SAIC to launch mild hybrid in 2010?
After investing a few hundred million dollars into alternative powertrain research, China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) says that it's finally ready to produce its first hybrid car. Nothing too fancy, just a mild hybrid with an electric motor that isn't capable of powering the vehicle without the assistance of the gas-powered engine. The battery pack, at least, is a suitably high-tech lithium ion unit that will be supplied by Johnson Controls, which has a joint venture with battery-maker SAFT to produce automotive packs. SAIC expects a fuel savings of about 20%. The platform for SAIC's first hybrid will be the old Rover 75, which was renamed the Roewe 750 after being bought out by its Chinese owners. Assuming all goes to plan with this first hybrid step, SAIC plans to branch further into the alternative propulsion world with an all-electric model.
[Source: Automotive News – subs. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
stecki 8:45AM (1/24/2009)
i'm having pizza for breakfast. how about you guys?
Reply
MemphisNET 8:59AM (1/24/2009)
Word! Some left over Domino's, and a bit of Chinese food too :D
viper GTS-R 8:53AM (1/24/2009)
That thing looks like a cross between a 300 and a Holden.
--RS
Reply
EvolutionVII 9:47AM (1/24/2009)
The original Rover 75 was released back in 1998. The facelift in 2004 already looked like this Roewe 750. The 300C was released in 2004 so there's no reason to call the SAIC a bunch of copycats.
Tragedy 9:49AM (1/24/2009)
You want a cookie, Captain Obvious?
firstplace 11:25AM (1/24/2009)
bet the paint chips off and causes cancer.
Craig 12:58PM (1/24/2009)
Yeah the 300 comment is astute. If Chrysler were to follow through with limiting their own manufacturing and just focus on marketing badge engineered vehicles from other companies, this could work wonders for them given the coincidental similarities to the 300...
Reply
MemphisNET 9:00AM (1/24/2009)
Whew, I thought I was the only one seeing it.
Reply
Rochester, NY 10:57AM (1/24/2009)
Wow. Could that be any more blatant? This is a 300C copycat.
Reply
jeff 1:04PM (1/24/2009)
Wow. Didn't you ever know cars other than Chrysler or 300C? For examples : Rover, MG, etc. And for your reference: this is originally Rover 75, long before 300C coming out.
Dazza 8:05PM (1/24/2009)
"wow Dazza, i think you spend more time bashing Americans than you do cars"
The car itself can't help being what it is. Whatsmore, the 75 was itself a decent motor car in its day. However, comments such as "wow ... could that be any more blatant ... this is a 300C copycat" from people who are completely ignorant of the motor industry beyond their own shores deserve all the bashing that comes to them.
Rochester, NY 9:39PM (1/24/2009)
Aw, Mr. Dazza... I'll never look at another 300C without thinking fondly of this exchange.
Now where did I leave the keys to my pickup?
Michael 1:01PM (1/24/2009)
PSYCH!
(SAIC!)
Reply
Dazza 1:48PM (1/24/2009)
To all the unworldly American blue-collar idiots: SAIC bought the rights to Rover products following MGR's collapse in 2005, but couldn't use the Rover name since it was owned by Ford. The car pictured is a rebadged Rover 75.
Reply
Rochester, NY 7:53PM (1/24/2009)
On behalf of all the unworldly American blue-collar idiots, thanks for the unprejudiced insight there, Dazza. I must say, you're going to feel pretty silly once our Hovercar Market takes off!
n8iveva 3:30PM (1/24/2009)
wow Dazza, i think you spend more time bashing Americans than you do cars
Randy915 7:22PM (1/24/2009)
Dazza's merely stating facts because I doubt most Americans even know what a Rover is.
sitruc 4:43PM (1/24/2009)
Oh, that SAIC.
Reply
ugg.tryptophan 11:49PM (1/24/2009)
i can dig it
Reply
Dazza 11:58AM (1/25/2009)
"Aw, Mr. Dazza... I'll never look at another 300C without thinking fondly of this exchange.
Now where did I leave the keys to my pickup?" - Rochester NY
Probably somewhere in your trailer.
Reply