Published by Ash January 5th, 2009
in Besturn and First Automobile Works.
The Besturn brand is an unusual one, the name itself ‘Besturn’ was probably not the best choice for car - is it Pronounced Bes-Turn, or Best-Urn? Either way, we dont really think its a great name, but the cars that Besturn are actually making these days do look very good. The first Besturn was based on the Mazda6 platform, the new Besturn B50 may also be based on a shortened Mazda6 platform. The B50 is to be Besturn’s compact sedan for ‘09, and if you ask us, we think it looks rather good.
Besturn is certainly a brand to watch in 2009/2010. FAW have been pushing the Besturn brand hard recently, and will no doubt suceed in China, however, the Besturn name may need a change for export markets, using the Redflag brand seems like a possibility.
Published by Ash January 4th, 2009
in Chinese Car News.
Concept cars are great, they show a car companies radical designs and future plans for car designs. In return, car companies can gauge automotive show visitors responses to the concepts, this is much cheaper than putting an ugly car into production and having nobody buy it. This year, Chinese car companies have seen massive improvements in their automotive designs, moving from boxy late 90’s designs, into sleek smooth designs that are able to rival their international rivals.
Below are CCT’s favorite concept cars from Chinese car makers in 2008.
Continue reading ‘The Best Chinese Concept Cars of ‘08′
Published by Ash December 30th, 2008
in Geely Automobile.
The Geely Panda, despite being an ‘interesting’ design has won itself many fans in China, and Geely have been eager to keep up with plans for the Panda. Their latest idea appears to be to turn the Panda into a crossover type vehicle to rival the likes of the SX4, Polo Cross, and the upcoming Chery Faira. In addition, Geely have also planned to put an automatic transmission into the Panda to further sales. Automatic transmissions are a must have sales booster for all cars in China.
The Geely Panda is set to rival Chery’s QQ5, and is Geely’s first real competitor to Chery’s QQ range.
The Panda is expected to go global when it is launched, and will be taking Geely’s new logo with it, the first Geely car to do so.
The Panda costs from 41,800rmb to 51,800rmb.
Published by Ash December 30th, 2008
in Chery Automobile.
The distinctly designed Chery S16 is to be launched in 2009 according to Chery. The 4 seater car is certainly an acquired taste on the outside, but the interior shows a distinctive interior, that looks well designed with everything being in reach of the driver.
The S16 will take up a QQ moniker closer to the launch date (its expected to be the QQ5) and will sit in the QQ range alongside the QQ3, and the newer QQ6. The QQ5/S16 is supposedly an extension of ‘QQ culture’
The Chery QQ5/S16 started life as the Chery WOW concept car which was shown at the Shanghai car show in 2005, and is expected to be launched in April or May of 2009, although it was initially expected to be launched in the second half of ‘08.
Published by Ash December 30th, 2008
in Chery Automobile.
In what must be a great week for the Chinese car industry, the Roewe 550 received a 5-star crash test, as did the Chery A3. The Roewe 550 is based off the Rover 75 platform, where as the Chery A3 was designed and built in China (Although, Pinnafirina, and possibly Ricardo were helping Chery with designs and engineering)
The Chery A3 performed extremely well in the CNCAP testing, which tests vehicles in a similar process to the European NCAP testing, but CNCAP tests at the lower speed of 54KM/h 56KM/h.
The A3’s five star rating make it the only Chinese car priced at under 100,000rmb to gain a 5 star rating since testing began on Chinese cars.
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