Cherys latest super cheap (20,000rmb to 30,000rmb) super mini car is expected to be launched at the Beijing Auto Show in April this year. The S18 will be launched as the QQ2, and is expected to draw large crowds thanks to its good looking design, internal simplicity and ultimately, its low cost.
The Chery S18 seems to follow the design of the popular Chery A1, yet it is designated as being in the range of ‘QQ’ cars - could the small A-series of Chery cars become the ‘higher class’ range of small cars, and the QQ range become the economy class?
Great simple design. Love the back end and interior. I see it draws little attention from all the people who cry foul whenever a Chinese car is derivative of a foreigner’s design, thus it must be fairly original
Now let’s hope it’s safe enough for export!
Anyone notice the interior only has a Brake Pedal? No clutch or accelerator, just brake.
For 20,000 RMB you hire someone to push it.
‘….thus it must be fairly original’
Have you actually seen the Suzuki Splash? The cars are identical, though you can be sure that Chery will claim that it’s design is unique and original. The only thing unique in Chery’s lineup is the QQ5!
That’s so not true!
http://www.testdriven.co.uk/news.cfm/suzuki-splash-unveiled
They say there’s nothing original these days and the S18 definitely proves that. Seriously though I do love Chinese designs, you never quite know what to expect.
Keep up the good work China Car Times, loving your work!!
JB,
Thanks for the praise! I personally think the QQ2 should be seen as an ultra basic Chery A1, rather than a clone of the Splash, I think the only two things they have in common is the color.
IMO, it’s similar, but not a clone per se. Sure, the design is somewhat stale and uninspired, but I find it difficult to pinpoint something that is identical other than the color (which is probably a few shades off).
For one, the rear end is completely different, and probably the lack of gas and clutch pedals
I think not, these are especulations…
A clone of the Suzuki Splash & Opel Agila…
Ok, I agree it isnt a complete clone but you have to admit that it’s pretty close and definitely not just the colour (I chose the link to show the cars in the same hue for comparison) Look at the swage line at the bottom of the doors, the general shape of the side wondows and the stangce and proportions - merely putting a different grille and badges does not make a unique design.
Agreed. It is a very similar design, though not really a clone. Still, I feel that Chery did alright, putting their own spin onto it, and have differentiated enough to make it a non-clone, but it would’ve been nice to start stepping away from all this “inspiration”.
.
At least it’s a step up from blatant clones like the BYD F1!
Not everything is a clone you know, at least I can say that Chery did a good job here, aside from the overall body shape, seriously there is no similaries I can see between Chery S18 and the Suzuki Splash, ah ye and the colour too. I agree with Aron, the rear is very different from everything else, overall this car is meant to be comical.
What is the definition of Clone ?
But this thing still rides on Matiz chassis. Yes, styling is “original”(Debatable), but it is still a Matiz in new cloth.
Call it a refreshed Matiz that Daewoo never designed.
Just like the Kia Amanti’s originality is “debatable”? Or how the Hyundai Sonata is ‘inspired’ by the previous generation Accord?
Does anyone know if the S18/QQ2 actually rides on the same chassis as the QQ? I find it hard to believe, if Chrysler now has a hand in Chery.
> Just like the Kia Amanti’s originality is “debatable”?
It is not. It’s a stretched Sonata mechanically.
> Or how the Hyundai Sonata is ‘inspired’ by the previous generation Accord?
“Inspired” styling is OK. Sonata isn’t a mechanical clone of Accord(In fact, they belong to separate EPA class, Sonata being large and previous-gen Accord mid-size).
> Does anyone know if the S18/QQ2 actually rides on the same chassis as the QQ?
Both A1 and QQ2 do.
> I find it hard to believe
Well, do believe. Restyling a car is rather cheap because all it is involved is sheet metal change and parts are carried over. Redoing a car from scratch is expensive and time consuming because you have to redo all the parts as well.
> if Chrysler now has a hand in Chery.
Chrysler is just an OEM redistributor of selected Chery models as they see fit.
Sorry Mr. Bigot, your opinion counts for nothing.
Anyone slightly more reputable able to answer the question?
Oh, just realized, the A1 will be exported by Chrysler, so what will happen if it is indeed the QQ/Matiz chassis? Intriguing.
A1 is a totally different platform than to the QQ.
aron
> Oh, just realized, the A1 will be exported by Chrysler, so what will happen if it is indeed the QQ/Matiz chassis? Intriguing.
This is why Dodge Breeze is only for developing markets, namely South American markets.
The definition of ‘clone’
Take one Toyota Aygo - http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/generic_editorial.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0402831479.1207398585@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchadedkgjdlfgcfngcfkmdfkidffh.0&navRoot=toyota_1024_root&portal=null&nodiv=TRUE&edname=AY1_gal&catname=%2ftoyota_1024_root%2fmain_nav%2fpageTopNav%2fZone+AYGO&menuid=10287&zone=Zone+AYGO&skin=-1undefined&id=AY1_gal
Remove badges, slightly change the design of the front end and call it a BYD F1!!
No design effort required, no long winded prototyping or development needed, simply find a car that you like the look of and call it your own design. The rest of the world has laws against such blatant theft.
The Aygo / F1 is just one of so many examples it’s hard to know where to start!!
JB,
Toyota actually said they dont care about the BYD clones, they say that consumers will easily be able to tell teh difference between the BYD range, and the Toyota range of cars.
oh come on, BYD F1 , even an amateur can see that . what I am talking about here is the Chery S18. BYD F1 obviously needed no design efforts but can we say that for Chery S18 ?
ignore that IHC , one can obviously see his sarcasm in his screen name, to him Hyundai and Kia are the best, they can do no wrong. ye right A1 has the same chassis as QQ, Chrysler is the one to decide, not him.
> ignore that IHC , one can obviously see his sarcasm in his screen name, to him Hyundai and Kia are the best, they can do no wrong.
I never owned or driven a Hyundai/Kia in my life. Genesis Coupe might be the first Hyundai I would consider, though.
> A1 has the same chassis as QQ
Of course.
> Chrysler is the one to decide, not him.
And Chrysler is bringing Dodge Breeze only to developing markets.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/beijing/2008/cheryqq2preview.html
Chery will bring this to Beijing auto show this month
Ok, two VERY significant things I happened to read in this article - first, Chery is working on a even smaller, cheaper car?? Something along the size of the Tata Nano???? Maybe it will be the QQ1?? Anyone have any more info about this?? Second (and this could just be a mistake on the part of Edmunds), the article said that the QQ2 is the SUCCESSOR to the QQ3 - does this mean that the QQ3 might be nearing the end of it’s production life? It COULD be the smart thing for Chery to do……the QQ3 DID cause a lot of negative headlines because of the Matiz/Spark situation. Chery is vying to be a world player in the car industry, and focusing in it’s own, “original” designs would be in Chery’s best interests.
BTW, regarding the Splash…….I DO see similarities but definitely NOT a clone. I prefer to give Chery a big “thumbs up” for making a real effort to develop it’s own designs - they’re not always successful (the V2 minivan comes to mind) but when they get it right (take a look at the A3 5 door - just BEAUTIFUL) they get it RIGHT!!
I saw a Riich mini van in Dalian today, they still look awful exactly one year after I said they looked awful. Usually a cars looks grow on me, but the Riich only manages to repel.
Never quite understood why the Instrument cluster is in the middle of the dash vs in front of the driver in the QQ models? Can anyone shine some light on this for me?
> Never quite understood why the Instrument cluster is in the middle of the dash vs in front of the driver in the QQ models? Can anyone shine some light on this for me?
Daewoo Matiz had it that way. That’s why.
However to keep doing this…is it because its to keep similar traits among a product line or perhaps because its a better position for the components?
I saw something online, where someone said it was ideal to have the cluster in this position, so they don’t have to take their eyes off the road to read it…but somehow this statement seems off? - you’d have to refocus your eyes from far to near?
Remember, all these QQs and A1s still share parts with Matiz.
It costs a lot to create an entirely new parts supply chain for a brand new model, so Chery’s using Matiz parts in new models with different skin.
Where is your proof?
When on sale?