Not all automakers believe in downsizing. Dongfeng Motor for example, is sizing up. The Fengxing Jingyi S50 sedan will become available with a rather old 147hp 2.0 petrol, sourced from PSA, and used in various Peugeots and Citroens that are manufactured in China at the Dongfeng-PSA joint venture.
The Fengxing Jingyi S50 is a very odd car. It is manufactured by Dongfeng Liuzhou, a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor. Fengxing is the brand name, Jingyi S50 is the car’s name. The Jingyi S50 was launched in September last year. Price starts at 69.800 yuan and ends at 102.800 yuan.
It is based on the Dongfeng Fengshen A60 sedan (Dongfeng-Fengshen is another subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor), which again is based on the old Nissan Sylphy that was made in China by the Dongfeng-Nissan joint venture. Engines: a 118hp 1.5 mated to a 5-speed manual and a 120hp 1.6 mated to a CVT. The 1.5 is an old Mitsubishi design, and the 1.6 is an old Nissan unit. The new 2.0 will be an addition to the line-up, positioned on top.
So here we have it: the Jinyi S50 is an old Nissan platform that will be powered by an old French engine. And Nissan of course is in bed with Renault, the main competitor of PSA in Europe.
Only in China…
It looks pretty good apart from the inevitable small wheels.
I do wonder why Dongfeng is not investing in its own drivetrains and platforms though. Or are they doing so but waiting until they are closer to world class before putting them on sale?