TStag Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Just came across this article about China's first real attempt at a car for gaining serious export sales. It's the Roewe 550: http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/roewe550f.htm Basically they got a load of unemployed British car engineers and stylists to develop the car for production in China. Bearing in mind this is their FIRST serious attempt at going for exports then I think it's a rather good attempt. Being designed in Britain then I'd expect it to get strong safety ratings. It doesn't look bad at all. I prefer the styling of the Mondeo but for a first attempt then I have to say I think they are heading in the right direction. This is the first of at least 20 new models. The company responsible also owns MG and Ssangyong. MG are expected to base a car on this design and build it in the UK. It will get very different styling I suspect. They are also gearing up a sportscar range too. Personally I think they will be the next big thing. This is a competitive car and it's only their first attempt! It will be interesting to see how much this British designed, Chinese made car undercuts the competition when it hit's US shores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Just came across this article about China's first real attempt at a car for gaining serious export sales. It's the Roewe 550: http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/roewe550f.htm Basically they got a load of unemployed British car engineers and stylists to develop the car for production in China. Bearing in mind this is their FIRST serious attempt at going for exports then I think it's a rather good attempt. Being designed in Britain then I'd expect it to get strong safety ratings. It doesn't look bad at all. I prefer the styling of the Mondeo but for a first attempt then I have to say I think they are heading in the right direction. This is the first of at least 20 new models. The company responsible also owns MG and Ssangyong. MG are expected to base a car on this design and build it in the UK. It will get very different styling I suspect. They are also gearing up a sportscar range too. Personally I think they will be the next big thing. This is a competitive car and it's only their first attempt! It will be interesting to see how much this British designed, Chinese made car undercuts the competition when it hit's US shores. I agree that it doesn't look too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 (edited) Hope it does better in crash tests than their other attempts. And it looks like a facelifted VW Jetta!! Still no original ideas from the Chinese. Edited April 23, 2008 by NickF1011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemiman Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Just came across this article about China's first real attempt at a car for gaining serious export sales. It's the Roewe 550: http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/roewe550f.htm Basically they got a load of unemployed British car engineers and stylists to develop the car for production in China. Bearing in mind this is their FIRST serious attempt at going for exports then I think it's a rather good attempt. Being designed in Britain then I'd expect it to get strong safety ratings. It doesn't look bad at all. I prefer the styling of the Mondeo but for a first attempt then I have to say I think they are heading in the right direction. This is the first of at least 20 new models. The company responsible also owns MG and Ssangyong. MG are expected to base a car on this design and build it in the UK. It will get very different styling I suspect. They are also gearing up a sportscar range too. Personally I think they will be the next big thing. This is a competitive car and it's only their first attempt! It will be interesting to see how much this British designed, Chinese made car undercuts the competition when it hit's US shores. Looks a lot like a Saturn to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomaro Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 It will be interesting to see how much this British designed, Chinese made car undercuts the competition when it hit's US shores. With the way the dollar is dropping, it won't undercut anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 (edited) Looks a lot like a Saturn to me. The profile is dead-on Saturn L-series. Edited April 23, 2008 by NickF1011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TStag Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hope it does better in crash tests than their other attempts. And it looks like a facelifted VW Jetta!! Still no original ideas from the Chinese. The car should be very good in the crash tests as it was designed and engineered by a British team who used to work for Rover cars. Bear in mind this project and it's entire team started developing this car for a mainstream European manfacturer. Then the Chinese just recruited them after the company went bust. As for the looks then all I'd say is it never stopped the Japanese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8-X Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 It's okay, but looks like almost every other sedan on the road. At least it's a good start though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I will believe it when I see it - the chinese have been coming for the past 2 years .. always only months away .,... yet here we are in 2008 and still nuttin... Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TStag Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 I will believe it when I see it - the chinese have been coming for the past 2 years .. always only months away .,... yet here we are in 2008 and still nuttin... Igor I'm guessing you won't see it in America too soon. Europe is the priority for this car. But if they can crack that in the next 2 years then I'd expect to see a full on US assault next. Personally I'm slightly disturbed that we in the West are going to be competing with cars designed in the west but built mainly in China. Aren't we doing ourselves out of jobs? It's not like the Chinese have designed and engineered this model. Hyundai/ Kia are also doing something similar now and they are growing extremely fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 I'm guessing you won't see it in America too soon. Europe is the priority for this car. But if they can crack that in the next 2 years then I'd expect to see a full on US assault next. Personally I'm slightly disturbed that we in the West are going to be competing with cars designed in the west but built mainly in China. Aren't we doing ourselves out of jobs? It's not like the Chinese have designed and engineered this model. Hyundai/ Kia are also doing something similar now and they are growing extremely fast. The Chinese may not have designed and engineered it (initially), but you can bet your first born that they are already looking at ways to cut corners and make it as cheap as possible to produce. It's in their nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 (edited) I think the crash tests have improved, but everything else is lagging behind every other automaker out there. I can only imagine how half-assed their product offering might be with their product as is being pushed on the American market. Edited April 24, 2008 by Michael Reynolds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danglin Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: Available soon at a Wal-Mart near You!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebritt Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Anybody that buys one of the chinese crap cars needs a bitch slappin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TStag Posted April 24, 2008 Author Share Posted April 24, 2008 (edited) Don't assume they need to cut corners. A lot of these companies are financially strong as the Domestic market is huge for them at home and not only do they sell their own cars but they have tie ups making other peoples. Look closely at this car. It's a benchmark. Frankly speaking it looks better built than a number of western cars (most Dodge's for example). This really is the car of nightmares. I'd like someone to pick holes in it really. Maybe the interior isn't quite good enough? But in all honesty this car looks like a Lexus at sub Ford prices. On the upside the Chinese look set to announce they plan to restart volume car production in the UK. On the downside every component will come from China! Anybody that buys one of the chinese crap cars needs a bitch slappin. Yes, but look at it and point out where it is crap. Otherwise your just saying it in hope knowing full well that it's going to be heading the next wave of imports Japanese style.... Edited April 24, 2008 by TStag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 On the upside the Chinese look set to announce they plan to restart volume car production in the UK. On the downside every component will come from China! And there you go. The Chinese can't produce medicine, toys, toothpaste, or anything else without fucking it up somehow, yet you expect them to be able to produce flawless complex automotive assemblies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I know these videos have been posted before, however I think we all should have a reminder before we run off and start buying cheap Chinese cars. These videos give a new meaning to structural integrity. There are a lot of people that love their cheap Chinese Wal-Mart crap though so who knows maybe they will go wild over Chinese cars too. Last, I wonder how they will do in regards to reliability or are these the first cars designed to be a throw away item? Chinese Brillance BS6 Sedan Crash Test Chinese Chery Amulent Sedan Crash Test Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TStag Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 I know these videos have been posted before, however I think we all should have a reminder before we run off and start buying cheap Chinese cars. These videos give a new meaning to structural integrity. There are a lot of people that love their cheap Chinese Wal-Mart crap though so who knows maybe they will go wild over Chinese cars too. Last, I wonder how they will do in regards to reliability or are these the first cars designed to be a throw away item? Chinese Brillance BS6 Sedan Crash Test Chinese Chery Amulent Sedan Crash Test Yep I accept that but what I'm saying here is that this model was'nt designed or engineered in China it was designed and engineered in Britain for the European market. It can fail such rudamentary tests here. I'd be surprised if it didn't get 4 NCAP stars minimum. Also it will be face lifted to wear the MG badge. There's even talk of the Chinese recruiting more European and US specialists. All they plan to do in China is build what the experts abroad advise them to make to the standards they set...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critic Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 There are a lot of people that love their cheap Chinese Wal-Mart crap though so who knows maybe they will go wild over Chinese cars too. Last, I wonder how they will do in regards to reliability or are these the first cars designed to be a throw away item? Yugo boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OX1 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 The Chinese may not have designed and engineered it (initially), but you can bet your first born that they are already looking at ways to cut corners and make it as cheap as possible to produce. It's in their nature. Not bad looking, but most of their stuff is junk in my experience. They seem to have a long way to go in quality control....... I've gone way out of my way to not buy chinese trailer tires at this point.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Yep I accept that but what I'm saying here is that this model was'nt designed or engineered in China it was designed and engineered in Britain for the European market. It can fail such rudamentary tests here. I'd be surprised if it didn't get 4 NCAP stars minimum. Also it will be face lifted to wear the MG badge. There's even talk of the Chinese recruiting more European and US specialists. All they plan to do in China is build what the experts abroad advise them to make to the standards they set...... Possibly you are right, however build and workmanship of the product remains to be seen. What corners were cut? Putting my life in the hands of a Communist country that could care less about basic human rights let alone a person's safety doesn't give me a warm fuzzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebritt Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Yes, but look at it and point out where it is crap. Otherwise your just saying it in hope knowing full well that it's going to be heading the next wave of imports Japanese style.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F06LjugtIUo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Swzbt76wBM...feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dimg2n2Azwg...feature=related Do you need any more????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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