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Archive for the 'Chang'an Motors' Category

Chang’an to make hybrid version of their excellent sedan

Published by Ash June 13th, 2008 in Chang'an Motors. 1 Comment

The Chang’an Sedan that is often mentioned on CCT, the Zhi Xiang aka the CV8, is to have a hybrid counterpart in the second part of 2008 according to press reports. Further more, the CV8 hybrid is expected to cost 20-30% more than the petrol version, which means it will be easily in the 100k RMB price range.

Chang’an will also launch the hatchback version of the CV8 later this year, this will be priced in the 80,000rmb to 100,000rmb range. A smaller cedan, the V101 will also be launched in the second half of 2008. Both Chang’an cars can be seen here.

Chang’an has the most unusual camouflage

Published by Ash June 3rd, 2008 in Chang'an Motors. 1 Comment

All Chinese car companies utilize some sort of camouflage when it comes to testing their cars, as most Chinese pedestrians are way too technologically savvy for their own good, quick and easy access to camera phones and internet uploads means that car designs never stay secret for too long. We’ve seen various different types of camouflage introduced from manufacturers, which makes it pretty easy to tell which manufacturer is which, even under the camo; SAIC and Ricardo employ ultra neat zebra style patterns that really do make spotting their cars easy, but their designs are difficult to get your head around.

Chery employs simple electrical tape

Shanghai VW relies on dirt alone:

These varying sorts of camo, do have their advantages, the VW Lavida will simply wash off, the masking tape on the Chery will pull off easily, and the Roewe 550 test mule with its varying checkers and cladding will surely be museum material in its own right.

Chang’an appear to have taken camouflage to a new level with this ghetto chique approach. Spray painting odd patterns onto your test mule is a new one on us, we’re presuming that Chang’an are hoping that everyone thinks these test cars are straight outta the hood:

v101-test.jpg v101-testa.jpg

The car above, is the Chang’an V101, which we saw at the Qingdao Automotive Show

Two new models for Chang’an next year!

Published by Ash May 28th, 2008 in Chang'an Motors. 2 Comments

Chang’an are getting ready to launch two new AO class vehicles for 2008 according to automotive reports.

The V101, actual name unknown, will be launched in the second part of 2008

v1010.jpg

The V101 will be a 1.5l engine, with a BOSCH injection system. Furthermore, the car is expected to retail for 50 to 70,000rmb when launched. The 1.5l engine was developed by Chang’an in cooperation with the German company, FEV. The engine can produce 137 Nm at 3500RPM all the way to 4500RPM.

v10106.jpg

 Changan’s latest sedan, the Zhi Xiang, will have a hatchback sibling from the second half of 2008 as well.

v802.jpg

The engines offered in the above car will be a 1.6 and a 2.0l models. More information as and when we get it!

Qingdao Car Show 08: Chang’an Ben Ben Sports

Published by Ash May 19th, 2008 in qingdao auto show and Chang'an Motors. 2 Comments

The Ben Ben is an excellent little run around, its also pretty safe as we found out from its crash test score. The recently launched Ben Ben sports features a two tone paint job; usually black on the roof and pillars, with any other color everywhere else and the addition of some other ’sporty’ accessories such as black alloy wheels.

changan-benben.jpg changan-benben1.jpg

What can we say? We can see where Chang’an were going when they wanted to make a Ben Ben sports, but it looks like the design budget was a little on the very low side. The black wheels actually look smaller than the wheels from the regular Ben Ben and the two tone paint doesnt really float our boat, although, perhaps it works for Chinese consumers as we’ve seen a fair few of these on the road.

Chang’an MPV: You gotta roll the good with the bad

Published by Ash May 16th, 2008 in qingdao auto show and Chang'an Motors. 6 Comments

jiexun.jpg

The Chang’an MPV (above) is a pretty car, its got 7 seats, its loaded with tech (inc DVD and GPS Nav), its a 2.0l engine paired to a 4 speed auto, and best of all, its 130,000rmb. Not bad, eh? Now that the good is out of the way, lets take a look at the bad.

jiexunint.jpg jiexunint1.jpg jiexunint2.jpg

 jiexunint3.jpg jiexunint5.jpg jiexunint6.jpg

The interior plastics are quite harsh, and are of cheaper stock. Around the bottom of the center console where the drink cup supports meet the silver (see top picture, on right) plastic of the dial surrounds, the lower tan plastic is very soft, and does not reach all the way to the silver leaving a large gap between the two.

The door insert plastic is rather poor quality as well, especially where the the plastic meets the left hand corner of the door - it appears to have been gnawed into shape by an angry beaver. The dashboard plastic feels rather hard as well, and looked to be a different shade of black to the other plastics in the car, although it may have just been wiped down by a cleaning guy.

Overall the Chang’an Jie Xun MPV is pretty decent quality, the leather seats are spacious and comfortable, the seating position in the drivers seat feels like you are sitting in a large sedan, its easy to forget its an MPV.

At the price Chang’an are charging for the MPV, we’re surprised we haven’t seen more of them about, it easily beats the competition with its tech and comfort levels. The only thing left to do, is take it for a spin!

Chang’an CV8 - A sedan we’d like to have, including 2.0l turbo engine!

Published by Ash February 27th, 2008 in Chang'an Motors and Chinese Car News. 6 Comments

Chang’an are slowly increasing their model line up, first it was the Ben Ben (which was a run away success) then their MPV Jiexun complete with a hybrid version and now Chang’an plan to increase their line up with the CV8 sedan.

The CV8 sedan has been spotted out testing before, but never photographed in such detail. The CV8 will have an engine ranging from 1.4 to 1.6, both of which are made independtly by Chang’an. The CV is expected to be launched at the Beijing Auto Show in April, but you dont have to wait until then to see it, you can see it here on China Car Times.

Continue reading ‘Chang’an CV8 - A sedan we’d like to have, including 2.0l turbo engine!’

Celebrations in Chongqing

Published by Ash February 4th, 2008 in Lifan and Chang'an Motors. 3 Comments

Chongqing city is celebrating its status as a municipality city of China for ten full years this week, and the people of Chongqing have voted the top brands of the massive city as being

1) Chang’an Motors

2) Chongqing Bai Huo

3) Jin Fu Ren

4) Lifan

5) Long Hu Real Estate

Chongqing appears to be an automotive powerhouse, especially with two of the largest automobile/motorcycle manufacturers in China present in their fair city!

Ben Ben Crash Test

Published by Ash January 4th, 2008 in Chinese Trucks and Chang'an Motors. 5 Comments

The Chang’an Ben Ben super mini is one of Chinas better looking super minis, the design is original, it costs very little, and its reasonably safe!

100% front impact:

front_impact.jpg  front_impact2.jpg

40% offset front impact:

offset1.jpg offset2.jpg

Side Impact:

side_impact.jpg side_impact11.jpg

Chang’an seem to have done their homework on auto safety, no doubt these tests will boost confidences at Chang’an Motors, hopefully propelling them onto the world stage.

Chang’an Jie Xun Hybrid rolled off the line yesterday!

Published by Ash December 14th, 2007 in Chang'an Motors. 0 Comments

Previously on China Car Times we posted that the Jie Xun HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) was going to go into production soon, however, it seems that we wrong - the first HEV actually rolled off the production line yesterday. Chang’an say it took them 6 years to research the Jie Xun HEV, and they will put another 40 million USD into their R&D dept to further breakthroughs in hybrid vehicles.

changan-hev.jpg

Chang’an has clearly grasped the technology behind hybrid motors, and is no doubt going to be one of the first automobile manufacturers in China to mass produce hydrogen vehicles.

Chang’An first to make hybrid motor in China

Published by Ash December 13th, 2007 in Chang'an Motors. 2 Comments

Chang’an is the first manufacturer in China to make a hybrid vehicle, and the first of its cars to get the hybrid treatment is the Jie Xun mini station wagon

hev.jpg

The HEV will see use within the Beijing 2008 Olympic games for official use, actual specs on the HEV are still under wraps, but we are told that the HEV is able to save up to 20% fuel over a regular gasoline engine.

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