China Car Times

The soon to be launched Lifan 620 has already had a minor face change for the top of the range models.

The Lifa 620 ‘big mouth’ edition is being sold by Lifan as the most luxurious car they make, with it having a full leather interior (including steering wheel) and other extras as standard such as reversing sensors, ABS and EBD. Buyers of Lifan cars should expect excellent service with the latest 5 year, or 100,000km free servicing.

Lifan are keen to show that they are not just a one stop copy shop, unlike some other Chinese car makers, they have shown that they are willing to take a step back, and design a completely new car from scratch (inc engines) and set up distribution networks with superior service across the country.

Lifan recently sent us these drawings of their Lifan 520 sedan, and Lifan 520i hatchback development. Both the hatchback and the sedan use the same platform and the same engines.

520i Clay Model:

According to reports, Lifan has been instrumental in setting up a national research center to further their development of car platforms. Also Lifan have put together a team of 200 experienced engineers, researchers, and experts that have previously worked with Daimler Chrysler, FAW, Dongfeng etc - Lifan clearly know how to put a team together.

Platforms
Furthering development is pretty much the only way a small independent marque can survive in a world of cut throat conglomerate automakers. Lifan have poured time and energy into creating their 520 platforms, shown below:

American Insurance Group recently bought a rather large chunk of Lifan, 25% to be precise. The chairman of Lifan, then stated that Lifan will IPO later this year, raising a hell of a lot of money for investment in Lifan. Lifans chairman has outlined the international sales goals for Lifan over the next few years, which is basically, export, export, export, build many new factories!

On a serious note, Lifan plans by 2010 to produce 200,000 cars per year, 200,000 engines per year, and make cars that range from 30,000rmb to 120,000rmb, these will range from tiny economic cars to bigger mid range cars, including SUVs and MPVs for the Chinese markets. The overseas markets will also get a slice of the Lifan pie with Lifan planning on building 4 more factories, namely in Vietnam, West Africa, South Africa, and central South America.

In recent years there has been a trend of Chinese companies buying up ailing western companies, there was Nanjing MG and Rover, Chinese banks buying stakes in Barclays bank, and then the Indians were at it too; The British company, Corus Steel was taken over by an Indian billionaire - its a reverse colonization of sorts, instead of moving people in, you move your money in, it becomes an economic empire.

Recently the American insurer, AIG, bought a 25% stake in Lifan reversing the above trend. Lifan plans to IPO on the (Shanghai) A-market soon, with hopes of raising an extra 1 billion RMB to fund their extensive plans for taking their cars to all corners of the world. Lifan is planning on increasing their production capacity to 500,000 vehicles per year by 2010, this year they plan on making a more modest 60,000 vehicles for the domestic markets. Lifans second plant in Chongqing will be churning out cars later this year.

Lifan worked with British company, Ricardo, to create their latest 1.8 VVT engine that is going to be used in their 620 sedan, and a range of other vehicles, including MPV and SUV.

Lifans internal code name for the engine is B4L18, as already mentioned, the B4L18 utilises VVT technology, its 4 stroke, water cooled, DOHC giving out a max of 100kw and max torque of 172 N.m/r.

From what we hear, Lifan are pouring a lot of energy into research and developing engines ranging from tiny 800cc to a much larger 2.4l motor.