Patent pictures of the upcoming Foton U201 SUV finally reveal how the vehicle will look like when it hits the Chinese car market later this year. An impressive front, high roof line, big wheel arches, and even some hipness around the rear window. The U201 is based on the Foton Tunland pickup truck but will be positioned higher upmarket, priced from 130.000 to 170.000 yuan.
The Foton Tunland. Price ranges from 137.000 yuan to 148.800 yuan. Power comes from a Cummins 2.8 liter turbo diesel with 130hp and 360nm, mated to a 5-speed manual. The U201 will ditch the diesel in favor of a 2.0 turbo petrol four-cylinder. Diesels are forbidden in most Chinese cities and the city is exactly where Foton hopes to sell most U201 SUV′s.
Grille in Foton style. Foton is a subsidiary of Beijing Auto Industru Corporation (BAIC), making mostly commercial vehicles. Foton wants to go into passenger car business where profits are fatter. The U201 is one of the cars that has to make the breakthrough. The U201 is comparable in style and size with the Jiangling Yusheng SUV.
Via: Sohu.
“Foton wants to go into passenger car business,..”
But that’s part of BAIC’s problem, it’s going in so many directions instead of trying to rationalize its current mess. Foton should remain focused on the commercial vehicles, leaving the SUVs to old BAW, and the passenger cars and minivans to the new BAIC Motor.
@dragin
true，baic cant decide on a strategy，so each subsidiary is doing just what it feels like