The Suzuki Alto has been made in China by many a factory with many a name. Some factories did have a deal with Suzuki but most factories actually did not. Most famous of all is the Chang’an-Suzuki joint venture which made the Alto until only one year ago when it was replaced with the new Alto. The old one though refuses to die.

Jiangnan Auto, under ownership of Zotye Auto, brings it back for only 18.000 yuan (2600 usd) which makes it the cheapest passenger car on sale in China today. The Alto, ‘Aotuo’ in Chinese, has an 0.8 litre engine which won’t make it quick but not too slow either because the Alto is a very light car.

On the plate: 江南奥拓, Jiangnan Aotuo. I doubt whether it will be allowed in the big cities, if anyone there would like to buy it, but in China’s vast countryside there is surely a huge market for a car like this.

Chery is rolling out the electric QQ3EV for a pilot project in Hefei, capital of Anhui province. The QQ3EV costs 50.000 yuan from the factory but only 30.000 after subsidies kick in. The car has a range of 100 kilometer and will eventually be sold in the whole country. At the same time Chery is working on the successor of the QQ3, so it is likely that production of the old one will continue for the EV to keep it very cheap.

The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle debuted in Shanghai, it will be on sale in China by 2011 as an import but might be locally produced at a later time. Earlier rumors had it that the China-Volt would carry the Buick name since Buick is a much more popular brand in China than Chevrolet. No word on that one, anymore. China will be the second market after the US that gets the Volt, even before Europe gets the Volt-clone Opel Ampera.

The Volt has two engines: a 111 kW electric motor and a 1.4 L 4-cylinder for powering a 55 kW generator that sends power back to the electric motor. The actual propulsion of the Volt is accomplished by the electric motor alone. The Volt can drive fully electric for 60 km, after that the 1.4 kicks in the extend the range to 450km. The electric motor can be charged at home in eight hours on 120v.

Chinese homes however usually don’t have a place to charge a car at night. Most Chinese city-folks live in high rise appartments and park their car on the streets or in an underground parking which doesn’t have infrastructure to charge either. There is no ‘fast-charging’ infrastructure available in the cities except for some small pilot-projects. Seems like the Volts in China will have to go to the petrol station a lot anyway. More tech on the Volt; see Wikipedia.

Yesterday BMW unveiled the China-only M3 Tiger Edition, just 250 cars will be made. It is a standard M3 coupe with bright ‘Fire Orange’ metallic paint, special wheels and some extra Tiger in the blacked-out interior. The Chinese market loves special editions of already rare cars, it won’t take BMW any trouble to sell all Tigers out.

The BMW M3 Tiger Edition not only celebrates the Chinese Year of the Tiger but also the 25th birthday of the ‘M3′. Congratulations M3, may many happy years still follow. The Tiger Edition ain’t a cheap animal, it costs 1.250.000 yuan, that is 183.000 us dollar.

BMW made it a nice show with two Tigers and some B-list celebrities, one of those a Chinese actor who is also a race car driver:

That’s him, next to the two girls. His name is Louis Kou,  he was born and lives in Hong Kong. People in the former British colony people drive on the left side of the road. The M3 Tiger Edition ain’t made for that and BMW won’t sell any rhd. So why Louis?

Source pics: AutoHome.

The new March, Machi in Chinese, is made in China by Nissan’s joint venture with Dongfeng Auto. The March has been listed on August 30 and costs between 70.000 and 100.000 yuan. Engine: 1.5 with 107hp and 138nm, a 1.2 supercharged will follow later.

The 2011 FAW-Besturn, ‘Benteng’ in Chinese, got a new front, a new back and an improved interior. It was listed on August 26 and costs between 98.800 and 125.800, depending on goodies and gearbox. The engine is a one for all: 1.6 with 76kw and 147nm, 5-speed manual or 6-speed auto.

The massive Jianling Yusheng SUV, formerly know by its codename ‘N350′, will finally make it to the market. Production will start in October and the Yusheng will be listed before the end of the year. Engines: a 2.4 Mitsubishi petrol 4-cilinder and a Ford Duratex 2.4 diesel. Price will likely start around 130.000 yuan.

Toyota launched the new Vios for the Chinese market. It is made in China by Toyota’s joint venture with First Auto Works, FAW. Chinese motoring press is somewhat dissapointed with the Vios, they had expected a bogger change. “minimum investment for maximum profit”, one journalist said.

Changes are indeed small, a new Camry-like front and and some changes at the back. Dashboard got a bigger update with a new design and materials. Vios costs between 80.000 and 115.000 yuan, engines just as before: 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6.

Pictured the 1.6.

BYD officially listed the L3 sedan, it is based on the G3 but more luxurious-up market so BYD can ask more money for it. Price starts at 92.800 yuan and ends at 118.000. Engines: 1.5 with 79kw and 144nm and a 1.8 with 90kw and 160nm, both engines either with a 5-speed manual or a CVT. Size: 4568×1716x1480, wheelbase is 2615.

The Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed China debuted at the Beijing Auto Show and has now hitted la market. The mighty Spur costs 3,980.000 yuan or 568.000 dollar. It ain’t cheap but for the money you get something special. The Speed China got special paint, special wheels, a special interior, special ‘China Speed’ badging and a very special softer ride and a toned-down exhaust note. Chinese customers like luxury in an expensive car, no hortysporty things.

The China Speed debuted together with the Bentley Continental GT Design Series China. Haven’t seen that one yet but no doubt it’ll arrive soon, the next gen Conti’s are coming so Bentley needs to get rid of old stock. China will happily help.