Published by Ash September 11th, 2008
in Dongfeng Motor Company.
Renault is quite possibly the last of the ‘big brands’ from the West to enter China, Renault previously entered the PRC to make the Renault Trafficmaster MPV/Van in 1993 however, this joint venture with Jiang Nan eventually broke down. Rumors about Renault entering the PRC again have been circulating for quite some time now, however, last week Renault laid down firm plans for Chinese expansion.
Until now, Renault has been importing cars into China but has seen limited sales due to the high tax placed on imported cars, but now that they have cemented plans to work with Dongfeng, the joint venture partner of PSA, Honda, and Nissan. Renault is reportedly planning to produce the Koleos SUV, the Megane, and the Laguna in China, many of these cars have shared platforms with Nissan models, some of which are already produced domestically in China by Dongfeng, so the sharing of components between the two brands will be highly likely.
Renault has been planning for several years to enter into China with Chinese factories, however, their plans have never been put into practice. Hopefully this time around, the Dongfeng-Renault JV will be more successful than the original Trafficmaster JV.
Published by Ash September 6th, 2008
in Dongfeng Motor Company.
Dongfeng are set to launch their own self developed model, codenamed BF, by the end of the year according to media reports. However, the pictures that accompany the report on various different websites show a rather ugly reworked Citroen Elysee.
We hope for Dongfeng’s future that they dont launch the car shown in the above picture, their previous model, the Joyear MPV, was not quite a stunning looker was appealing in various lights, and did show that the company were on the right track engineering wise, but still need help with certain design elements. Dongfeng also negotiated with SAIC to use SAIC’s K-Series 1.8T engine (Which SAIC obtained from MG-Rover), wheather or not the 1.8T will make its way into the BF is currently unknown.
The beautiful Citroen C5 will be produced in China from 2009 onwards, alongside a recently announced but yet to be developed Elysee hatchback.
The Citroen C4 was announced in China several days ago, and will officially hit the market in September priced from 140,000rmb and rising. The C4 was given the name Citroen C-Quatre for the Chinese name, or in Chinese: 世嘉, lit ‘world winner’
The C-Quatre will be powered by either a choice of 1.6 or a 2.0l engine, paired with VVT technology. Dealers will begin accepting deposits on the C4 in August, and the C4 will be available for pick up from Sept 08 onwards.
The Kia China line up is quite frankly, pretty damned good. They have a wide range of vehicles, from small hatchbacks (i.e. the recently launched Kia Cerato hatchback) to large sedans (Oprius) and SUVs of compact and full sized models (Kia Sportage and Kia Sorento). Kia plans to increase its line up with the rather impressive looking Kia Soul (above) The Soul is expected to first hit the European and Korean markets, and then at the same time go on the market in China and the USA. Chinese automotive journalists say the Soul is expected to hit the Chinese market in March 2009, alongside the mechanically similar, but differently designed Hyundai i30
SAIC and Dongfeng recently signed an agreement to supply Rover designed 1.8T K-Series engines to Dongfeng for use in their own brand automobiles. Dongfeng currently lacks any of its own engine designs for their own vehicles, and are relaying on third parties for engines. Dongfeng dropped a Cummins diesel engine in the Crazy Soldier, the sluggish Shengyang Mitsubishi unit in the Jing Yi, and possibly the same Mitsubishi unit in the Dongfeng Coupe.
The Jing Yi will be casting out that Mitsubishi unit over the next month, and installing the mighty fine 1.8Turbo Rover K-series via a deal with SAIC, the Turbo’d up Jing Yi is expected to sell from 120,380rmb and will rival the likes of the VW Touran in the mini turbo MPV market
Published by Ash February 29th, 2008
in Dongfeng Motor Company.
The Nissan Livina, a small yet huge mini car has proven popular in China since it was launched in the middle of 2007, Nissan are eager to continue with the mass sales of their top selling minicar and plan to give it to the crossover treatment.
The normal Livina is longer than the Honda Fit, which gives it plenty more room for roughly the same price. The crossover Livina, with its chunky cladding is even bigger than the normal Livina, but smaller than the soon to be launched Nissan Qashqai.
The above picture shows the differences between the two models, the crossover left, and the regular right.
Prices on the new Crossover Livina are unknown, but will probably be in the 100,000rmb range to take on the latest Polo Cross, the SX4 and the MG3 SW. The Crossover rage has taken China by storm since the SX4 came onto the market, the big marques have found a comfortable niche market by making regular hatchbacks into tough little city cars with black plastic cladding. China Car Times quite likes the look of the Livina Crossover, but is confused as to why its being billed as a ’sports’ model by Nissan, its ride hight, width, and length are all bigger than the regular Livina.
Published by Ash December 7th, 2007
in Dongfeng Motor Company.
China Car Times believes there isnt a single Nissan that doesnt sell well in China, Nissan could buy Ladas, put a Nissan badge on them and they would go out of the Dongfeng Nissan stock room faster than free bars of gold. The current Dongfeng Nissan line up is a little bland, consisting of sedans (Teana, Bluebird, Sylphy) and small hatchbacks (Tiida, Livina) and the larger 7 seater MPV, the Genesis. Dongfeng Nissan have enjoyed pretty good sales with all of these models, and are looking to boost their model line up with the Micra, X-trail, Fuga (known to other markets as the Infiniti M)
Making certain models in China, will certainly increase sales for Nissan, especially the X-trail SUV, which despite its age (it was released in 02 in China, imported from Japan) sales have remained strong over the years, making it in China will no doubt lower the price from around 300,000rmb (40,000USD) to some where in the reigon of 200,000rmb which is on par with the domestically made Korean offerings. Not forgetting, Dongfeng Nissan are planning on bringing the Qashqai to China early in 2008.
Published by Ash November 26th, 2007
in Dongfeng Motor Company.
The British designed and made Qashqai has taken both Japan and the UK by storm, the Qashqai is getting ready to make a head road into probably the fastest growing SUV market in the world. Dongfeng Nissan showed off the Qashqai at the Guangzhou Auto Show, and motoring pundits in China believe it will start at the bargain price of 140,000rmb for the 1.6l model, which makes it a hell of a bargain, there is also a 2.0 model up for grabs which is expected to be around 200,000rmb. In total, Dongfeng Nissan will launch six different models of Qashqai in China. The Qashqai is expected to be on sale in the first quarter of 2008, get ready for it!
We’re not sure how Nissan came up with the name Qashqai, it is a pretty difficult word to pronounce for English speakers around the world, (pronounced kash kai) but thankfully the Chinese name is somewhat easier to pronounce, simply Xiao Ke or, if you want it translated into English, in China the Qashkai is to be called the ‘Leisurely Client‘ Could this be a symbol of the Nissan - Dongfeng joint venture agreement?
Dongfeng officially launched their EQ7200HEV model today, forget the long name, lets just call it a new hybrid motor from Dongfeng that uses the last generation Nissan Bluebird innings, a new skin, and not forgetting the hybrid bits.
The car is expected to go into full production in the next three years and cost around 250,000rmb. So it aint cheap, and it comes way after the latest oil shortages.
It can reach a top speed of 160kph, and does a lethargic 0-100kph in 14 seconds, under the hood is a 1.6l engine of Dongfeng Fukang stock (possibly from the Citroen ZX) and Lithium battery packs.
Click for bigger pictures.
Published by Ash September 18th, 2007
in Dongfeng Motor Company.
Nissan have done quite well in China in the past year, especially with the launch of the super popular small car range, namely the Tiida, Yiida (?) and the Livina, now it seems they are taking the range to the next level with the introduction of the Qashqqai. To China Car Times the Qashqai looks more like a Livina on big wheels, but its selling like hotcakes in England so it must do something good. Dongfeng Nissan want to get the car ready for its launch in China at the Guangzhou Auto Show in October this year.
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