Archive for November, 2009
MG6 – pricing estimated at 130,000rmb to 190,000rmb
The Chinese automotive website, autohome.com.cn, is estimating the price of the soon to be produced MG6 hatchback. The eagerly awaited hatchback will come in the choice of 1.8DVVT and 1.8Turbo. The MG6 will soon be produced in the new Shanghai Lin Gang production facility, which is also home to the Roewe 550 production facility. Pricing [...]
Greatwall to sell Coolbear in Europe
Greatwall is apparently planning to sell the Coolbear MPV in Europe sometime next year, as Greatwall has recently been awarded European Whole of Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) which was awarded by the Vehicle Certification Agency based in the UK. The WVTA testing is quite comprehensive and covers 48 different tests, 13 on active safety, 13 [...]
Buick Regal 2.0T Review
A few months ago, actually, exactly 16 weeks ago, I woke up on a Saturday morning and stumbled into my home office to see if my email client would give me the day off, or burden me with the unnecessary emailing that a white collar existence delivers. I didn’t get very far into my emails [...]
BYD M6: Have you seen this car before?
The BYD stand at any car show is great, first you visit the Toyota stand and see all the cars you like but cant afford, then you see that BYD pretty much has similar stuff but at a fraction of the price. Take the BYD M6 for example, its a great looking MPV and its [...]
Jaguar to build new China sales network and launches XJ in Guangzhou
Jaguar, the British premium car maker, are planning on restructuring their China sales network over 2010 following the successful launch of their all new Jaguar XJ sedan in Guangzhou this week. Jaguars chief executive in China Mr. Wang Li Rui told journalists at the Guangzhou Auto Show that Jaguar China plans to change its current [...]
Huatai Chairman announces that Huatai are to work on sedans
Huatai were previously a partner of Hyundai, and made Hyundai’s last generation Sante Fe and Terracan SUV’s in the Chinese marketplace, when this JV expired Huatai were given the outgoing platforms to do with as they wished. Huatai thus continued selling the Sante Fe and Terracan as their own vehicles but are planning to divert [...]
Geely feeling secure about Volvo purchase
It was rumoured in early April that Geely were expecting to bid on Ford’s Volvo unit, but as time passed it looked Geely were the only company bidding for Volvo. In previous reports it looked like that a major stumbling block to Geely taking over Volvo weas the lack of access to Volvo’s IPR which [...]
BAIC to go solo for Saab?
Are BAIC planning to go solo to take over Saab since the deal between Koenigsegg-BAIC and GM fell through? Although BAIC is flush with cash from their Mercedes and Hyundai JV’s, we doubt they have the ability to take over Saab. Reuters seems to have a similar idea: Reuters: GUANGZHOU, China (Reuters) – China’s automakers [...]
“Its not us, its you!” China says developing nations at fault for air pollution
Via NPR: Ambassador Yu Qingtai is China’s point man on global warming. As special representative to the climate change talks for China’s ministry of foreign affairs, Yu is a forceful advocate for China’s view that while his country will do its part, the primary responsibility for fixing the problem rests squarely on the shoulders of [...]
SAIC to build green energy tech center in Tangshan
SAIC have reportedly chosen Tangshan to be the site of their new New Energy research centre. SAIC have reached an agreement with Tangshan Peoples Government regarding the location of the new R&D center According to the agreement the two parties are reportedly planning to work on the development of pure electric coaches, hybrid vehicles, and [...]
Shanghai Jiao Tong working on device to tell if you’re drunk or tired
From The Shanghai Daily: COMING someday to a roadside police stop near you — a cap that can tell cops whether you’re too drunk or too tired to drive by reading your brain waves. The headwear sounds like science fiction, but it’s being developed by scientists at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. They’re working on an [...]
Daddy’s back: Chinese built Golf GTI launched in Guangzhou
The Golf GTI has become an enigma of a car, it was the German hot hatch to take on the world and was sold across Europe to rival Renault 5 GT Turbo’s, Fords of varying sizes and also the Japanese that were trying their hand at hot hatches of the time. Now VW are keen [...]
WABCO to supply Chery with pumps
Exciting news of the day: From INO.com Commercial vehicle supplier WABCO Holdings Inc. will supply parts to Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. under an agreement announced Tuesday. WABCO, based in Belgium, will supply vacuum pumps for the brakes on diesel and gasoline cars. WABCO will produce the pumps at its plant in Qingdao, China. The [...]
Update: Taiwan’s Yulon to do the leg work for Geely’s electric Panda
Our previous report on the electric Geely Panda for Taiwan seems that Yulon are doing the majority of the legwork on Geelys electric Panda: From The Washington Journal: -Taiwan’s Yulon Motor Co. (2201.TW) will sell electric cars to Chinese auto maker Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (0175.HK), senior executives at both companies said Tuesday. The electric [...]
Buick Excelle Hatch – The big picture!
The Buick Excelle hatchback, alongside the MG6 are arguably the big stars of the Guangzhou Auto show this year. The Excelle hatch signals the end of the dated Daewoo Lacetti hatchback, and the rebranding of the European Opel Astra for the Chinese marketplace. Whilst it maybe a rebranded Astra, the Chinese version known as the [...]
Chang’an slows down North American entry, but still committed!
Is it that Chang’an are not yet ready for North American, or is it that North Americans are not yet ready for Chang’an? Reuters tells us like it is: GUANGZHOU (Reuters) – Changan Automobile Group, China’s No. 3 automaker, said on Monday it had slowed down plans to set up a Mexican plant but remained [...]
Dongfeng Nissan to become electric champions of Guangzhou
The news for BYD must be quite shocking, (no pun intended) as Guangzhou city is literally BYD’s own back yard: From the Detroit News: Guangzhou, China — The Renault-Nissan Alliance, the government of Guangzhou Municipality in China and Dongfeng Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co.’s Chinese venture partner, have formed a partnership to promote electric car [...]
MG6: Zeds dead baby, Zeds dead.
The MG6 was officially launched today with much fan fare, and was arguably the most anticipated launch of the entire car show. The MG6 will be the first Chinese car to go international with European production and sales to begin sometime towards between the middle and end of 2010 according to report and rumour alike. [...]
Dongfeng H30 hatch – Dongfeng is coming along
Dongfeng launched their new hatchback model to sit by its sedan brother earlier today, the H30 is the third Dongfeng self designed vehicle. The H30 measures (LxWxH) 4268mm x 1740 x 1482, and has a wheelbase of 2610mm. Engine power will be delivered by a 1.6L engine, and gears come in the form of a [...]
China firing up Rolls Royce sales
Visit any 5 star hotel car park in Shanghai, and you find more Rollers than you will find in the actual Rolls Royce factory, so its not suprising to hear that China is helping Rolls Royce recover from rough times: From Reuters NEW DELHI — Rolls-Royce said Friday the market for its super-luxury cars was [...]
Twitter!
