Shanghai 2009: Roewe N1 continues to advance concept of credible Chinese design
Roewe N1 Concept - Click above for high-res gallery
Chinese automakers have been on the receiving end of barbs for some time now, particularly when it comes to styling. In terms of both originality and proportion, most Sino automakers have struggled to find both balance and identity, but among them, SAIC Roewe has been able to build on its Rover roots and churn out some rather attractive designs. Case in point: The N1. Now showing in Shanghai for the first time, the N1 sedan is quite well resolved from most angles, and its design is widely expected to make it into production unscathed. That the car's styling jibes with Western sensibilities is important, because the company plans to roll a production N1 out not just to domestic audiences next year, but likely to European audiences a short time later.Unlike some previous Roewe offerings, the N1 sits on a new chassis, but it will reportedly still rely on updated versions of the British automaker's K-series four-cylinder powerplants.
Inside, the N1 is rather more ambitious, featuring a touch-screen interface with full-on internet connectivity, a "3D" digital gauge cluster, and a navigation system based on open-source coding. The car's high-tech dashboard gubbins are likely to remain a showcar-only detail for the next few years, however.
Gallery: shanghai 2009:Roewe N1 concept
Photos copyright ©2009 IceBin/ Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Autoblog Simplified Chinese]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
why not the LS2LS7? 12:04PM (4/20/2009)
Those headlights are straight off the Volt. I guess they got them from same supplier? Tail is nice although a complete copy of a Chinese-market Buick.
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Rob 12:08PM (4/20/2009)
Uh, no they aren't. Look again. They both have a blue line in them, but they lower edge shape is completely inversed. The volt lights taper towards the rear, these taper towards the center of the grille.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:13PM (4/20/2009)
True, plus looking at pics, the Vole ones are more elongated. They still give an overly-similar impression.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:19PM (4/20/2009)
Steering wheel is very familiar too.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-china-buick-regal/1248204/
asng15 12:28AM (4/21/2009)
this is damn good looking car, campare with all these Chrysler and Dodge "box design", I would give this a shot.........
big J 3:56PM (4/20/2009)
Steering wheel? You got to be kidding me, its a friggin circle dude. Should they turn it into a square or something or how about a star?
why not the LS2LS7? 4:15PM (4/20/2009)
Did you not even look at the pics of the steering wheel?
Same spoke configuration (exactly), virtually identical controls on the wheel. Only the horn button/airbag is different in shape, and it isn't that much different.
Soul Shinobi 7:10PM (4/20/2009)
I've got to agree with you for once--that whole CAR is straight of the Volt.
tekd 8:18PM (4/20/2009)
Dude, who cares about the steering wheel. They might very well be the same basic frame design because SAIC builds the damned Buicks in China and it's cheaper for GM and SAIC to source components together to save money.
What do you want them to do, randomly make the steering wheel an inch bigger and shove more spokes in? They obviously spent time making the steering wheel look fairly unique anyway, nitpicking the fact that it has the same number of spokes and is probably the same size is ridiculous. They're clearly capable of designing their own unique exteriors and interiors, and the underpinnings are their own IP too, so for you to focus on the fact that the steering wheel has the same number of spokes as the Buicks they build is pretty f'ing ridiculous.
why not the LS2LS7? 10:35PM (4/20/2009)
It's not just the same number of spokes. It's the same config of spokes. The bottom spokes even are color split on both. And the control wheels are in the exact same spot.
I don't agree "they obviously spent time making the steering wheel look unique". If they did so, it wouldn't look so much like the Buick one. Did you even look at the pics?
asng15 4:04AM (4/21/2009)
big J
3:56PM (4/20/2009)
Steering wheel? You got to be kidding me, its a friggin circle dude. Should they turn it into a square or something or how about a star?
you got me Big J
LOL Laughing Out Loud on this one..............the star.............iguess peoplejust too sensitive on china just relax,it is a car.........i mean a car.
nony 9:32PM (4/20/2009)
Credible design that looks like a cross between a Honda Civic and Volt, and a steering wheel with controls that are lifted from the previous gen Audis. Colour me unimpressed with the design.
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AntBee 12:09PM (4/20/2009)
I like the dash board. The built-in iPod dock is a nice touch, too.
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Craig 12:09PM (4/20/2009)
Why is the model wearing Batman's breatplate?
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taipeileviathan 1:21PM (4/20/2009)
yah i'm surprised noone else said anything. i like the car design but wtf did they force that poor model to wear?? it's gotta be the least attractive, least feminine, least logical thing i've ever seen any person wear. they completely eliminate any sense of her having boobs and just looks like a football uniform made of chain mail. normally i'd laugh at this kind of stuff but it's so confusing and i feel so bad for her that this is not even funny anymore...
Rich 2:05PM (4/20/2009)
Probably because she's sick of people staring at her parts, so she took a leaf from Audi's book.
big J 3:52PM (4/20/2009)
indeed, who ever is in charge of model costumes needs to go NOW.
Swede 12:10PM (4/20/2009)
I'd buy the exterior, commenting on the interior is a bit moot but even though it's a concept it feels like it needs a bit of polish. The gauge cluster looks interesting, albeit cluttered.
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Aki 12:11PM (4/20/2009)
Wow, the first Chinese design that I like. The blue plasticky electro-dash looks hideous, but otherwise it's nicely executed.
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Dondonel 12:21PM (4/20/2009)
It's not bad, but it is still a Corolla with better headlamps and tail lights, which are not going to remain there if the car enters production.