted at the Chengdu Auto Show in Sichuan province. The ‘normal’ Maybach 62 debuted earlier at the Beijing Auto Show. China is clearly an imported market for Maybach and this is confirmed by one number: a German employee from Benz-China told me Maybach sold 14 cars at the Beijing Auto Show, most of ‘m the 62. The even more exclusive ‘S’, for ‘sport’ indeed, is available from now for a 10.7 million yuan, 1.6 million USD.
Volkswagen Applies for Patent on E-Up! in China
Published on September 25, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Volswagen has applied for patant in China on the electric E-Up!. Considering expected price of the E-Up! this likely means Volkswagen will make the minicar in China, either with joint venture partner Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) or First Auto Works (FAW). The sub-Polo-sized car might have a difficult market in China, Chinese don’t like minicars very much, ask Smart, and especially not when they are expensive, as Smart again, as the E-Up! will be due to its advanced electric engine, even when made locally.
Spy Shots: Chery S19
Published on September 25, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Chery is woring on a new small-sized cross-machine codenamed S19. It is based on the Chery Riich X1 and reportedly disigned bij non other than Giugiaro of Italy. Well, design ain’t bad indeed. The S19 is expected to hit the market by 2012.
BYD i6 to be Listed at the End of October
Published on September 21, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The BYD i6 debuted at the Beijing Auto Show and it now almost ready to hit la market. It will do so at the end of October, price will start around 160.000 yuan. Engines: 2.0 and 2.4, 5-speed manual or auto. Size: 4860×1825×1462, wheelbase is 2745.
The i6 is BYD’s first step into a new higher-end market and one with fierce competition from the joint ventures and Chinese brands alike. It got the right loox, right engines and right price. This one might be a winner for BYD and they sure can use one. It is telling that BYD decided against hybrid or EV versions of the i6…
Toyota Aplhard to be Imported into China
Published on September 21, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Toyota will bring the Alphard to China as an import, the big MPV will be available from October. The Alphard comes with two engines: a 2.4 with 170hp and a 3.5 V6 with 280hp. It will be expensive, 2.4 starts around 400.000 yuan and the 3.5 at 600.000.
That is a lot of money for a van, and Chinese buyers don’t particularly like mpv’s but prefer suv’s instead. It so is a bit of a mystery why Toyota thinks it is a good idea to launch this vehicle now. Low sales expected! (Car on pic an Alphard road testing in China).
MG6 ‘Tein’ Sport Edition
Published on September 20, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
MG brought an exciting new car to the Chengdu Auto Show, it is a sportversion of the MG6 with a weird name, it is called the ‘Tein’. Styling remembers of the MG Zero concept that debuted at the Beijing Auto Show. The MG Zero is now slowly transforming into the upcoming MG3.
The MG6 on the pics got a bodykit, rear spoiler, huge breakes, (fake) air in and outtakes, striping and strange words on the sides. For example, the black words between the wheels read: ‘make the difference’, who would want that on ones car?
Spy Shots: FAW-Mazda 8 in the Factory
Published on September 20, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Mazda will bring the 8-mpv to the Chinese market, it will be made in China by Mazda’s joint venture with First Auto Works (FAW). Two brand new cars were seen in FAW’s factory up north in Changchun. The 8 will likely debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in December. Engine: 2.3 with 153hp mated to a 4-speed tiptronic gearbox. Size: 4868x1850x1685, wheelbase is 2950. Competition: Shanghai-GM Buick GL8 and Guangzhou-Honda Odyssey.
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