VW-China bosses perish in high-speed road crash
Published on July 20, 2010 by Tycho
From ChinaDaily, 200710. SHANGHAI – The general manager of Shanghai Volkswagen and three other high-ranking managers were killed in a horrific traffic accident on Saturday during a business trip to Jiuquan in Northwest China’s Gansu province, according to a company statement on Monday.
General manager Liu Jian, 45, and public relations director Zeng Jialin, along with two other top executives, were on their way to a meeting when their company-owned Tiguan SUV smashed into a truck and exploded barely 2 km from the Guazhou toll station, Xinhua reported on Monday.
According to the report, the SUV was traveling at 220 km per hour when it ran into the truck. The maximum driving speed allowed on China’s expressways is 120 km per hour, according to the relevant traffic regulation. The victims were in Gansu province for a company event to meet dealers and attend a test drive, the company statement said.
Categories: Industry, Shanghai-VW
Tags:
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Chang’an-Suzuki Alto ‘Cool’ Edition
Published on July 20, 2010 by Tycho
Chang’an-Suzuki brings on a new edition of the Alto, called the ‘Cool’. It is a sporty machine with a full bodykit and a more funky interior. Engine is the same 1.0 as in the normal car so the Cool will be slower thanks to all the extra plastic. But who cares, a bodykit is cool.
Categories: Chang'an-Suzuki
Tags: alto
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Chang’an-PSA to make Citroen DS4 in China (?)
Published on July 20, 2010 by Tycho
PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) and Chang’an Auto signed a joint venture agreement earlier this month. The joint venture will launch a new brand and introduce Citroen’s DS-line to China. First up could be the Citroen DS4, so far a concept only. For China it will get two more doors so families can buy it. The DS3 is likely to be made in China as well, that one will keep its 3 doors so it can compete directly with BMW’s very succesful Mini.
Categories: Chang'an-PSA, Industry
Tags: ds
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Haima 7 SUV Priced
Published on July 20, 2010 by Tycho
The Haima 7 SUV debuted at the Beijing Auto Show and it is now ready to sell. It comes with a lone 2.0 engine and two luxury-levels. Basic car costs 113.800 yuan, car with all the goodies does 136.800 yuan.
Categories: Haima, New Cars
Tags: 7
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New FAW-Toyota Corolla to Hit la Market in September
Published on July 20, 2010 by Tycho
Toyota launched the new Corolla for Europe in May but China still kept the old one so sales went down, down hard. Fortunately help is on its way, the new FAW-Toyota Corolla will hit the Chinese market in September. It will get the 1.6 and 1.8 engines and likely a 2.0 as well. Price starts around 100.000 yuan. Pic from the factory in Tianjin; the new car is getting ready.
Categories: Faw-Toyota, New Cars
Tags: corolla
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Spy Shots: Chery Cowin 6 Interior
Published on July 19, 2010 by Tycho
‘Cowin‘ is a Chery brand positioned between cheap Chery itself and the more expensive Riich brand. The Cowin 6 will be the most expensive Cowin with 2.0. 1.8, 1.8 turbo and 1.6 supercharged engines. We have seen the Cowin 6 testing around before but today we have the first pics of the interior. It seems there is still some work to do…
Categories: Chery, Spy Shots
Tags: cowin
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Lifan to Launch 720 and MPV next year
Published on July 19, 2010 by Tycho
Lifan goes in attack mode and will launch two new cars next year. The 720 is the new flagship and will slot above the 620, 520 and 320. It will be 4.7 meter long, wheelbase about 2.7 meter. Engines: 1.6 and 1.8. Price will range from 70.000 to 100.000 yuan. The 620 costs between 56.000 and 84.000 yuan. There is at this moment no further info on the MPV, except that is is coming. Both cars will launch in the second half of 2011.
Categories: Lifan, New Cars
Tags: 720
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New Wuling Baojun-brand Launched
Published on July 19, 2010 by Tycho
Yesterday Sunday the 18th of July saw the official launch of the new Baojun brandname in Shanghai. Baojun is a subbrand of minicarmaker Wuling. Wuling is a joint venture between SAIC (aka Shanghai Auto), General Motors and Wuling Automotive. The new brand is meant for entry level cars, first up is the ‘GP 50′ small sedan, suv and mpv to follow.
Categories: Industry, Wuling
Tags: gp50
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Spy Shots: BYD G3 hatchback
Published on July 18, 2010 by Tycho
Hatchbacks are hot in China. Until only one year ago it was common wisdom that Chinese car buyers did not like hatchbacks and only wanted sedans. So many Western automakers just glued an ass to a hatch and indeed people bought it. But not anymore, today the young want hatchbacks because they think ‘m more cool.
The local Chinese brand got the trent first so this year saw a lot of new hatchbacks hitting la market. Most of ‘m based on existing sedans, the world turned around indeed. This BYD G3 hatchback is another one of those, the sedan has been on the market since March and is very succesful, time so to sell more and get the young to the BYD showroom.
Categories: BYD, Spy Shots
Tags: G3
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Spy Shots: new Chevrolet Aveo Hits the Patent Bureau
Published on July 16, 2010 by Tycho
The Daewoo-based Chevrolet Aveo has been a great sales success for Shanghai-GM so it is time for a new one to sell even more. GM filed for a patent and some pics got out, that’s the way it works these days.
The Aveo got a new sporty front in Cruze-style, bit like that Mitsubishi Lancer front pasted on the Colt but it just can do. New car will hit la market sometime in the first half of next year. Engines: 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6. The new Aveo will make it to the US as well, in 2012.
Categories: Shanghai-GM, Spy Shots
Tags: aveo, chevrolet
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