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The latest redesigned Lancer is expected to go on sale towards the end of 2008 with both a sporty version, and a family sedan model on offer. The cars parts will be 50% sourced from Japan (the 1.8 and 2.0l engines are from Japan, as are the gearboxes), and 50% sourced from local Chinese markets. SouEast also plans to import the current generation Lancer Evo into China from Japan later this year. China Car Times is currently unsure if the current Lancer (above) will continue to be sold in China alongside the new Lancer, as the case with the two Hyundai Elantras, or if production will be stopped completly.

1. Shanghai VW - Santana - 69,214
2. Shanghai GM - Excelle - 62,750
3. FAW VW - Jetta - 61,202
4. Guangzhou Toyota - Camry - 54,123
5. Tianjin FAW Xiali - Xiali - 48,421
6. Chery - QQ - 46,251
7. FAW-Haima - Family - 45,352
8. Guangzhou Honda - Accord - 42,160
9. Beijing Hyundai - 41,556
10. Shanghai VW - Passat GP - 36, 865

No real surprises this month, other than No 10 - The Passat GP.

Pricing of the Besturn has yet to be announced, but we cant see it being over 150,000rmb to keep it competitive with the other hybrid models that will be launched this year from the likes of Chery.

update: Yes, it is to be launched next year and not this year. We heard that FAW are working hard to localize a lot of the parts used to make the car even cheaper.

Foton have the capacity to make 50,000 MIDI vehicles per year, the vehicles will be powered by 1.3 and 1.6l engines. More information on this MPV is currently unvailable, but as soon as we receive more info, we will be sure to make CCT readers informed!

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.

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!

MG dealerships are currently accepting deposits on the MGTF, and MG expect that Shanghai based customers will be able to pick up their motors in the first days of June, the rest of the country may have to wait a little longer!

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The interior seats looked pretty well made, the woodwork on the dash, although fake, did look pretty good too. The steering wheel wood work was a bit cheap looking.

The black one on the left is the sports version, and the right one is the original version

The 1.8T Roewe 750 sports is much nicer, if you ask us.

The Europestar RCR will be domestically made in China from August onwards, which will also see the Europestar brand increased to several models rather than the rather loneley looking RCR. Future models include MPVs and SUVs ranging from 1.6l to 3.0l displament.

The Haima 3 will also have a sports model, like the sedan, which will have certain sports styling on the outside.

From our sources, the car is much bigger than the QQ3, despite being a 3 door, the wheelbase is reportedly the same length as the QQ3, but the amount of interior space has been improved.  The QQ5 has also seen a vast improvement to the overal quality of the vehicle. The first QQ, now the QQ3, was one of Cherys first range of vehicles which was cloned from the Chevrolet Spark. The quality and the design of the QQ5 are set to show that Chery have invested a lot into quality control over the past years.

The QQ5 has been under development for the past few years since it was unveiled as the Chery WOW concept car in 2005, Chinese consumers can expect to buy a 1.3l QQ5 aka Chery QQ Sports in the second half of 08 where it will be aimed at younger people who want a sporty, fashionable, and economical motor.

Renault have decided that they wish to resserect the presumed dead joint venture to produce a new generation of minivans for the PRC, the project has been codenamed W72. Renault will be pumping 125 million USD into the revived joint venture which will see upto 40,000 vans being produced in China once production begins in 2010.

One automotive news outlet, Autohome.com.cn garned from a VW official that the PQ35 platform would be used, however, they seem to have gained information at a later date that indicates the Lavida may not be using the PQ35 but the older PQ34.

The PQ platform is used across a wide range of VW vehicles, including Audi, Skoda, and SEAT. The PQ35 features fully independent rear suspension and is considered to be an improvement on the previous PQ34 platform.

Despite the car not actually going into production yet, or being unlikely to be on sale until 2009, the Changfeng CP1A’s price has been leaked to the press - 50,00rmb, which makes it one of the best looking (in CCT’s humble opinion) and cheapest cars on the road. The downside to the 50k price tag is the engine size, a mere 1.3l, but we hear that there will be bigger ones on the way, including a 1.8l.

Changfeng are reportedly working on three platforms, CP1, CP2 and a CP3. As the model no may indicate, the above car is on the CP1 platform. Changfeng have spent over 2.5 billion RMB on developing these platforms, a model based on the CP3 platform is expected to be launched in 2010.

Mitsubishi, Changfeng’s joint venture partner in China, has reported that China is now its most important market in terms of sales and will be working very closely with Changfeng over the coming years to bring Mitsubishi cars into China, and to set up production in China. Mitsubishi is the second largest stake holder in Changfeng with a 14.9% share, however, Mitsubishi and Changfeng are reportedly working on a 50:50 joint venture plan which could see Changfeng building Mitsubishi cars for the Chinese market.

China Car Times really really hopes that Changfeng make the Evo.

The MGTF is set to go into mass production in China very shortly, and will be on the market by the second half of 2008. The second half of 08 will also see the rest of the MG3 line up launched (MGZR, regular 3) and the MG7 Automatic gearbox version. The Streetwise has been delayed again, for reasons currently unknown. The reasons for the MG3’s delay this time are currently unknown.

New Engine Line

MG are reportedly working on creating a new engine plant line that will be primarily used for the production of small displacement engines,  which are known to be 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 engine. 2009, 2010, and 2011 will see MG rolling out totally new cars, these are reportedly to include the MG5 and perhaps an updated MG7. There is also the possibility of MG using its vast portfolio of brands (inc Austin) to create another series of brands for the Chinese markets.

The Toyota plant (the plant produces the Prado SUV and Coaster mini bus) bosses have decided to cancel one shift on Tuesday to inspect damage to the factory, whilst the Chang’an Mazda, Ford, and Chang’an Motors factories were evacuated for the day. A FAW-VW plant that produces the Jetta was also evacuated.

Nissan, G.M. and Honda operations in Sichuan were apparently not effected by the quake.

For more information on the earthquake, please read the Shanghaiist coverage.

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From the grainy pictures below, you may be able to make out a new front end on the FAW CA6480P6E SUV. We’re not sure why FAW likes to use a serial number instead of a name, after all, who can remember CA6480P6E?

The new SUV is surely inspired by the Chevrolet Colorado front end style of recent years, which Dandong ShuGuang have also borrowed for their most excellent looking pick up truck.

The two SUV’s are available in long wheel base, and short wheel base form with both diesel and gasoline engines available. The gasoline engine is a Euro 2/3 spec 2.0l engine (73.5kw/5000rpm) from Xinhua, and the diesel engine is 2.7l model (68kw at an unknown RPM)

BEIJING (AP) — China has established a homegrown company to make passenger jumbo jets, state media reported Sunday - a step forward in the country’s quest to become less dependent on Boeing and Airbus.

China Commercial Aircraft Co. was established in Shanghai with registered capital of 19 billion yuan $2.7 billion, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

It said the central government and the Shanghai government are among the major shareholders, as are China’s two main aircraft manufacturing and servicing companies, China Aviation Industry Corp. I and China Aviation Industry Corp. II, which were split off from state-owned China Aviation Industry Corp. in 1999.

Europe’s Airbus has forecast that China’s domestic market will increase fivefold by 2026. Airbus and Chicago-based rival Boeing dominate the market for commercial airplanes carrying 100 or more people.

Xinhua said Commercial Aircraft Co. will be able to make planes with more than 150 seats.

General manager Jin Zhuanglong said in a Xinhua interview that it was too early to say when a Chinese-developed jumbo jet would be taking off, as it would take a long time to develop homegrown talent and do research.

“According to the development history of Airbus and Boeing, the development and success of civil planes cannot be realized by relying on one or two generations,” he said.

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The Bora was a previous generation Jetta in Europe, but it continues to thrive in China via the FAW (First Auto Works) VW joint venture, the Livida on the other hand, is a completely new car from SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp) and VW. The two cars are roughly the same size, they are on a different generation of platform, they both wear VW badges and are aimed at a similar type of client, but what is different about them? China Car Times cant help but feel that VW has become the British Leyland of China with different products competing against each other in the same market segment!VW FAW unveiled the latest incarnation of the Bora out at the Beijing Auto Show, and VW SAIC unveiled the Livida, which gave a lot of people the chance to compare between the two cars!

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