BMW is making plans with its Chinese partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. to develop a new fully electric model designed specifically for the local market, according to Autonews Europe citing a report from the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper.
The report added that the EV will be built on the platform of the current BMW 5-Series, a long-wheel base version of which is assembled at the German firm's plant in Shenyang, China, and that a pre-production concept study will make its world premiere at an auto show in China sometime this year. No other details were given about the electric model.
Source: Beijing Youth Daily via Autonews [Sub. Req]
China's recently developed passion for cars is paving the way for an increasing number of new vehicles targeting value-conscious consumers. Along with Nissan, which took the wraps of the 2011 Sunny, Honda also debuted a new small sedan today at the 2010 China International Automobile Exhibition.
Called the S1, the four-door model will be marketed under the newly formed Li Nian brand, created by Guangqi Honda, a Chinese joint venture owned by Honda and the Guangzhou Automobile Group.
The Li Nian S1 is the far less exciting (from a design standpoint) production version of the Everus Concept, which made its world premiere at the Guangzhou Motor Show in April. Even though Honda is keeping most details about the car under wraps, it appears that the S1 is based off the previous generation Honda City (Fit / Jazz sedan), and not the newer model of the car, which was released in 2008.
According to Honda, the S1 targets the younger generation in China and "adopts a powerful, energetic and outstanding design form".
The Li Nian S1 will be available in the market from the spring of 2011 through the current Guangqi Honda sales channel, with engine options including 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter petrol units.
Taking center stage and making its world debut at the 8th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition, is Nissan's all-new global small sedan, which will be locally marketed as the Sunny. According to the Japanese automaker, the new small sedan will go on sale first in China in January 2011 and then progressively across 170 countries worldwide under different vehicle brand names.
Even though Nissan's Spartan press release did not mention the Versa, there are one too many styling similarities between the new Sunny and the 2012 Versa sedan teased in an official sketch released by the automaker in October 2010. However, we have to stress the fact that Nissan has not made a connection between the two cars.
The Sunny, or as Nissan likes to call it, the firm's new global sedan, is believed to be based on the underpinnings of the Micra supermini, something that could explain the striking resemblance of the dashboard design.
Among the few details released about the car is that in China, it will be offered with Nissan's 1.5-liter HR15DE four-cylinder engine linked to Xtronic CVT, and that engineers have fitted the Sunny with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam for the rear suspension.
For the China market, the new Sunny will be produced in Dongfeng Nissan’s Huadu Plant in Guangzhou and will be priced from RMB 82.8K to 112.8K (US$12,450-16,830 / €9,400 -12,700 / Yen 1.04 million - 1.41million).
Citroën's CEO of Asian operations, Gregoire Olivier, has revealed that the company is planning a production version of the beautifully styled Metropolis concept car to compete against German luxury brands, primarily in China.
The sporty looking limousine, which will most likely be called the DS9, will be built by PSA/Peugeot-Citroën's joint venture with Changan Automobile Group in China.
"The Metropolis will happen -- it will become a real car," Olivier told Autonews China on the sidelines of an industry conference in Shanghai. "The same styling elements will be used for a high-level Citroen car to be developed in China. We want to build up the premier line in China -- the Metropolis is emblematic of our approach."
Olivier did not reveal production volume estimates or a market launch date for the production version of the Metropolis. Also, no word on when and which other markets (aside from China) the DS9 will be offered. However, PSA executives have noted that they are not sure if they'll sell a hybrid version of the car in China, which leads us to assume the DS9 could be offered in other markets including Europe as the firm's flagship model.
The Metropolis concept car is the creation of Citroën's international design team that is based in Shanghai since 2008. Even though it is built on the same platform as the Citroen C6 and Peugeot 508, the imposing limousine measures an impressive 5.3m in length, 2.0m in width and 1.4m in height, meaning its larger than the long wheel-base version of the new Audi A8.
In concept form, the Metropolis features a hybrid powertrain comprising of a 2.0-liter V6 engine connected to a 7-speed, dual-clutch electronic gearbox, and an electric motor.
At low speeds, the concept can run in pure electric mode with the battery-powered motor delivering a continuous 55bhp (40kW) and a peak output of 95bhp. According to Citroen, at steady speeds on main roads and motorways, the V6 engine provides 272bhp (200kW) and 375Nm of torque, but when additional performance is required, the car uses both the powerplants to deliver a maximum output of 460bhp (345kW) and 430Nm of torque. It also features a four-wheel drive mode for when extra grip is needed.
