Chery: Chrysler Deal Still On

Despite a recent report on German newspaper Handelsblatt that said Chery wanted to re-examine a deal to build small cars for Chrysler due to the sale of the latter to Cerberus, the Chinese car maker has still got the hots for Chrysler. A Chery spokesman told Reuters today that the German newspaper had misquoted Chery’s general manager, Zhang Li, and that the earlier agreement with Chrysler, approved by DaimlerChrysler’s Supervisory Board in February 2007, was still on. According to the non-equity partnership, the Chery-built vehicles will be distributed under Chrysler and Dodge logos, primarily in North America and Western Europe. Via: Reuters

China Tuning: Brilliance BS6 "Darth Vader Edition"

Something tells me a new era has dawned for adolescent car-nuts like us; Chinese Tuning. Just saying “Chinese Tuning” makes a chill go up our spine! Honestly, we mean if we had so much fun with official, Chinese product, you can just begin to imagine what a party we’re going to have with pimped versions… Click “Read More…” below to check out a few more pictures of the tuned Brilliance BS6 with the ASMA Design twist in it.

Pics via: Chinacartimes

Technorati: Brilliance+BS6, China, Tuning, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Ford i-MAX: Rebadged Mazda5 MPV Joins Ford Asia’s Lineup

And there we were, babbling to ourselves what are those Chinese going to throw in the Xerox machine next, when all of a sudden we realized that the i-MAX is actually an official Ford product for the Asian markets! There’s not much we can say about the i-MAX due to our limited –ok, inexistent, knowledge of the Chinese language, so we’ll stick to the apparent. The i-MAX is based on the Mazda5 MPV with styling changes including the redesigned front end, the new horizontal tail lamps and the addition of “S-MAX” inspired, side air-vents. -More images after the jump

Via: auto.163

Technorati: Ford+i-MAX, Madza5, MPV, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Chinese Roewe models coming to Europe in 2008 via SsangYong distributors

According to a report from Automotive News Europe, Roewe will enter the European market quite sooner than expected thanks to the help of SsangYong, which like Roewe, is a subsidiary of SAIC. Starting in 2008, Roewe will introduce its first model in Europe, the production version of the W2 concept (pic) that premiered at the Shanghai Show. Although the Chinese carmaker intends to launch Roewe as a separate brand in 2010 through an extended SAIC network, ANE reports that the W2 will be distributed through the dealer network of its Korean subsidiary and sold under the SsangYong badge.-Continued: Click "Read More..." below

Not exactly the turnout most industry observers were expecting when SAIC bought the design rights for the Rover 75 & 25 from MG Rover before the latter collapsed in 2005. Albeit SAIC’s "SsangYong dribble" seems like a smart move now, helping them fastforward their European penetration, I believe it would have been wiser to wait a couple of years until they created a SAIC network.

Via: Automotive News Europe

Chinese Road collapses creating a hole the size of a house!

We hate to think what could of happened if people or cars were crossing this part of Shunwai Road in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China when the sudden collapse occurred. To get an idea, according to Chinese officials it’s estimated that the hole is about 72 square meters or 775 square ft big and 7 meters or 23 ft deep! The cave in happened yesterday (April 25) and luckily there were no injuries reported. Via: Sina

Technorati: Accident, China, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Chinese Mixed Grille: JAC Auto C240

Title: LexuMercSkodiental

Ingredients:

3/4 Rear end of a 2000 Mercedes C-Class

4/5 Front end of a 2003 Lexus LS430

9/10 Profile of the current Skoda Superb

2 Skilled Chinese Designers

Instructions: Slice the rear end of the C-Class into narrow strips. In skillet stretch the rear lights so as they slightly cover up the trunk. Take the Lexus LS430’s front end and soak it in boiled water. Combine with garlic, salt, pepper & soy sauce. Transfer to a shallow pan. Combine marinade ingredients and rub thoroughly into the platform. Cover and cook on high 15-20 minutes. Throw in the carefully the side of the Superb and stir into pot until thickened. Sprinkle with onions and a C240 badge and you're ready. Can transfer 4 to 5 people. -Click “Read More…” Below for more pics

Pics Via: cn.autoblog.com

Technorati: JAC+Autos, Auto+Shanghai+2007, China, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

Video: Buick Riviera Concept In The Flesh

Buick (ironically) resurrected the Riviera nameplate at the Shanghai Auto Show with an impressive “gullwing-door” coupe, developed by GM & Shanghai’s joint Pan Asian Technical Center in China. In this video we included includes static and driving clips along with shots from the presentation and a few words from GM’s Vice President of Global Design, Ed Welburn.

Technorati: Buick+Riviera, Auto+Shanghai+2007, China, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Roewe W2: Shanghai concept previews Roewe’s forthcoming compact sedan

Roewe, or in other words Rover’s Chinese spouse presented a brand new concept at this year’s Shanghai Show, the W2 sedan which was penned by former MG Rover designers and SAIC's own team. Even though it’s more than obvious that the design team took a peek or two in the Toyota/Lexus range, you’ve have to admit that the W2 actually looks quite good and has nothing to do with most of the dull-looking, mixed-grilled creations you usually see from Chinese car makers. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

According to SAIC owned Roewe, the Ford Focus Sedan sized W2 will go into production towards the end of the year with international sales staring in 2008. The W2 will be Roewe’s second model after the launch of the Rover 75 derived, 750E.

Video: BMW CS Concept

We previewed it; we detailed it; so the only thing left to do to finish up our CS Concept oblation is preview BMW’s video. And no, there’s no driving involved, just your usual concept-car static presentation.

Technorati: BMW+CS+Concept, Auto+Shanghai+2007, China, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Geely Coupe premieres at the Shanghai Show

Trying to dig out information on most Chinese cars -or any other Chinese product for that matter, is worse than searching for a needle in a haystack. With the needle, you find it, it’s over but not when it comes to Chinese sites. When you discover what you want, that’s when big-time trouble starts -just call it translation. We may be in the black when it comes to info but not when it comes to pictures -though with this tranny Skyline-Brera look we’d rather we were… If you can stand it we added a couple more pics including a rear-view image after the jump. Pics via: Geely

Technorati: Auto+Shanghai+2007, Geely, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Official: Buick unveils Riviera Coupe Concept at Shanghai

No thanks to a leak that occurred a few days ago, GM’s Shanghai worldwide surprise premier wasn’t well, that much of a surprise as we've already had the chance to get a taste of the Riviera 2+2 Coupe Concept. No doubt, the "gullwing–door" concept that was developed by GM – Shanghai’s joint Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in China, is an impressive and elegant coupe. However, there’s also no doubt that if you take out Buick’s grille, the Riviera could easily be mistaken for a Lexus prototype. Before you check out all the details for yourself below, let us just add that PATAC designed the Buick Riviera to accommodate a new hybrid system, which will be introduced in China next year prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games. –High-res image gallery & Press Release after the jump

World premiere at Auto Shanghai 2007: Buick Riviera - Stunning Coupe Concept Unveiled in Shanghai

-China-Designed Gullwing Coupe For China's Global Auto Show

-Preview To Buick's New International Design Language

-Buick Returns Riviera Nameplate After Eight Years

-"It's Not East, Not West ... It's Buick"

SHANGHAI - The Buick Riviera, a stunning concept car designed to showcase Buick's new global design direction, made its global debut today at Auto Shanghai 2007. The gullwing Riviera concept coupe was developed with global design input by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in China, a design and engineering joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).

The Riviera was introduced today by Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO, and Hu Maoyuan, SAIC Chairman. The Riviera has been engineered to accommodate a new hybrid system that will go into production at Shanghai GM, GM's flagship joint venture with SAIC, in 2008.

The fuel-efficient car, which will feature several technological and manufacturing advances, represents the latest achievement of GM and its partners in the promotion and development of alternative propulsion technologies in China.

According to Ed Welburn, vice president, GM Global Design, "Developing and launching the Riviera in China underscores the diversity, strength and depth of the GM global design network. It also reflects PATAC's growing role within the GM Design family and China's significance as the world's largest Buick market."

The Riviera also marks the return of a renowned Buick nameplate after an eight-year hiatus, having sold more than 1.1 million units in the United States between 1963 and 1999.

The Buick Riviera, with its tightly stretched carbon fiber body panels, combination of positive and negative curves, strong front and rear identities and gullwing doors, captures the essence of Buick classics, Welburn said, while presenting a thoroughly 21st century design.

"The Riviera concept certainly lived up to the nameplate's reputation," Welburn said.

"We developed the Riviera to communicate the global design vocabulary of the Buick brand and set the stage for General Motors' design, engineering and manufacturing centers to work together on the next generation of Buick mid-size luxury cars."

According to James Shyr, PATAC Design Director, the Riviera's enticing curves and 'earth and water' interior tones are drawn from diverse inspirations including classic Buicks, ancient Chinese artifacts and modern electronic icons. The car, inside and out, communicates universal beauty - a look that transcends cultural or national boundaries.

"Designing this car made us realize how small the world could be. It's not East. It's not West. It's not the United States or China. It's Buick," Shyr said.

Exterior Design - A Sense Of Existence, Not Anonymity

To establish their design direction, PATAC designers looked in part to Buick icons such as the original Y-Job Concept of 1938, the 1960s Le Sabre, Electra 225 and the Riviera coupes of the 1960s and '70s.

The Riviera design is structured around the Buick tri-shield logo, sitting proudly on a trihedral waterfall grille which is formed by three meeting planes. This takes the traditional Buick treatment to a new level of sophisticated boldness.

The Buick logo leads into a reflective strip through the hood, a mark of respect to the distinctive mid-hood crease prevalent in classic Buicks. Elongated LED headlamps flow up the hood sides to three-section, top-mounted chrome portholes as a single piece of jewelry.

The logo, hood strip, headlamps, side mirrors and rocker covers all have 'icy green' backlighting available at night, matched by backlit logo and exhausts at the rear.

Designers have cleverly incorporated several other design signatures from the original Riviera generation. They include the "double sweep spear" line along the bodyside and the flared tail design.

"This car was inspired by great Buicks - their grace, their gesture. This car was designed to achieve a sense of existence. It's not an anonymous car when it drives past you but it's not completely in your face either. We wanted to create something which would make you want to run your hand across it rather than just look at it," Shyr said.

In this theme, the 'Shell Blue' exterior color was chosen to elicit the right level of attention. The color is a metallic silver with light blue accents, perfectly highlighting the coupe's exterior curves.

The gullwing doors, selected for their exotic appeal, achieve an expansive entrance to the two-plus-two seating configuration. Measuring 1938 millimeters at their widest point, they add to the coupe's sleek sideline. At night, fully opened doors gently shine the "Buick" name on the ground.

The use of carbon fiber in all body panels allowed the designers greater flexibility through reduced mass and added strength. This made the gullwing engineering demands easier to realize and sharp, tight radius curves possible across the body surface.

The Riviera sits on 21-inch 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels, combining polished and satin finishes, with low-profile tires. Taking their cue from Formula One cars, the side mirrors are sweeping yet unobtrusive.

PATAC designed the Buick Riviera to accommodate the new hybrid system, which will be introduced in China in 2008 prior to the Beijing Olympics. The new hybrid system fits naturally with the Riviera's 'earth and water' design theme.

Interior Design - All About Relaxation

In a word - sanctuary. The use of rich blue and subtle creams, representing earth and water themes, are conveyed through high-quality leather bucket seats, plush carpet and a luxurious padded steering wheel. Completing the organic feel, the roof comprises two shaded glass windows offering increased headroom and a celestial connection for occupants.

"We had to have the driver feel relaxed and tranquil inside the car. We used earth and water tones and avoided hard, aggressive edges," Shyr said.

The interior has no discernable start and finish point for the front and sides, creating a comfortable lounge feel. It is immediately futuristic yet somehow familiar.

The three-dimensional speedometer, inspired by past classics but utterly modern in design, compliments the touchpad styled central console loosely modeled on a computer mouse. An LCD display screen crowns the central console.

Interior designers were encouraged to consider people's personal belongings to enhance their feeling of familiarity and comfort in the vehicle. Continuing the theme of calm simplicity, electronic shifter pads replace the traditional transmission shifter. Controls are kept to a minimum to avoid driver distraction.

Ambient light strips are applied from across the console and inserted on the door liner, stretching to the front seats. Deliberately imitating precious Chinese jade stone, the lights are tinted a subtle icy green, which also offers tribute to a favored color of Buicks in days gone by.

Interior trim treatments befitting the Buick prestige abound - miniature aluminum tri-shields in the front seat headrests, a wooden floor mat in the rear and a rear central armrest which can move sideways left and right to accommodate passengers of different sizes.

Royal blue Alcantara, a soft plush covering, was chosen for the door, console and roof while sandy white leather covers the lower door, lower console and seats.

Ancient Influences In Modern Design

The design team set out to create a modern global design - not something which could be superficially described as a Chinese car. At the same time, they sought to draw from their heritage outside the automotive industry from classic shapes, concepts and artifacts. They wanted to include a subtle Chinese essence and influence if one looked deeply enough.

A strong influence was the yuanbao, a small curvaceous gold or silver ingot used in ancient China as currency and popular today as a symbol of ancient Chinese prosperity.

"This design was about the East and the West co-existing in harmony. We always wanted to make a global car, to take a sense of the Buick DNA and create something for the world," Shyr said.

"It is so wonderful that our designers can take some of the rich culture behind them and make it international. East, West, Buick, China - there's no missing piece in the puzzle in here. Riviera has captured the essence of Buick - grace, gesture, form and emotion."

Buick Riviera: Key Dimensions

Body

Body style-Coupe

Number and style of doors-Two gullwing

Seating capacity-2 + 2

Bodyshell-Carbon fiber panels

Exterior dimensions (mm)

Wheelbase-2870

Length-4710

Width-1940 (excluding mirrors)

Height-1415 (doors closed)

Front overhang-918

Rear overhang-924

Front track-1645

Rear track-1635

Technorati: Buick+Riviera, Auto+Shanghai+2007, China, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures