Comments on: Chery S18: Official pics?

By: James Anderson Merritt

James Anderson Merritt — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:18:14 +0000

My currency converter says that 30,000 rmb is not quite USD$4400. Even if an import version sold for $10,000 here in the States — an excellent price for a car that has 80-90 mile autonomy and top speed better than 70mph — that would leave a lot of room for “shipping and handling” and nice profit margins for the manufacturer and dealer.

I’m going to assume that they get the cost down by not including a lot of the “safety features” that are required on US domestic autos.

Looking forward to their arrival on our shores.

By: big

big — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:26:56 +0000

When on sale?

By: Ash

Ash — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:45:35 +0000

Where is your proof?

By: I_Hate_China

I_Hate_China — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:10:00 +0000

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.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:53:04 +0000

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?

By: I_Hate_China

I_Hate_China — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:06:16 +0000

> 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.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:49:12 +0000

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?

By: I_喜爱_China

I_喜爱_China — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:50:12 +0000

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.

By: I_ADORE_China

I_ADORE_China — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:47:10 +0000

> 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.

By: Ash

Ash — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:45:48 +0000

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.

By: joninchina

joninchina — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:28:46 +0000

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!!

By: mememe

mememe — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:11:04 +0000

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/beijing/2008/cheryqq2preview.html

Chery will bring this to Beijing auto show this month

By: mememe

mememe — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:51:47 +0000

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.

By: Ash

Ash — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:55:55 +0000

A1 is a totally different platform than to the QQ.

By: aron

aron — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:32:55 +0000

Oh, just realized, the A1 will be exported by Chrysler, so what will happen if it is indeed the QQ/Matiz chassis? Intriguing.

By: aron

aron — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:29:49 +0000

Sorry Mr. Bigot, your opinion counts for nothing.

Anyone slightly more reputable able to answer the question?

By: mememe

mememe — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:15:11 +0000

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 ?

By: Ash

Ash — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:10:58 +0000

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.

By: I_HEART_China

I_HEART_China — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:05:03 +0000

> 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.

By: JB, London

JB, London — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:31:34 +0000

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!!

By: aron

aron — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:22:22 +0000

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.

By: I_Adore_China

I_Adore_China — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:42:36 +0000

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.

By: mememe

mememe — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:28:52 +0000

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 ?

By: aron

aron — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:51:41 +0000

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!

By: edwardqiu

edwardqiu — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:21:58 +0000

That’s so not true!

By: JB, London

JB, London — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:10:33 +0000

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.

By: aron

aron — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:28:14 +0000

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

By: Castro

Castro — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:55:36 +0000

I think not, these are especulations…

A clone of the Suzuki Splash & Opel Agila…

By: Ash

Ash — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:42:57 +0000

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.

By: JB, London

JB, London — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:10:49 +0000

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!!

By: JB, London

JB, London — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:04:48 +0000

‘….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!

By: Nick in Shanghai

Nick in Shanghai — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:07:16 +0000

For 20,000 RMB you hire someone to push it.

By: 2o6

2o6 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:08:55 +0000

Anyone notice the interior only has a Brake Pedal? No clutch or accelerator, just brake.

By: aron

aron — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:59:28 +0000

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!