Chery Alpha 7 shows Chery is still learning fast!

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Finding it a challenge to penetrate foreign markets because your cars have drab design? Turn drab to fab by hiring an experience professional to do it. That’s a proven concept that Kia executed with Peter Schreyer, and now so many other car makers are following lead.

Here’s one example. Chery is a company that just a few years ago produced the Chery QQ by pretty much ripping off the Chevrolet Matiz. And then their designs started getting better but still pretty much a hit and miss – the affordable and decent looking Chery Eastar MPV is doing well in Malaysia, but the same can’t be said about the Chery A5 or the Chery Tiggo. Then Chery decided to do a Kia and hire Hakan Saracoglu, formerly of Porsche.

Yes, another former Volkswagen group designer. Saracoglu will lead Chery’s 30-strong Shanghai-based design team, and the effects are already showing in this Shanghai 2013 concept car – the Chery Alpha 7 Concept. It’s a mature and proportionate looking design, and there are a mix of cues from Audi, Seat and other Volkswagen Group design language in it.

The production version of the Chery Alpha 7 Concept will be the first car built a new platform called iAUTO. It’s a C-segment car measuring 4,650 mm long, 1,820 mm wide and 1,480 mm tall, with a 2,700 mm wheelbase. It’s going to be packed with all kinds of features, including ‘cloud-connected’ ones such as remote locking/unlocking and start via a smartphone app. This concept actually looks pretty much production ready – only a few designs need to change, like those huge wheels.

What do you think of the Chery Alpha 7 Concept? If it goes on sale in Malaysia with a price lower than it’s Korean and Japanese C-segment rivals, would you consider one?

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Jenton on Apr 21, 2013 at 11:04 pm

    The car is well designed and it is definitely can be a global car. Good move from Cherry.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 50 Thumb down 6
  • Hafiez on Apr 21, 2013 at 11:07 pm

    Damn this car look so nice!!! I wonder what kind of engine it would be fitted.. Hurm..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 9
  • jolly_idiot on Apr 21, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    After so many years of proton. What masterpiece they’ve produced?

    I guess if there’s no cronies. Proton can go far more advance then china car maker.

    Sad. Cronies takes all. Fxxk!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 84 Thumb down 5
    • frenzyaustin on Apr 21, 2013 at 11:21 pm

      Malaysia, those with talent and knowledge export free to Singapore, Australia or UK. Then import work force from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 76 Thumb down 4
    • Joe Radzif on Apr 22, 2013 at 9:29 am

      Masa utk berubah…

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 75 Thumb down 2
      • SpodermanMalay on Aug 06, 2014 at 3:15 pm

        Everitiem i rid pupil seid masa utk berubah bat no oane berubah.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • bimmer on Apr 22, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      It’s a joke if you said this is a materpiece, lol

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 19
  • frenzyaustin on Apr 21, 2013 at 11:15 pm

    Is it me or anyone else, the front resemble a Volvo S60 with Audi’s signature LED. The rear lamp looks like a BMW E90 mixed with Audi A4? Last but not least, the Infiniti logo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 21
    • Nowaday every cars look the same bro….Why dont you say rear light of lexus gs copy the hyundai sonata, all car with big grille copy lancer evo 10, all CARSSSS copy audi for the drl led? LOL…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • smarttess on Apr 22, 2013 at 12:17 am

    Looks nice and contemporary without any of the awkwardness that characterised previous Chinese designs. But of course, looks aren’t everything. My Gen2 was a visually balanced product when released back in 2004. Unfortunately, it had the refinement and build quality of a tractor, and the pulling power of a car of the 80s. So a real judgement will have to wait till a least some of us punters get out hands on it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 2
  • Mamat on Apr 22, 2013 at 8:52 am

    although it is a rojak car.. it’s MORE BETTER than proton car.. haha!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 14
  • smile22 on Apr 22, 2013 at 10:43 am

    More choices for us now :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • kentji on Apr 22, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    imo the latest camry and accord have no match compare to this cherry in terms of design, not to mention proton, especially that fugly preve hatchback

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 8
  • nicovo on Apr 22, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Wow design looks great,sad though Proton didn’t come up with a design like this,could be a best seller.Interior looks well built as well,not like our Preve.Looks like the Chinese are getting ahead of Proton already,in terms of design at least.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 4
  • lippy on Apr 22, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    Baru concept nak kecoh. I’m sure the production unit is different from this. It will be toned down here and there. Don’t put too much hope.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 15
    • malaysian00 on Aug 07, 2014 at 11:01 am

      hek eleh lu mamat.

      Of course la production unit will be different. Already stated above what.

      Thankyou very much la wey captain obvious

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • tokmoh on Apr 23, 2013 at 12:13 am

    Top gear saw it coming few years ago. The chinese cars are well on its way to world domination *cue red alert hell march*

    Jezza also hits the spot about refinement defines a carmaker’s progress. doubt this car is refined, but the next gen or its following, wouldn’t be surprised if it’s on par with the japs

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Norman on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:36 am

    Design is quite nice but I rather they fit it to Mitsubishi pre 2009 engine rather than their own Chery engine.If Campro is average Chery own engine is way downwards

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Archer on Apr 24, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    If malaysia side can offer good service agents Malaysia wide… I’ll defo consider this… I drive a QQ by the way… sucks when I have to practically buy parts in Singapore :\ & the Chery Service Centre know next to zero about this car… my regular mechanic did a heck of a better job than them

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • KENNY TAN on Jun 16, 2013 at 10:21 am

    12-4-2013 , i very happy to buy the new car from your company cherry malaysia penang bayan baru branch . the car is really nice and i like it so much . because is totally like toyota wish . but the price is cheeper half in malaysia . quality also not bad then toyota wish . and the saleman service is very good for it . because all my car is send back to original service center . never give out side service before . because i believe all the service center can save my car like new .
    register number : PLB 2266 the new cherry easter 2.0 red color . RM 80 000.00 malaysia .
    3-5-2013 , i drive over 1000km . send to your service center service . and told the person antony . 1 the front lamp got problem with the led are broke . 2 the air corn have problem . the car engine got sound like f1 sport car .
    another say the engine have sound is the front type support got problem . i must put the car there 3 week or 1 month . they will operation the car after take the part send to kl . still can claim . i ask that is new car i buy from your company . he show me got many car there . told me you see . all the car is waiting the part . that time i have regret but this car . got no chooice i call the antony help me to settle the air corn first . he told me next time service still do for me . maybe i came is too later . they want go back home . that i can understand .
    29-5-2013 the car is totally like a 10 year lori sound . my friend ask is it i buy the new F1 car . i dont know i need to she or your company . morning 10.30am i call the service center ask . operater say will help me check . until afternoon 4.15pm he call back . say in the computer not have any record . call me to send the car go to service center tomorrow .
    30-5-2013 morning 9.15AM i call malaysia penang bayan baru branch MR LIM again . yesterday i call the service center they say not record in computer . and the car is very bad now . need to send to hospital operation . call him find a person to take the car help me send to service center . he told me you must call your bank insurance take the car to service center .
    1 , WHY THE RULE OF CHERRY NEED TO PUT THE CAR THERE . AFTER STILL CAN ORDER THE PART ?
    2 , CAN I ASK IS IT I BUY THIS CHERRY EASTER 2.0 IS A NEW CAR ?
    3 , IF I DRIVE THE CAR HAVE ANY HAPPEN . MY LIFE IS ONLY RM 80 000.00 ?
    4 , IF YOUR SERVICE CENTER REALLY SO BUSY . PLEASE KINDLY HELP ME ASK I RETURN THE CAR HOW MUCH YOU CAN TAKE IT . BECAUSE I MUST SAVE MY LIFE FIRST . SINCE THE SERVICE AND THE NEW CAR HAVE SO MUCH OF THE PROBLEM . AND PLEASE USE YOUR COMPANY GIVE ME A LETTER . WHY I NEED TO RETURN THE CAR .
    MR LIM JUST NOW HAVE PROMISE WILL SEND THE SALEMAN CAME TO TAKE MY CAR . BUT NOW IS 10.45AM NOW . MY OFFICE GO TO YOUR BRANCH IS NOT OVER 3KM .
    THE PHONE OF MR LIM : 012-4296802
    ANTONY : 012-4726645
    PLEASE KINDLY LET ME KNOW . CAN I STILL DRIVE THE CAR ? I GOT 5 WORKER NEED TO SEND OFFICE WORKING EVERY DAY . WE ARE SAVE IN THE CHERRY EASTER 2.0 ? IF GOT ANY HAPPEN , HOW TO WE DO ? OR WE TAKE THE BICYCLE TO WORKING MORE SAVE ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • chinese car hater on Aug 07, 2014 at 10:16 am

    I would rather buy second hand honda than this piece of shit

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • Therealmaserati on Aug 07, 2014 at 10:37 am

    At least the exterior and interior looks fantastic!

    Korean car exterior looks nice but interior worst than Proton !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Eric Lim - Malaysia on Aug 07, 2014 at 10:46 am

    The Boss is screaming “Glory days” on the stereo and this is exactly what it is going to be for Chery of China. Glory days.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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