AutoBeat | blog Auto news, reviews, concepts, auto shows, first drive

Chery A6CC Concept Geely KingKong 2 Huanghai NCV Roewe W2 GreatWall i7 Great Wall GW413EF GreatWall Cowry MPV Soar Automotive 1 Chery Shooting Sport Hafei HF8 MPV Brilliance Jinjue FRV Chery Tiggo 6 BYD F3-R Chang'an CV8 Concept Shuanghuan CEO SUV Shuanghuan Little Noble Geely Vision 2 FAW Weizi JAC C926 Haima H11 Haima Auto 3 Huanghai CUV BYD F6 BYD F8 source: automen

Fiat had a small but impressive lineup at the Auto Shanghai . The Italian company is trying to revive its local operation and find new partners to cash in on the China automotive boom. Currently, Fiat has just one small production plant in China: a joint venture with Nanjing Auto, where a small number of Palio and Siena cars are being produced each year. Now that Nanjing Auto is focusing on reviving MG, Fiat is looking for a new angle to make its way in the China market. At the Shanghai show, many visitors were attracted to the stylish new Bravo hatchback. As Fred Duan, commercial director of Nanjing-Fiat, put it: "When you buy an import car in China, you want something special." Bringing in the Bravo would provide a halo effect for the brand, but it wouldn't be a mainstream product. The midsize Linea — which was the centerpiece of Fiat's stand here — could do that job, but the business case has not yet been made for its local production. Fiat is also trying to find...

The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), one of China's dominant conglomerates, had a vast hall to itself at the Shanghai show. Much of it was devoted to the fruits of joint ventures with General Motors and Volkswagen — but a huge chunk was reserved for the Roewe 750, a revived Rover 75. Elsewhere at the show, Nanjing Auto presented its new MG7. To show-goers, the Roewe 750 looked more promising and more accomplished than Nanjing's MG. Just before the show's opening, SAIC chairman Hu Maoyan told the Associated Press in an interview that his company is open to cooperation with Nanjing Auto. SAIC showed it has big plans for the Roewe brand. The company displayed a hybrid version of the executive sedan as well as a concept car called the W2, which was designed by former MG-Rover designers in cooperation with SAIC engineers. Shanghai Auto targets adding a second model to the Roewe range by the end of this year, and the solid-looking package that was the W2 is a c...

Shanghai General Motors is showing the newest member of its Buick lineup, the Park Avenue luxury sedan, on the GM stand at Auto Shanghai 2007. The Park Avenue made its global debut in Shanghai on April 10. Like the affluent New York City boulevard of the same name, Buick's Park Avenue is trendy and luxurious. With its range of advanced technologies and high-grade amenities, not to mention a stylish design that conveys a sense of power and passion, it is representative of traditional American luxury sedans. "The Park Avenue is the perfect blend of tranquility and power," said Shanghai GM President Ding Lei. "It shows Buick's ability to move with the times while continuing to leverage our global resources and local knowledge. Designed especially for business leaders and other elites, it is a component of our effort to maintain our leadership position in China by addressing the needs of all of our customers." The Park Avenue is the first vehicle available in As...

Great Wall , a major pickup truck and SUV producer in China, is about to launch its second plant to produce passenger cars and minivans. That explains the company's special emphasis on those categories in its display at Auto Shanghai . Altogether, there will be 10 new models and a self-developed engine. IL previewed the Cowry and the i7 earlier this month. The i7 will be the first model to roll out of Great Wall 's new 200,000-unit-a-year production facility, which will come on stream later this year. Other new models will include the Toyota-like Florid and Coolbear, plus the Peri. All were shown at Auto Beijing last year. The Peri got Fiat's attention for its striking similarity to the Italian automaker's Panda. A pending lawsuit couldn't stop Great Wall from creating a four-wheel-drive version of the minicar the company calls its "first mini-SUV." In addition to the new cars, a new self-developed gasoline engine will be highlighted. Code-named "GW4...

Geely will unveil three new concept cars and the first Geely -made London taxi at Auto Shanghai 2007 . Geely says its aim is to move away from the image of being a producer of bread-and-butter models and highlight its R&D ability. The company also intends to take what it calls "active steps" to enter the North American and European markets. The trio of concepts being showcased at Shanghai point to that goal with their modern engines and greatly improved quality. Pride of place goes to an updated version of the Meirenbao (Beauty Leopard) sport coupe. An observer can be forgiven for wondering what happened to the rest of the car. Next comes the Vision II, an updated version of the Vision that started as the FC-1 midsize sedan from the 2005 Frankfurt show. Very little information is available on this car ahead of the unveiling. The third model will be a second version of the King Kong; the original went on sale last year. The Geely stand will be further enlivened by the ...