The first time the Zhonghua Brilliance coupe concept car was unveiled, the motoring world was mildly impressed that a Chinese company could put out such a great looking coupe that packs a punch. Truth be told, Zhonghua/Brilliance is not a normal Chinese motoring company, they have a joint venture with BMW to make BMW 3 and 5 series cars for the Chinese market, in return Zhonghua gets a wad technology and help from BMW. Zhonghua has obviously well applied the technology and help from BMW well in the design stages of the Zhonghua Coupe (M3)
At this weeks Changchun auto car fair, the newly revised M3 coupes interior was shown again and the garish red/black interior has gone, and has been replaced by by sleek black/silver designs. Looks great, and the most expensive will only set you back 160,000rmb once it comes out on the market later this year for a 1.8L Turbo model with either a manual or automatic transmission that produces 170BHP
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Yes, but are the cars any safer now? Those videos of Brilliance crash tests are rather worrying. Not only that, but I’ve seen the aftermath of a Brilliance getting sandwiched between two very, very rusty, rundown, old miandi and it was the Brilliance that was in the worst shape with the most damage. What good is 170 bhp if your car is going to fall to pieces at the slightest hint of an impact?
I saw an accident the other day, it was a VOLVO, and the occupant died. I don’t buy a car to crash, I buy it to drive.
“Zhonghua/Brilliance is not a normal Chinese company.”
Well said CCT. This company, the first Chinese company to list on the New York Stock Exchange in 50 years, has had a very colorful background indeed. Besides its ties with BMW it has been linked with others like Toyota, Jinbei-GM, Mitsubishi, Dongfeng-Peugeot, Porsche, Chery, Renault, Pyeonghwa of Korea, and Zhongxing.
Among Chinese makers, it was first to negotiate with MG Rover, Tata of India and with British taxi-maker Maganese Bronze. But none of these amounted to anything.
So now in 2007 after emerging from the red ink and finally making its first profit in 3 years, we might ask,
Where to from here oh Brilliance?
There are only two Chinese companies with resources to crack the western markets; SAIC and FAW. Chery and Brilliance aren’t the ones.
Perhaps Yang must be exonerated/repatriated in order for the cloud over Brilliance to give way to sunshine. Afterall it’s just water under the bridge now.
btw IHC I see a bright mind and profound
insights, but why insist on such a repugnant name?
None of us love everything about any given state.
But most of us are betting that that is light we are seeing at the end of the tunnel.
Comment by I_Hate_China
2007-07-18 04:31:19
“There are only two Chinese companies with resources to crack the western markets; SAIC and FAW.”
I think there are not only two, but SAIC and FAW are very good about safety, so you and me can said there are only two. I think their crash test results may more than 2.5 stars.
I went to look at the coupe yesterday - I was looking for an SUV, but curiosity got the better of me.
What can I say - what an excellent car for the money!
If I had money for both SUV and Coupe, id buy them both!