Thanks to our colleagues reporting from their home turf on Autoblog Chinese, we now have the first official shots of the Rover 75-based sedan from Roewe, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.'s (SAIC) newly minted brand. We've shown you spy shots of the large sedan, but these are the first official pics that show off the new sedan's front end. The shape of the face is a bit Rover-esque, but the new fascia incorporates a large chromed grille frame that's bisected by body work a la Audi, new headlight clusters and vertically stacked fog lamps at the corners. We are also given a few interior pics that, quite honestly, look decidely unlike what we usually think of (rightly or wrongly) as Chinese craftsmanship. The sedan's inner sanctum uses a combination of matte gray plastic, beige plastic and leather, as well as a light wood trim. A satellite navigation system is present, as well as what looks like the shifter for a 5- or 6-speed automatic transmission with no manual control. We've surmised in the past that engine offerings might include a 1.8-liter and 2.5-liter, the smaller of the two perhaps sporting a turbocharger. The pics show a tachometer with a redline of about 6,750 rpm, though that's hardly a telling clue. Looks like we'll have to wait a little longer to discover the mechanical details of Roewe's first offering that's destined for export all over the world.
More pictures can be found after the jump.
[Source: Autoblog Chinese]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Howard Kerr @ Oct 23rd 2006 11:24AM
It's been a while since I've seen any pix of the 75, but it looks like the interior is "lightly restyled" while the exterior........
Mechanically, the 75 had inline 4s (including a turbo diesel) but was originally produced with a 2.5 V6. The diesel was actually quite good, the 6 was pretty good, and the available 4s (I remember a 2 liter, not sure if a 1.8 was offered by Rover) wasn't too bad.
I'm avoiding talking about the exterior because the 75 was a pretty decent looking car (Jaguar X-type competitive), and it's hard to tell from these photos whether "going Audi" has improved or distorted the looks of a good car.
Bingo @ Oct 23rd 2006 11:46AM
I wonder if it will be sold at Wal-Mart.
Sean C @ Oct 23rd 2006 11:58AM
it looks like they're trying to be more luxurious than it is, the same way that KIA and Hyundai design. The headlights look like 300C/BMW knock-offs.
It will be interesting to see in person.
Andre @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:05PM
What's up with these Chinese Companies ripping off Design style of other cars? Looking at that Photo the Front end looks exactly like a Chrysler 300c Front End with slight variations to make it slightly different..
emulous1974 @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:06PM
Very interesting, it looks good, but I'm not sure I can tell of the quality by the pics. But it has created enough interest that I will check one out when it arrives in the U.S. By looks alone, if its priced right, I can see this doing well in the U.S.
M. @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:09PM
@1: There was also a RWD conversion with a V8 available (old Ford block). I do not know if it was just sold with the MG badge, but I think there was also a "decent" version labelled as Rover.
There where speculations that the 1.8l will be based on the Volkswagen 827 engine. But noone knows...
auto specifications @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:11PM
I don't like it to much.
Also the dashboard looks like a car from '60s
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/
Greg A. @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:12PM
#2: You can see the pointer (the hand that you get when you move it onto a link) in the fifth and sixth pictures after the jump (just to the right of the gearshift and at the bottom center, respectively). Let's hope SAIC pay more attention to detail in the production of the car than they did in the production of these photos.
Wyce @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:13PM
The interior definitely looks rendered, so it's hard to comment on it yet.
N Z K @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:57PM
...If they were only going to make detail changes, why not start with the first iteration of the 75? Much more attractive car. The second one just doesn't compare, though I imagine that its face is much better suited to the addition of a Fu Manchu than the first.
Rocket Punch @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:14PM
@8
Then you must hate pretty much the Mustang, Charger, Camero and Ford GT; they bascially all copied...um.. I mean "inspired" by the 60's "orginal" car design, no?
Drewboy @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:14PM
That's a beautiful looking car. I really want this new Chrysler 300 when it comes out! Wait a minute... (lol)
Keith M @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:30PM
not real photographs - this is an illustration.
Corey W. @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:52PM
Before you say this is a 300C ripoff, think about where DCX "borrowed" that design from.
andybee @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:58PM
Hey - all those people that are saying the Chinese are stealing off of the 300C and a like
The lights and the overall shape of the grille and virtually all the interior and exterior all come from MG Rover days
Leo @ Oct 23rd 2006 2:30PM
that interior reminds me of recent Buicks
but it does not look that bad thou,
Chrystler should have had this design for their Sebring, but somehow they messed up and created a very ugly one.
JW @ Oct 23rd 2006 3:30PM
How do you pronounce Roewe? As in row a boat?
Charles @ Oct 23rd 2006 6:03PM
I thought this was a site for people who cared about everything related to automobiles. What if someone photoshopped the steering wheel and added a Lexus badget to it? Give SAIC credit for trying to produce a somewhat attractive interior in the relative short time the company has existed. It took the Koreans a lot longer to come up with something you wouldn't mind driving and could actually afford!
ian @ Oct 23rd 2006 6:15PM
looks like a Rover. Oh, it IS a Rover.
ZiiRo @ Oct 24th 2006 2:54AM
@18: Its Chinese name (from which the 'roewe' name is derived, i assumed) is pronounced as "rong - way"..
Now that i think abt it, it sounds like "wrong-way" Lol