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  • China’s Lifan hires Ricardo to make 1.2 turbo DI engine

    In Cars, China / By / / 15 comments

    It’s a common perception that Chinese brand cars have unwanted “features” such as poor quality and old technology. But things are fast changing, and this latest piece of news is proof. Chinese carmaker Lifan, probably known outside its country as the maker of the “fake MINI”, has hired UK based engineering firm Ricardo to develop a 1.2-litre turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine.

    Turbo, DI and 1.2 litres are the same ingredients as those in the Volkswagen Polo’s TSI engine, and this downsizing formula has been proven to be good for both pace and efficiency. While VW’s 1.2 TSI makes a healthy 105 PS and 175 Nm, Lifan is looking at 115 horses and 200 Nm of torque from the new Euro 5 engine, which will go into its 520 compact sedan.

    Ricardo is no stranger to collaborating with Chinese companies. Back in 2008, they worked with Chery on hybrid cars for the Beijing Olympics, and in March, signed a deal to provide Great Wall with a modern gasoline engine and a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

     

  • Kung Fu Panda saves the day! Chinese auto distributor Pang Da pumps 45m euros into Saab, buys stake in Spyker

    In Cars, China, International News, Saab, Spyker / By / / 19 comments

    Cash strapped Saab has a new saviour, just a few days after the deal with Chinese automaker Hawtai fell through. The Swedish brand’s owner, Spyker, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pang Da Automobile Trade Co Ltd, China’s largest publicly traded automobile distributor with over 1,100 dealerships nationwide.

    The MoU includes a strategic alliance consisting of a 50/50 distribution joint venture and a manufacturing joint venture (MJV) for Saab vehicles as well as for an MJV-owned brand (a so-called ‘child brand’) in China. Saab will have up to 50% stake in the MJV, with Pang Da and another manufacturing partner owning the remaining shares.


    In return, Saab gets what it needs the most for now – cash. Pang Da will pay 30 million euro for the purchase of Saab vehicles and is expected to make an additional 15 million euro payment for the purchase of more Saab vehicles within 30 days, subject to certain circumstances. The 30 million euro initial payment will give Saab the ability to pay its suppliers and the liquidity required to restart production.

    In addition, the Chinese company will take an equity stake in Saab’s parent Spyker for a total amount of 65 million euro at 4.19 per share. This equates to 24% of Spyker, and Pang Da will have the right to nominate a member of the Supervisory Board of Spyker and/or the board of Saab.

    Isn’t that quite a bit of purchasing power for a car dealer? Well, Pang Da raised nearly 6.5 billion yuan (over 703 million euro) in its initial public offering last month, so it definitely has the means.

     

  • Volkswagen’s Chinese JV brand with FAW to be called Kaili

    In Cars, FAW, International News, Volkswagen / By / / 14 comments

    The name has been chosen, and Kaili is the name of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive’s JV brand for the Chinese market. According to reports, the first Kaili vehicle on the cards is an electric vehicle, this being based on the production plan submitted to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. No details have yet been disclosed about the EV.

    Kaili is the latest sub-brand to emerge for the Chinese market, which has seen a number of new names coming about of late – SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile recently launched its Baojun brand’s first offering, the 630 sedan, while Honda’s JV concern, Guangqi Honda Automobile, has Li Nian, of which the Everus concept compact car – riding on a Fit platform – was shown recently.

    Elsewhere, there’s the Venucia, which belongs to Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle. It’s all in line with Beijing’s call to encourage global automakers to allow their JVs to create new brands.

    Hopefully, along the way, Kaili won’t be looking to name one of its models the Minok. Now that would be a really, really bad one!

     

  • Shanghai VW to roll out new compact premium sedan

    In Cars, China, Volkswagen / By / / 9 comments

    There will be a new premium compact sedan for the Chinese market rolled out by Shanghai VW, a joint venture between SAIC and Volkswagen. The new model will have the “most advanced platform and engine technology,” SAIC said. Apparently, Shanghai VW has long hoped to build a premium model.

    Reports speculate that this will boost the profits of Shanghai VW nearer to the level of VW’s other JV in China, FAW-Volkswagen. Shanghai VW currently builds the Polo, Touran, Santana, Lavida, Passat and Tiguan, but FAW-Volkswagen builds Audi sedans, and premium marques carry a bigger margin. The FAW side also makes the Golf, Jetta, Sagitar, New Bora, Magotan and (Passat) CC models.

    In the first quarter of 2011, Shanghai Volkswagen sold 227,835 vehicles, while FAW Volkswagen shifted 225,256 units including 42,667 Audi models. Big numbers.

     

  • Chinese carmakers joining forces to develop car software

    In Cars, China, International News / By / / 44 comments

    A case of united we stand, with a hint of nationalism as well, by the looks of it. The Nikkei reports that in a bid to reduce its industry’s dependence on foreign manufacturers for key components and software, Chinese automakers are joining forces to develop the necessary digital technology for vehicles.

    The report says that Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), China FAW Group, Changan Automobile Group and Chery Automobile have banded together with a software maker affiliated with the state-run China Electronics Technology Group to form an organisation to build and commercialise automotive technology.

    Elsewhere, Changan, FAW and Chery are also collaborating separately with local firms and universities in Chongqing, Jilin Province and Anhui Province respectively, in a bid to ramp up the development process.

    In terms of engines and transmissions, Chinese carmakers are already shifting towards domestic suppliers to provide the necessary, but for items such as semiconductors and engine control software, they’re still reliant on foreign imports and technology, which is what they’re hoping to address. Along the way, all this also means growth for Chinese companies in the auto parts business.

     

  • LUXGEN neora concept – transforming ‘cold’ into ‘emotion’

    In Cars, Concept Cars, International News, Luxgen / By / / 23 comments


    Click to enlarge

    ROC-based carmaker LUXGEN has lifted the covers off its latest creation, called the neora. The intelligent electric concept, as it has been tagged, showcases design cues that will be seen in the company’s upcoming models in the future.

    “To transform the cold and rigid industrial product into one of the emotional kind” is what the neora is all about design-wise, says the Taiwanese company. Well, nothing like infusing warmth and character into an inanimate object, or attempting to, hey?


    Click to enlarge

    The front-wheel-drive vehicle is powered by a 180 kW electric induction motor, with juice coming from a 48 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which can be charged to 80% within an hour. On a single charge, the battery provides enough zip for up to 400 km of travel distance.

    Performance specs for the 1,600 kg include a 0-100 kph time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 250 kph.


    Click to enlarge

    Features on the neora include a head-up display, a PDLC electric glass sunroof, a LED display infotainment system for the rear passengers and a 9-inch active intelligent information system display on the centre console, which offers navigation and information exchange with other suitably-equipped vehicles.

    Inside, there’s a big nod to environmental sustainability, with the futuristic cabin featuring the use of eco-friendly trim. Everything works around the chosen earth tone shade – with the grey-theme highlighted by blue accents – including the recycled wood found in the mix.

     

  • BAIC rolls out T60 concept from old Saab platform

    In Cars, China, International News, Saab / By / / 15 comments

    Back in December 2009, China’s Beijing Auto (BAIC) purchased intellectual property for Saab’s 9-5 and 9-3 sedans from General Motors, who no longer wanted the Swedish marque. The $200 million purchase will bear its first fruit in the form of an own brand sedan by the end of this year, it was revealed earlier.

    At the Shanghai show, BAIC wheeled out this T60 concept car, which shows extensively reworked bodywork over the ageing Saab platform. The T60, which looks very modern, resembles different models from different angles, so it’s a good car to play “spot the inspiration” with.

    This shortcut to a new car will go on sale early next year in China. Some might dismiss it as new skin over old bones, but the previous gen Saab 9-5 was sold in Europe only until recently and is Euro NCAP proven – so this should be a safer car than many homegrown models.

     

  • Volkswagen considering new entry-level brand for China

    In Cars, China, International News, Volkswagen / By / / 3 comments

    According to a report, Volkswagen is mulling over the addition of a domestic brand in China to work the rapidly-growing entry-level segment.

    Currently, the brand is not competing in the 20% of the market occupied by low-cost products, but VW Group China, together with its partner First Auto Works, is currently evaluating whether it needs to add a domestic brand to do so.

    If it does open a new entry-level brand into the market, VW will join the growing list of manufacturers introducing joint-venture entry-level brands – General Motors, Honda and Nissan already have such representation in the segment. It all falls in line with the Chinese government’s call for international automakers to create such brands so their Chinese partners can gain expertise and technology, the report adds.

    Even if doesn’t introduce that entry-level brand, VW is already set to double its production capacity to around four million units a year by 2018, up from the projected sales of two million units this year.

    The company will be opening two new assembly plants – with an annual capacity of 300,000 each – in the country, and production at its seven existing plants will of course be increased. It will however take about two to three years before the new plants can begin production.

     

  • ARTIGA Concept unveiled in Shanghai – yes, it is what you think it is, a Satria Neo, replete with supercharger!

    In Cars, China, International News, Proton / By / / 146 comments

    Proton’s Motorsport division lads have certainly been busy bees. The Satria Neo R3 Supercharged seen recently hasn’t been the only thing worked on, it seems.

    Say hello to the ARTIGA Concept, which Proton – or rather, Youngman – has unveiled at Auto Shanghai. It’s another Satria Neo-based offering the company says is a study on the future of the hot hatch for Proton, one inspired by its participation in motorsports, but taken to a new level.

    Unlike the supercharged R3 Neo, the debutant in China is less flashy colour-wise, clad in a more stoic grey tone, but in terms of exterior lines is certainly more aggresive, with extensive use of carbon fibre. Among the places the stuff makes its way on to is the bonnet, side skirts, spoiler as well as rather aggressively-shaped front and rear diffusers. The car features a patented stamping process to mass produce the carbon fibre parts, which helps to significantly reduce the cost of the items.

    Plenty in the way of radical bulging bits though – check out what passes off as wheel arches on the car, working their way into the remodelled bumpers! Elsewhere, the concept features centrally-mounted twin tailpipes, swanky new headlamps and Oz Racing wheels, among other things.

    It features the same supercharger treatment – as the Satria Neo R3 Supercharged – to increase power and torque (which should put it at 180 hp and 200 Nm, presumably), as well as the same Ohlins and AP brake package as seen in the limited-edition Satria Neo Lotus Racing.

    The ARTIGA is on display at Proton’s Chinese partner Youngman’s booth, and is there to gauge the public’s feedback and interest. A bit of trivia: The car is sporting a Youngman logo, as Proton currently has no direct presence in China at the moment. Clever name too, ARTIGA is, yes?

    Live show photo gallery after the jump. Update: Interior shots added
    Read more ›

     

  • Youngman Europestar L5 based on long wheelbase GEN2 platform launched at Shanghai 2011

    In Cars, China, International News, Proton, Youngman / By / / 86 comments

    Proton’s Chinese partner Youngman Europestar showcased the Youngman L5 you see above at the 2011 Shanghai Motorshow happening right now.

    The Youngman L5 is based on a Proton GEN2 platform with a lengthened wheelbase of 2,670mm which is 70mm longer than the original GEN2 wheelbase. It seems China really does need an extended wheelbase version of everything, including a GEN2!

    It was developed in collaboration with Lotus Engineering, with internal and external styling jointly done by Youngman and Lotus for the Chinese market. In the engine bay you’ll find the 1.6 litre Campro CPS engine making 125 horses and 149 Nm of torque.

    The red car you see in the gallery is a hatchback, while the white car is a sedan. The Youngman L5 sedan goes for approximately RMB98,000 (about RM45k) while the L5 hatchback is slightly more expensive at RMB108k (RM50k). The price list goes all the way up to RMB122k for the top spec version.
    Read more ›

     
 
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