New spy shots of the Buick Encore SUV testing in China. The Encore will be launched at the Chinese car market near the end of this year. It will be positioned high, price will start around 140.000 yuan, Buick will only offer the top-spec versions.

The Buick Encore will be made in China by the Shanghai-GM joint venture. Engines: 1.4 turbo, 1.6 turbo, and probably a 2.0 for buyers who prefer a big engine. This is important in China where buyers still think an expensive car should have a big engine, no matter if it is less advanced than a smaller one. Earlier on we heard about the possibility of a naturally-aspirated 1.6 as an entry level model but that engine seems now uncertain considering the positioning of the Encore. The 1.6 however might be offered later if sales disappoint.

Via: Sohu.com.

New spy shots from the new Range Rover testing in China, it will likely debut late this year and hit the market in early 2013. China is now the third biggest market worldwide for Range Rover so it wants to make sure the new car behaves on Chinese roads. The new Range Rover will also be longer for more space in the back, something that especially Chinese car buyers have been asking for.

Price of the current Range Rover starts at 1.5 million yuan. The new Range will move upmarket so price is expected to start around 1.8 million. Engines for the Chinese market, all patrol: V6 (from Jaguar), V8 and supercharged V8.

The new Range Rover will be imported into China. Jaguar-Land Rover (JLR) is still working to get permission for a joint venture with Chery. Production is at least two years away, when permission is secured the joint venture still needs to build a factory. The cars that will most likely made in China first are the Evoque and Freelander.

Longer tail easy to see here.

Via: Autohome.

The China-made BMW X1 was launched on the Chinese car market in March. Sales however are not very good because buyers find it too expensive. BMW is therefore working on a cheaper entry-level X1 that will be launched later this year. The X1 is made in China by the Brilliance-BMW joint venture.

Price of the current X1 range starts at 282.000 yuan, this cheaper version will start around 260.000 yuan. Cheaper indeed but buyers will loose a lot. As you can see the screen is gone, meaning the airco and radio/cd will be manually controlled. Furthermore, all the LED-light-thingies disappear, there will ne no leather and no wood. Worst thing is the engine and the gearbox: a 2.0 four-cylinder with only 150hp and 250nm, mated to a six-speed manual.

Well, this won’t work. The absence of a screen and automatic gearbox will make this BMW basically unsellable. Even the smallest Geely’s come with huge screens and sorta advanced 6-speed automatics these days! What is BMW thinking here? The X1 range is just too expensive, BMW better be happy with a smaller margin and make it cheaper quickly.

Via: Autohome.

The very first spy shots of yet another SUV from Chery. This is the Chery Cowin SUV, basically the same car as the Chery Riich X3 SUV that is still testing around as well. Both machines are slightly different up front and at the back.

Chery has been working on the Riich X3 for some two years now. It has never been shown on any auto show yet, not even as a concept. Kinda mysterious machine this is… Its objective however we know, succeed the good old Tiggo that has been facelifted so many times I lost count a year ago.

The Tiggo however is still rather successful, that might be the reason Chery is waiting with the X3 and now this Cowin SUV. Engines: 1.6 and 1.8, possibly a 2.0, possibly a supercharged 1.6S.  Price of the Riich X3 will start around 110.000 yuan. Cowin is Chery’s cheapest brand so the Cowin SUV will be cheaper than that.

Via: Sohu.com.

Volkswagen is working on a souped up sporty version of the Sagitar sedan, known in the rest of the world as the Jetta. Chinese media thinks the sporty Sagitair will be called ‘Sagitar GLI’. Power will likely come from the 2.0 TSI unit that also powers the Golf GTI.

The Sagitar GLI, as I call it for now, is a real sleeper. A few skirts and spoilers, GTI-style alloys and that’s it. Should have a big wing on the back, Chinese car buyers want to show off, this Sagitar doesn’t show off enough. More spoilers and chrome is what is needs!

The Sagitar is made in China by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. Price starts at 126.800 yuan and ends at 188.800 yuan. Engines: 1.6, 1.4 TSI and 1.8 TSI.

Via: Sohu.com.

The very first spy shots from the new Beijing Auto C50E testing in China. The C50E debuted as a concept car on the Beijing Auto Show and will see production late next year. Beijing Auto says the C50E is based on their new M-trix platform which in turn is developed from the platform of the old Saab 9-3. The concept car at the show however seemed very much based on an Hyundai Elantra.

C50E concept. Think away the wings and you got a rather good looking medium sized sedan, about the size of that Elantra indeed. Power. Beijing Auto has Saab’s 2.0 and 2.3 turbo. Those however might be a bit too heavy for a car like the C50E. Beijing Auto also has the Mitsubishi-sourced 1.5 that is also used in the E-series, which might fit the C50E a bit better.

Via: Sohu.com.

New spy shots from the Landwind E31 SUV. The E31 (code name) is a new ‘city SUV’ that will likely debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in December. Landwind is a brand-name from Jiangling Motor Corporation. JMC is very good in making cheap SUV’s and pickup trucks for the countryside, the E31 however has to bring the Landwind brand within city walls.

At launch there will be only one engine available; a Mitsubishi-sourced 2.0 ’4G63′ four-cylinder with 160hp. Landwind is working on its own new 1.5 turbo that will joint the line in 2013.

Chinese media reports that this new engine will be mated to a 8-speed automated manual transmission (earlier reports said a 8-speed automatic). That would be very high-tech for Landwind indeed so I doubt this a bit. The 2.0 will get a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Price for the E31 expected to start around 120.000 yuan.

Via: Sohu.com.

Spy shots of the upcoming Roewe 350 Turbo. Power will be 135hp, a decent hike compared with the standard engine’s 109hp. The same 1.5 turbo will also serve in the MG5 hatchback which stands on the same platform as the 350. The MG5 Turbo was spotted testing last month.

Buyers can choose between two gearboxes: a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed DCT. The standard 350 comes with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. Price of the base Roewe 350 1.5 Turbo will start around 95.000 yuan, it will hit the market in Q3.

Via: Sohu.com.

Spy shots from the Chrysler Voyager Generation 5 testing in China, it will hit the Chinese car market in Q3. The old Chrysler Voyager Generation 4 was made in China by the small SouEast-Chrysler joint venture that was set up in 2007 to make the Dodge Caravan and the Chrysler Voyager for the Chinese market. The new Voyager will be imported into China, price yet unknown but it won’t start for much less than 350.000 yuan.

The China-made Generation 4 Grand Voyager. Price started at 249.000 yuan and ended at 349.000 yuan. Lone engine was a 3.0 V6 with 170hp. The engine for the new Voyager which will be the new Pantastar 3.6 V6 with 284hp. Main competition is the Buick GL8 which is locally made in China and therefore cheaper no matter what. Other competitors include the Mercedes-Benz Viano series and the Honda Odyssey.

Via: Autohome.

Spy shots from the facelifted Audi A4L testing on Chinese roads. The Audi A4L is a China-only A4 stretched by 11 centimeters in the middle for more space for passengers in the back. The A4L is made by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture.

The facelift will bring the China-made A4L in line with the European A4 (left), on the right the current Audi A4L. The facelifted a4L will also get a slightly updated 1.8 TFSI with 170hp, up 10 horses. Price of the current A4L starts at 272.800 yuan and ends at 578.100 yuan. Engines: 1.8 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 FSI. All engines will continue, 1.8 updated as mentioned, and price will be about the same.

Via: Autohome.