Great Wall Hover enters Italian streets
Great Wall is the latest Chinese car manufacturer making a foray into the European car market, with 500 units of it to hit the streets of Italy this month. Previously, Jiangling was the first with a car in China - the Jiang Ling Landwind SUV. The Great Wall Hover is a 5-seater SUV based on Isuzu Axiom underpinings powered by a Mitsubishi 4G64 2.4L SOHC engine, making 125hp at 5,250rpm and 190Nm of torque at a low 2,500rpm.
Available in both 4X4 and 4X2 drivetrains, the Great Wall Hover is one of the more better looking Chinese vehicles, though it looks like the front is Vauxhall-inspired. More photos after the jump.
September 8, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
MITSUBISHI engine ka? how this so call “great wall” married to MITSUBISHI?
September 8, 2006 @ 1:27 pm
mycar_stolen…. it’s just the engine, why so surprised???
September 8, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
I think he meant Proton could have done also come up with such vehicles to offer in Malaysian Market but now some one else got there 1st.
September 8, 2006 @ 1:37 pm
I must say it looks quite impressive… the only questions then is how save it is. Crash test results ??
September 8, 2006 @ 1:42 pm
China following the foot steps of proton, cut & paste.yuck!
Seems underpowered …..
September 8, 2006 @ 2:07 pm
looks nice.. interiors? but most important thing is how about quality?
September 8, 2006 @ 2:21 pm
pw said,
September 8, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
I think he meant Proton could have done also come up with such vehicles to offer in Malaysian Market but now some one else got there 1st.
you are definitely correct, how long this chinese make married to mitsu, and can come out with a SUV which never ever in Proton intension.How old/young this Great Wall brand?safety or verything bla2…PROTON ALSO NOT SAFE WHAT?
p/s Proton sucks because they never care about rakyat, only want to make big profit.
September 8, 2006 @ 2:28 pm
Proton sucks because they never care about rakyat, only want to make big profit.
the most truthful thing i’ve heard all day…
September 8, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
pault its copy n paste from othr cars inspired NOT only Vauxhall inspired!
so now italians sudenyl wil ditch their beloved fiats n alfas n buy the great wall?? it probably drives as well as a toyota hilux 1980!
September 8, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
I got a good idea with all the new cars coming out of China.
Let’s play “Spot the DNA”!
I can see:
1. Honda HRV (Rear quarters)
2. Toyota Fortuner (Front)
3. Rexton (Side)
Any other observations???
September 8, 2006 @ 3:15 pm
why they chose Italian market? i am damn sure it is becoz it comes complete with lifetime warranty of reliability issue…haha…
September 8, 2006 @ 4:07 pm
If this drives as good as it looks plus a low sticker price - GW could easily shift the 500 units in a week.
September 8, 2006 @ 4:13 pm
I hate to see all this promo pictures from China cars. They always used photoshop for their background. If its good im fine with it but most of the time it looks like crap. That aside the car seem solid. But dont judge a book by its cover. Might be crap inside.
September 8, 2006 @ 4:49 pm
I think our national pride, Proton should learn from these Chinese car manufacturers. No doubt they are copy and paste cars but they also doing homework.. at least they are not rebadging the cars..
The car exterior looks pretty good, their built quality and reliablitiy is a main concern.
September 8, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
pw said:
I must say it looks quite impressive… the only questions then is how save it is. Crash test results ??
For any vehicle or components said to be sold or exported to Europe, it should firstly meet or pass the TUV standards which includes crash testing.
I agree on the fact that it does look nice and impressive.
September 8, 2006 @ 5:46 pm
Seriously the SUV look not bad. I agree with p_nut on his observation. The rear light cluster looks a bit like the Volvo XC90. Although quality, reliability and safety is a concern to everyone, you must also give credits to the Chinese for trying. Through trial and error they are destined to succeed. But not trying at all you had already failed. Poor Malaysian don’t have a big enough market to try.
Sigh. Our current market situation especially the automotive sector is really depressing. Many companies are dying so a word of caution to everyone, spend & invest wisely.
September 8, 2006 @ 5:56 pm
there’s chinese ppl everywhere, I’m sure those in china town across Italy will snap up the 500 units in no time at all. No a bad effort but they need to come up with better names.
September 8, 2006 @ 6:39 pm
First things first.
I hate promo pictures where the wheels are apparently ’spinning’ while the car is stationary.
Especially when the front wheels are slightly aligned towards one side (steering wheel turned).
Onto the car - It’s a smart move to offer 4×2 drivetrain, knowing most urban use rarely require the capabilities of a 4×4. Save fuel and lower price tag.
Exterior looks not bad. Interior, built quality and crash tests may all be a different story altogether.
I wonder if the fashion and style-conscious Italians find this SUV appealing.
Btw, I read somewhere that SUV stands for Sub-Urban Vehicle. But I think it has always been “Sports Utility Vehicle”, hasn’t it.
September 8, 2006 @ 6:53 pm
Oh craps, I saw toyota on the front, volvo by the side and nissan at the rear. Crappy chinese ugly SUV
September 8, 2006 @ 8:45 pm
Safety wise, any vehicle export to EU market shall meet their safety standard. Remember this is the 4WD vehicle which in the event crash with small passenger car, always have “advantages” in term of high and tough body. This is just my personal opinion!
September 8, 2006 @ 8:53 pm
Lookin at the blackside profile, I’d say the mafia over there will love it!
Agree that the look is pretty impressive. A lot of continental flavour.
Visit thier website http://www.gwm.com.cn/eng/index.asp. Tey segmented it as CUV - cant find what that stands for.
BTW they even offer a 6.7m limo version of it..cool eh.
September 8, 2006 @ 9:15 pm
da back looks like x-trail lar.
September 8, 2006 @ 10:02 pm
it looks nice.
September 8, 2006 @ 10:21 pm
hover is selling well in russia,
greatwall had crash testing hover in china
similar to ncap standard, and this hover is getting 4 star.
other than suv, their pick up is also selling well,
they just introduce a new pick up which also very nice looking car too.
greatwall and zhongxing are 2 major player in suv and pick up.
i think we should do some research first b4 comment it, bcoz they are improve very fast,we cannot base on our old inform, do you know that great wall have come their in house diesel engine?
new pick up
http://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=691
hover crash test picture
http://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=406
September 8, 2006 @ 10:36 pm
what we can find inside hover cuv?
the answer is below:
http://www.gwm.com.cn/hover/360/index.htm
September 8, 2006 @ 10:38 pm
hover crash test:
http://www.gwm.com.cn/hover/index.htm
September 8, 2006 @ 11:18 pm
Interior design looks just quite standard for the cars in its class..its color looks more matched than any other china car than v look b4. just that the dashboard seems very boring, like in the perodua kembara. Overall, it is not as v expected from its impressing body, it’s still typically crap though.
September 9, 2006 @ 12:05 am
4 star for NCAP crash test……..they claim….
China….Cheers,you’re better than Proton even though your automotive is shorter than us…………
At least Made IN China cars have better future than Proton who think they’re the best when they become Jaguh Kampung but beaten by other international car manufacturer….
LAME PROTON!!!!!!!!!!u S**K…..
September 9, 2006 @ 2:54 am
yes. makes me want to wait for a car called ‘mao’ or maybe ‘birdflu’.
September 9, 2006 @ 9:42 am
Went to their website, the “most expensive” version, 4X4 luxury, comes with dual airbags, ABS+EBD, leather seat, sunroof and bra bra bra, selling at RB131,800, that is around RM66,000.
Watch out! China’s automobile industry is coming up very fast! Nothing is wrong with copy and paste, Japanese did that 40 years ago. Distain and neglect them is the worst thing to do.
Just my 2 cents.
September 9, 2006 @ 5:11 pm
What a cool SUV, fully agree with VFP. For slightly more than a third of the cost of a Fortuner I will buy one if it come to M’sia.
September 10, 2006 @ 10:10 am
I have been driving a GW Hover for the pass 10 months. 1st impression is that it is more comfortable (in terms of driving position and handeling) than the older (pre 2000 model year) Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner and the Jeep Cherokee. These are the vehicles that I have driven.
Since the 10 months, I had no problem with the vehicle. It is a tough vehicle - I drove it against tha side of a VW Jetta and broke teh Jetta’s steering mechanism - and the Hover came out with only some minor surface scratches.
The 2.4L Mitshubishi engine serve the vehicle well - give it decent acceleration and enough power for my needs - mainly city driving.
September 11, 2006 @ 7:22 am
i dont like china copycat design…but tis one ok larr. At least its better than LMG. BMW grill+harrier headlamp+crv rear=PUKE
September 11, 2006 @ 7:56 pm
Isn’t this the Isuzu Axiom? i dunno… looks similar
September 13, 2006 @ 3:49 pm
You say china copy cat? what about proton copy cat? more like copy thundercat? the stupid proton logo stolen from the old 90s thundercat cartoon. maybe it was proton wet dream that they are the thundercats?
Proton being the leader thundercat- whenever in toruble he will wield his sword and shield (resembles our NAPs,Excise Duties, APs Etc Etc Etc) to fight his enemies (all other cars in the world) and when he is really deep shit he can use his sword to call out his buddies (Mrs 30%, Close one Eye Ministers and the Government in general) to give him a helping hand.
Maybe thats why proton stole thundercat logo - it really resembles the vision and the struggles of proton.
bah hum bug