China Car Times always thought that the Citroen C-Triomphe was a China only sedan model based on the existing European Citroen C4, but according to the Chinese motoring press, Dongfeng Citroen are working on building a sedan out of the Citroen C4, and is oddly codenamed ‘BX3′ the same as the 80’s BX3 with odd suspension! The report goes on to say, when launched the BX3 will come with the choice of a 1.6 or a 2.0l engine. As we here more information about the new BX3, we’ll keep you updated.
The Citroen C4 was recently launched in China, but the name was changed to C-Quattre, as ‘4′ in Chinese sounds very similar to the word for death.
Published by Ash October 30th, 2008
in Roewe - Rong Wei.
MG7 tried to test the market with a 1.8T Manual, and they didnt do overly well, but Roewe are going to give the market segment a shot with their latest model, the 750 1.8T manual.
Roewe could be aiming the manual box version to fleet buyers who dont really require the added expense of an autobox, and autobox servicing but do require a car that makes them look good.
The 1.8T manual is reportedly very economical, with it using 6.0l per 100km of travel, and performance wise the manual is expected to reach 205kph.
Published by Ash October 30th, 2008
in Brilliance/Zhonghua Auto.
The only wagon that comes in at a reasonable price in China is the Buick Excelle Wagon, but that maybe about to change when the Brilliance BS4 comes on the market later this year. Brilliance are set to launch the wagon at this years Guangzhou Auto Show, which will be happening next month. Pricing for the wagon is expected to be from 90,000rmb to 120,000rmb.
The BS4 Wagon was recently shown out testing:
More pictures of the BS4 Wagon can be found here. Also, we believe that dealers are now accepting deposits for the car when its finally launched!
Published by Ash October 28th, 2008
in Guangzhou Toyota and First Automobile Works.
Toyota is set to invest 4 billion RMB factory with its joint venture partner, FAW, in North East China which will give FAW-Toyota the ability to produce nearly 1 million cars per year in China.
The factory will be built in Changchun, and will be Toyota’s 6th factory that they use in cooperation with FAW, the latest factory will be able to produce 100,000 Corolla compact cars per year.
Toyota also has plans to expand two of its existing factories in South China with its other joint venture partner, Guangzhou Automotive which would give Guangzhou-Toyota a production boost of 200,000 cars per year.
The combination of new, and expanded factories, will give Toyota the capacity to build 1.1 million cars per year in China alone. Toyota is also aiming to sell 1 million cars per year in China by 2010.
Published by Ash October 28th, 2008
in Great Wall Motors.
The Great Wall Hover SUV has been a success story for Great Wall, an SUV that clearly put them on the map in China, but for 08/09 the Hover has been given a slight face lift, which will surely only aid sales in 09.
According to Great Wall, the interior has been updated and also the addition of an updated 2.7l Diesel engine which Great Wall and Bosch worked on together. The engine reportedly produces 300nm of power from 1800rpm to 2600rpm, and uses an impressive 4.7l of fuel when travelling at 60kph, which is pretty much inner city travelling speeds at non peak hours. The engine is also upto Euro 3 emissions standards, which is fine for everywhere in China except Beijing, which enacted a Euro 5 emissions policy for all new car sales. For non diesel lovers, Great Wall are still putting the 2.4 Mitsubishi engine into their Hovers, but the latest model actually reaches Euro 5 emissions standards.
China Car Times would buy a Hover, but we’re still waiting for the automatic gearbox model, we’ve only been waiting several years to date.
Great Wall have also announced that they will export 3000 pick ups to Australia in 2009, the trucks are a mixture of Sailor and Wingle pick-up trucks that have been designed to meet Australian design rules, the Great Wall Hover SUV is also undergoing a slight redesign for the Australian market. Great Wall has modified its trucks to meet Euro 3 emissions specifications for the Australian market.
Model X was supposed to be an entirely new China only model, but that has since turned out to be the New Bora, another sedan from VW (that looks just like all the other sedans they make for China, well, except the Polo). Model Y became the VW Lavida, which was billed as being a mini Phaeton. The Lavida appears to have set off to a good start sales wise in China, but can FAW pull off selling the New Bora alongside the old Bora?
The old Bora was critisized for having a small rear, many people complained that it was too small, too narrow, so the New Bora has gone some way in rectifiying space issues. The New Bora is longer by 164mm, and wider by 40mm. Overall, the new Bora is 4540mm long, 1775mm wide, and 1467mm tall. The overall wheelbase length is now 2610mm.
Engine wise, the New Bora will be using a 1.6l engine, which can produce 74kw, and also a 2.0l engine which is borrowed from the VW Magotan, or the latest generation VW Passat to non Chinese readers.
So can the New Bora survive whilst being sold along the original Bora (which was renamed Bora Classic) in 2008? The answer from CCT is still yes, but FAW-VW may be best to offer the New Bora to fleet uses, such as taxi companies who may be ready to upgrade from their Jettas soon.
Published by Ash October 27th, 2008
in Chinese Car News.
With Americans mostly paying less than $3.00USD at the pump across the states, its about time Chinese got a fair price at the pump too, and it seems that the PRC may actually just give us a price cut:
SINGAPORE/BEIJING, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Chinese policymakers are considering cutting domestic fuel prices for the first time in almost two years after a more than 50 percent dive in crude oil prices returned refiners to profit, officials said on Friday.
The tumble in global crude prices from records above $147 in July to $65 a barrel on Friday, has dragged gasoline prices in the United States to below Chinese rates for the first time in years, piling pressure on Beijing, which is also working to combat slowing economic growth amid the financial turmoil.
Two oil industry sources told Reuters that state-owned oil companies under pressure to fulfil their social obligations had submitted a proposal to cut fuel prices by an undisclosed amount to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which sets energy policy and regulates energy prices.
The NDRC could submit the initiative to the State Council for a final decision as soon as next week, one of the sources said.
“International oil prices have fallen a lot and the government wants to make pump prices on a floating basis in the long term. The possibility of an imminent cut is high,” said an oil trader from Beijing, who asked not to be named.
“The documents for the cuts are already sitting on the desk for the final approval,” he added.
A cut would come four months after China unexpectedly raised state-regulated retail gasoline and diesel prices by up to 18 percent, its first in eight months and the sharpest-ever one-off rise.
China Car Times now officially regrets buying a 2.0l 4 cylinder car, when a 4.0 V8 was obviously just waiting for us at the end of summer!
Published by Ash October 27th, 2008
in Buick China and Chinese Car News.
The Buick SUV has been scheduled to come into the Chinese market place for some time, perhaps various small issues with its USA factory going on strike delayed the initial launch, but pricing has now been announced and its not cheap! The Buick Enclave is set to go on the market at 600,000rmb, putting it up there with the likes of the Volvo XC90 and Lexus SUVs in the price stakes, although GM claim that the Enclave is the most luxurious SUV ever, it may actually be worth its price tag!
Enclaves are reportedly on their way to dealers, where rich punters will be able to put down a 20,000rmb deposit for their Enclave. The Enclave has already been given a Chinese name, 昂科, (ang ke) which could mean something along the lines of ’soaring branch’
Published by Ash October 24th, 2008
in Chinese Car News.
GM have reportedly decided to jump into the Chinese hybrid car arena, even when their mortal enemy, Toyota, couldnt crack the market. GM are planning to launch the GM Equinox Crossover hydrogen SUV in China in 2009, perhaps GM are thinking that Chinese consumers didnt really take to the Prius due to its dorky looks, and are hoping they will like a hydrogen SUV instead.
One possibly issue that GM might run into while launching the Equinox hydrogen in China, is the current lack of hydrogen filling stations. 99% of filling stations in China already have LPG pumps, so it may well only be a matter of time before hydrogen fuel pumps are fitted across major cities should the demand be big enough.
From domestic producers, GM will see competition from the likes of BYD, and their BYD F3DM model, and also Chery who are working hard on bring the Chery A1 and A5 to market production, although we believe that their cars were used during the Olympic games by staff, as was the Chang’an Jie Xun MPV, which was supposed to be a hydrogen model but has since becme a regular hybrid model.
Published by Ash October 24th, 2008
in Tianjin Xiali.
Tianjin FAW have reportedly bought the 9th generation Toyota Corolla platform, which FAW plan to use to build their own range of cars on, possibly the Besturn range rather than Hong Qi. Media reports state that FAW is planning to make an A-segment sedan, but with the B50 already close to production, we’re unsure what use the Corolla platform might actually come to be, although chances are it may come out as a straight FAW brand, like the Weichi or the rebranded last generation Yaris, which also eventually wore FAW-Tianjin badging.
Reports say the Corolla inspired motor will be in production by 2010, and FAW want to sell 120,000 of them.
Latest Comments