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Detroit Electric to supply electric car technology to Dongfeng; potential JV in works?

Dongfeng Aeolus Fengshen

Dongfeng has commissioned Detroit Electric to jointly research, develop, market and sell Electric Vehicles in China using Detroit Electric’s electric drive systems.

The Chinese company will provide the cars, and Detroit Electric will provide the propulsion, similiar to the arrangement that DE has with Proton. But the DE-Proton deal involves rebadging the Persona and GEN2 under the Detroit Electric brand, but for Dongfeng, the two companies will study and explore the market entry strategy under the Dongfeng and Detroit Electric brand.

The two companies are also discussing the possibility of forming a joint venture company to manufacture, assemble, produce and supply the electric drive technology in China to the Dongfeng Group and other vehicle manufacturers that want to buy the technology.

Dongfeng does Kia, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Honda in China, but they have been recently focusing on developing their own brand too. They recently launched a sedan based on the old Citroen ZX chassis called the Dongfeng Aeolus Fengshen, shown above.

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Chinese site claims Volvo and Geely purchase deal finalised?

There are no confirmed reports in the Western media yet, but Chinese website auto.sohu.com claims that Ford and Geely have already struck an agreement for the Swedish car company best known for their safety to be sold to the Chinese manufacturer. But it is the only news source that seems to be covering this story, so it either might only be a blown-up rumour or it might be so fresh that only the Chinese side want to talk about it at the moment.

Nevertheless even that news report is skeptical about how such a deal can pull through successfully. Geely’s market value is over 30 billion yuan, which is about 4.3 billion USD, and a Volvo buy would also require several billion USD, claims the site. They are saying Geely might take government loans and other financial assistance. And given Ford’s improving financial health, it will be less desperate to sell Volvo, which might raise the Swedish manufacturer’s price.

Elsewhere in media reports, people are still talking about another Chinese car company recently deciding to join the race to buy Volvo from Ford – Beijing Auto Industry Holdings. Beijing Auto currently has joint ventures in China with Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai. Other names mentioned before in the press said to be interested in Volvo include Renault, Chery, and Changan.

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Chevrolet Lova (Aveo) facelift unveiled in China

Chevrolet has launched the facelifted version of the Chevrolet Aveo Sedan in China. The new notchback sedan Aveo gets the front end and grille from the latest Aveo hatchback. This attempts to bring it closer to a family resemblance to its larger sibling, the C-segment Chevrolet Cruze. The Chevrolet Aveo notchback sedan is also sold in Malaysia in 1.4 litre form for about RM69,888 to RM72,888, last I checked. Look after the jump for a gallery of images, mostly snapped in China, where it is known as the Chevrolet Lova.
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Geely GE shamelessly apes the Phantom

Geely GE

Everytime Chinese automakers begin to show that they’ve moving one step ahead towards being able to produce advanced and most importantly SAFE cars, things like this destroy all that goodwill and return them to rip-off death trap status.

This is the Geely GE, which at first impression is obviously a rip-off of a Rolls-Royce. Geely denies this of course, saying that while it shares some similiarities it is “original” because while it looks similiar, the details are different enough to be called something new. The 5.4 meter long car has a 3.5 litre V6 engine under its hood.

Geely GE

The Geely GE (GE = Geely Excellence) shown here is a concept car but it must be for the truly antisocial high class Chinese customer as when you peek into the rear passenger cabin there is only one seat, somewhat like a little throne in the car. Only 3 seats in such a large thing – one driver and perhaps a bodyguard at the front and the boss at the back. The production version will be sold under a new brand called YingLun, which is meant to sound like England.

Rolls-Royce Asia Pacific is contemplating legal action, but we don’t know of any further action yet as of publishing time. But what they did say is that despite imitation being the best kind of flattery, they definitely are not flattered.

Look after the jump for more angles of the Geely GE.
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Buick Business MPV Concept built for China

Buick Business MPV

The Buick brand is possibly GM’s most successful brand out of the US and it’s quite big in China. The Buick GL8 was the 2nd most highest selling MPV in 2008 in China, selling 36,252 units second to the JAC Refine’s 36,304 units.

Here comes the Buick Business MPV Concept, which was designed and engineered by GM’s Pan Asian Technical Automotive Center. It’s designed to appeal to the upper class Chinese customer and styling-wise it looks like a larger version of the Opel Meriva concept showcased late year – you should be able to immediately recognise it by the shoulderline profile which takes a little dip in the middle before rising back up. Perhaps this is a “Grand Meriva”.

Buick Business MPV

There is no B-pillar and the rear doors slide rearward to offer full easy access to the interior, which features 6 individual seats that look rather comfortable. The middle row can be rotated to face the rear for easy meetings between 4 people, and there is even a table in the middle which you can use to place your notebook or something.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the Buick.
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New 2010 MG6 based on Roewe 550

2010 MG6

The 2010 MG6 was unveiled at the Auto Shanghai 2009 recently and is essentially an MG-badged version of the new Roewe 550. It is a larger car than the Roewe N1 Concept also shown at the Chinese autoshow.

2010 MG6

Under the hood will be a turbocharged 1.8 litre Rover K-Series engine. MG calls it a fastback while the Roewe 550 looks more like a sedan, and its styling definitely looks sportier and edgier compared to the Roewe-based alternative. For one, the fact that there is no weird Toyota Venza-like front is a plus point.

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Updated Volkswagen Passat Lingyu B5

Volkswagen Passat Lingyu

The B5 Passat soldiers on in long wheelbase form in China with this latest version called the Volkswagen Passat Lingyu, while the newer B6 model sold here in Malaysia as the Passat is called the Magotan there.

Volkswagen Passat Lingyu

The B5 Passat gets its wheelbase extended by 91mm to suit Chinese chauffeur-driven application (even the A4 gets extended there) and is powered by a 163 horsepower 1.8 litre turbo, up from 150 horses in the pre-update version. There are also 2.0 litre and 2.8 litre normally aspirated V6 engines.

FYI, if I am not mistaken it is this B5 Passat platform that Proton intended to use as the base for the new Perdana should the Volkswagen-Proton deal had gone through.

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Citroen C-Quatre (C4 notchback sedan) in China

Citroen C-Quatre

The C4 facelift has been extended to the notchback sedan model in China and with the facelift comes a namechange – the C-Triomphe is now known as the Citroen C-Quatre.

Sedan models or at least a notchback is important in China as like Malaysian and unlike Europe, the market there favors cars with boots. The new name is an obvious tribute to the original C4 name, which they probably decided not to use in China because of the meanings associated with the number 4.

Citroen’s stand at Auto Shanghai 2009 encompasses a 1,000 square meter stand which showcases the C4 WRC rally car, the GTbyCITOREN GT5 tie-in concept car, the C3 Picacco, and the C-Elysee powered by CNG. Next up for Citroen in China will be the new DS line.

Look after the jump for more pix of the C-Quatre.
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Roewe N1 Concept showcased at Auto Shanghai

Roewe N1

This is the Roewe N1 Concept, one of the first new designs to come out of the now renamed SAIC-owned Rover company. The Roewe N1 is said to be going into production by as early as early 2010, sitting below the 550 in the product range (called the 350?) and powered by Rover’s K-Series 4-cylinder engines.

Doesn’t look too bad does it?

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Geely buys Drivetrain Systems International

geelymerielogo.jpgGeely has acquired Australian automatic transmission manufacturer Drivetrain Systems International. Drivetrain Systems International is the company that supplies the 6-speed automatic transmission to Korean car company Ssangyong, which is used in the updated Ssangyong Actyon truck sold here in Malaysia. It also supplies transmissions for the Australian-built Ford Falcon and the Ford Territory.

The deal is set to help Geely expand its product line and improve its ability to develop, produce and equip its cars with competitive transmissions. Drivetrain Systems has an annual production capacity of 180,000 transmissions. No financial details related to the deal were revealed.

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