Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: Champion's Champions Crowned at 2009 Race of Champions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/spoiler-alert-winners-winners-crowned-at-2009-race-of-champion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/spoiler-alert-winners-winners-crowned-at-2009-race-of-champion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/spoiler-alert-winners-winners-crowned-at-2009-race-of-champion/#commentsFiled under: ,


2009 Race of Champions - Click above for high-res image gallery

Every year, around the world, drivers compete wheel to wheel in all manner of racing series, from rally to F1, touring cars to Le Mans and everything in between. It gives racing fans plenty of varied action to follow, but it leaves one question ultimately unanswered: who is the world's best driver? That's where the Race of Champions comes in.

The event has been held every year since 1988 at the end of the regular racing season, giving the world's best from all manner of racing series the world over a chance to compete against one another on equal footing and common ground. And this year's Race of Champions was no less decisive. Follow the jump to read who claimed victory as the champion of champions.


Gallery: Race of Champions 2009

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Champion's Champions Crowned at 2009 Race of Champions

SPOILER ALERT: Champion's Champions Crowned at 2009 Race of Champions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 race of champions2009RaceOfChampionsbeijingbirds nestBirdsNestchinaekstromfoustgermanymattias ekstromMattiasEkstrommichael schumacherMichaelSchumacherpastranarace of championsrace of champions 2009RaceOfChampionsRaceOfChampions2009rocschumachersebastian vettelSebastianVetteltanner foustTannerFousttravis pastranaTravisPastranavettelWed, 04 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 Race of Champions heads to Beijing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/2009-race-of-champions-heads-to-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/2009-race-of-champions-heads-to-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/2009-race-of-champions-heads-to-beijing/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2008 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium - Click above for high-res image gallery

Most of this year's major motorsport series are winding to a close. Champions are being crowned. Teams are preparing for next year. You know what that means: it's time for the Race of Champions.

The international event has been held for the past twenty years, and it always offers a real spectacle as some of the world's best drivers compete for top honors. And this year figures to be no different. Held for the first time outside of Europe at the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, the 2009 Race of Champions is set to take place next week, packed with an all-star roster.

Among those taking part this year will be newly-crowned Formula One World Champion Jenson Button, seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, recently retired F1 stalwart David Coulthard and rising star Sebastian Vettel. Although six-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb - who won the RoC last year and twice before that - has apparently opted to sit this one out, perennial runner-up Mikko Hirvonen will be competing, along with Audi's multiple Le Mans winners Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro; touring car champions Andy Priaulx, Mattias Ekstrom, Jamie Whincup and Yvan Muller; Dakar winner Giniel deVilliers, Monegasque single-seat racer Clivio Piccione and Australian bike racer Mick Doohan. And finally, these United States will be represented by two of our very finest showmen, Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust.

This year, the champions will be competing for bragging rights behind the wheels of such varied machinery as the Ford Focus WRC, Volkswagen Scirocco, KTM X-Bow, Solution F Prototype Opel touring car and three different specially-equipped sprint cars. Tune in on Tuesday, November 3 - just two days after the 2009 Formula One World Championship wraps up in Abu Dhabi - for the results.


Gallery: 2008 Race of Champions


[Source: Race of Champions | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

2009 Race of Champions heads to Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 race of champions2009RaceOfChampionsbeijingbirds nestBirdsNestClivio PiccioneClivioPiccioneDavid CoulthardDavidCoulthardEmanuele PirroEmanuelePirroGiniel deVilliersGinielDevilliersJenson ButtonJensonButtonMichael SchumacherMichaelSchumacherMike DoohanMikeDoohanMikko HirvonenMikkoHirvonenrace of championsRaceOfChampionsrocSebastian VettelSebastianVettelSebastien LoebSebastienLoebTanner FaustTannerFaustTom KristensenTomKristensenTravis PastranaTravisPastranaThu, 29 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[We Are All Bumblebee: Beijing Transformers fans gather to celebrate <i>Revenge of the Fallen</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/we-are-all-bumblebee-beijing-transformers-fans-gather-to-celebr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/we-are-all-bumblebee-beijing-transformers-fans-gather-to-celebr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/we-are-all-bumblebee-beijing-transformers-fans-gather-to-celebr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Beijing Bumblebee gathering - click above for high-res image gallery

Less than one week before Transformers 2: Rise of the Fallen goes into wide release in China, fans of the morphing vehicle-turned-robot movie franchise took to the streets of Beijing in full Bumblebee regalia.

What looks to be a well-organized event was put on by website Autohome.com.cn, and it appears that they even managed to get General Motors' Chevrolet division in on the act, with a new Bumblebee-spec Camaro to lead the procession of like-painted fan cars.

We're not sure we'd go with the yellow-and-black stripes treatment on our own rides, but we remain impressed with both the dedication and the sheer variety of cars that have been given the 'Full Bumblebee,' including a couple of new Cruze sedans and a passel of Aveos, a Ford Focus, a Suzuki Swift and an SX4, a Citroen C4 - even a Mark II Volkswagen Golf. Check out the high-res photo gallery after the jump, and be sure to click on the link below for even more shots of the event. Thanks for the tip, Joe!


Gallery: Beijing Bumblebee Gathering


[Source: Autohome.com.cn via Google Translate]

We Are All Bumblebee: Beijing Transformers fans gather to celebrate Revenge of the Fallen originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BeijingBumblebeeCamaroChevroletChevrolet CruzeChevroletCruzeChevy CruzeChevyCruzeMegan FoxMeganFoxRevenge of the FallenRevengeOfTheFallenRotFShia LaBeoufShiaLabeoufSuzuki SwiftSuzuki SX4SuzukiSwiftSuzukiSx4TransformersMon, 22 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Flag: Race of Champions moves to China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/red-flag-race-of-champions-moves-to-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/red-flag-race-of-champions-moves-to-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/red-flag-race-of-champions-moves-to-china/#commentsFiled under: ,


2008 Race of Champions - Click above for a hi-res gallery

Still think of the Race of Champions as an elitist European event? Think again. Organizers have announced that that the annual face-off is scheduled to head to China this year.

The Race of Champions, for those unfamiliar, is a year-end event in which the top drivers from various motorsport disciplines - including F1, rally, touring cars, Le Mans...even motorbikes, drifting or the occasional NASCAR pretty-boy - compete against each other in a series of heats on varied machinery around a dedicated track built inside a major sports arena. The event crowns two winners: the solo Champion of Champions, and the Nations Cup in which drivers pair up to represent their home countries. After a decade in the Canary Islands, the race was held for three consecutive seasons at the Stade de France before moving to Wembley Stadium for the past two years, but a new arrangement will see this year's race held in Beijing at the Bird's Nest stadium built for last year's Olympic games. Previous champions have been predominantly rally drivers (including three titles for Sebastien Loeb and two for Mattias Ekstrom), while Germany's contingent of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel have taken the national honors. Who will be crowned champion this year? Tune in on November 3-4, only two days after the Formula One season wraps up in Abu Dhabi (assuming they can get the Yas Island circuit ready in time) to find out.

[Source: F1-Live]

Red Flag: Race of Champions moves to China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 race of champions2009 roc2009RaceOfChampions2009Rocbeijingbirds nestBirdsNestchampionschinaloebmichael schumacherMichaelSchumachermotorsportmotorsportsnations cupNationsCupracerace of championsRaceOfChampionsracingrocschumachersebastian vettelSebastianVettelsebastien loebSebastienLoebstade de franceStadeDeFrancevettelwembleywembley stadiumWembleyStadiumFri, 17 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese government to reward scrapping your car and buying a new one]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/chinese-government-to-reward-scrapping-your-car-and-buying-a-new/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/chinese-government-to-reward-scrapping-your-car-and-buying-a-new/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/28/chinese-government-to-reward-scrapping-your-car-and-buying-a-new/#commentsFiled under: ,

China, just like the U.S. of A., is worried about its auto industry. Last year Chinese auto production topped 8.8 million vehicles, and this year the country was on track to reach 10 million sales. Then everything went all pear-shaped, and now Chinese automakers are asking their government for help. Beijing hasn't said exactly what it will do yet, but one plan is to offer incentives for folks to scrap the cars they own and go buy new ones.

The key word in this plan is "scrap." The way it's been presented, the government doesn't want folks to just trade in their cars - that would simply add more cars with much smaller margins to dealer lots. They want car owners to send their cars to the crusher. If that's what is actually being considered, we'd be interested to find out how close the "incentive" will be to the value of the car being junked. If the difference is considerable, that plan sounds like a non-starter.

Thankfully, other tacks are being considered: lowering the vehicle purchase tax, making auto loans easier to get, and relaxing the quotas on how many loans banks can make. China's auto sales haven't yet slid into the crevasse -- November sales were down 14.6% -- but with many other sectors of the economy weak, the government is trying to get ahead of a fall before it actually happens.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Chinese government to reward scrapping your car and buying a new one originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto industryAutoIndustrybeijingchinachinese automakersChineseAutomakersgovernmentSun, 28 Dec 2008 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[MINI Clubman Rickshaws running around Beijing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mini-clubman-rickshaws-running-around-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mini-clubman-rickshaws-running-around-beijing/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/mini-clubman-rickshaws-running-around-beijing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for more shots of the MINI Clubman Rickshaws

The rickshaw is a time-honored method of transportation in China. While the vehicles were initially pulled around by men on foot, the pedal-powered versions have grown much more popular in recent years and are a symbol of Chinese culture. When Beijing MINI needed an interesting way to communicate that the Clubman model was being introduced in Chinese, especially in light of all the media attention on the Olympics, it back-halved a slew of new Clubmans, mounted a pedicab front-end and sent them out for business.

According to China Car Times, MINI's publicity stunt is working exactly as planned. Though the vast majority of media coverage is centered on those games from Greece, the MINI Rickshaws have managed to make some headlines of their own. We think the cabs turned out pretty cool, even incorporating the sunroof into the final design.

Gallery: MINI Rickshaws


[Source: China Car Times]

MINI Clubman Rickshaws running around Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beijingbeijing 2008beijing miniBeijing2008BeijingMinimini clubmanmini rickshawMiniClubmanMiniRickshawpedicabrickshawFri, 08 Aug 2008 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Maximum Bob talks about Invicta and how not to rebadge cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/01/maximum-bob-talks-about-invicta-and-how-not-to-rebadge-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/01/maximum-bob-talks-about-invicta-and-how-not-to-rebadge-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/01/maximum-bob-talks-about-invicta-and-how-not-to-rebadge-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Buick Invicta Concept

GM Vice Chairman Bob "Maximum" Lutz published a new post today on the corporate GM Fastlane Blog that addresses the automaker's newest concept that debuted recently at Auto China 2008 in Beijing: the Invicta. The concept heavily hints at what the next-generation Buick LaCrosse will look like, but Bob points out that the global architecture underpinning the vehicle will be the basis of new cars for Chevy, Saab, Opel/Vauxhall and more. In the past, we would've expected those accompanying models to be rebadged versions with different grilles, headlights and taillights, but Bob explains how GM's new global platform sharing process is different than the rebadging of old. In a nutshell, he says that the money saved from sharing common platforms see will be put into making everything that customer's will see - exterior and interior design, specifically - completely different. While it's great to hear Bob talk about how GM finally "gets it" when it comes to producing common products across an empire of brands, it's something that other automakers like VW/Audi have been doing for years while the General kept feeding us "triplets" of every model it made. So kudos to GM for finally getting it, but it took 'em long enough.

Gallery: Buick Invicta Concept


[Source: GM FastLane blog]

Maximum Bob talks about Invicta and how not to rebadge cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 May 2008 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing motor showbeijing2008beijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowbob lutzBobLutzbuick invictabuick invicta conceptbuick lacrosseBuickInvictaBuickInvictaConceptBuickLacrossegm fastlane blogGmFastlaneBlogrebadgerebadgingThu, 01 May 2008 12:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Chinese wraps up 2008 Beijing Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/26/autoblog-chinese-wraps-up-2008-beijing-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/26/autoblog-chinese-wraps-up-2008-beijing-motor-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/26/autoblog-chinese-wraps-up-2008-beijing-motor-show/#commentsFiled under:



We're proud as peacocks of our blogging brothers at Autoblog Chinese who, in blogging parlance, tore the 2008 Beijing Motor Show a new one. We showed you just a sampling of the dozens of cars they covered at the show, as the team from China truly left no rotating turntable unturned. If you want even more Auto China 2008 coverage, just click on one of four wrap-up pages below and don't stop until you've seen every clone, concept and production car that was unveiled in Beijing last week. You may not be able to understand the language they're speaking, but the pictures more than get the point across.

AB Chinese: Wrap-up 1
AB Chinese: Wrap-up 2
AB Chinese: Wrap-up 3
AB Chinese: Wrap-up 4

Our favorites of the show were the Buick Invicta Concept, Geely Tiger GT Concept, Beijing 700R Concept and Honda's Li Nian Concept.

Autoblog Chinese wraps up 2008 Beijing Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 beijing motor show2008BeijingMotorShowauto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing motor showbeijing2008beijingautoshowBeijingMotorShowSat, 26 Apr 2008 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: Hyundai debuts facelifted Elantra]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/beijing-2008-hyundai-debuts-facelifted-elantra/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/beijing-2008-hyundai-debuts-facelifted-elantra/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/beijing-2008-hyundai-debuts-facelifted-elantra/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Hyundai Elantra in China

As we learned last week, Hyundai used the occasion of Auto China in Beijing to debut its slightly refreshened Elantra. Its face now features a wider grille flanked by larger headlights, and a new lower air intake has also been reshaped. The overall effect is that the Elantra's friendly face has been been given a healthy dose of attitude. Likewise, the Elantra's rear also gets reshaped and loses its bulbous butt complex. We do expect these design updates to eventually reach the U.S.-market Elantra, as well as some new interior niceties like improved connectivity for digital music devices. As for when that will happen, your guess is as good as ours.

Gallery: 2008 Hyundai Elantra (Chinese)


Gallery: 2009 Hyundai Elantra


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Beijing 2008: Hyundai debuts facelifted Elantra originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 hyundai elantra2008HyundaiElantraauto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing motor showbeijing2008beijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowchinese elantraChineseElantraWed, 23 Apr 2008 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: 1st Bugatti Veyron in China sells for $3.6m]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/beijing-2008-1st-bugatti-veyron-in-china-sells-for-3-6m/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/beijing-2008-1st-bugatti-veyron-in-china-sells-for-3-6m/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/beijing-2008-1st-bugatti-veyron-in-china-sells-for-3-6m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click to view the Bugatti Veyron's unveiling in Beijing

If you were looking for the new epitome of capitalism's slow-but-steady takeover of communism in China, we've got it for you right here. Bugatti brought its million-euro hyper-car this year to the Auto China show in Beijing, drawing hoards of spectators in its appropriate bright red paint job. What's more is that within two hours of the car's debut, Bugatti had already sold one.

The customer will fly to Bugatti's Molsheim headquarters to pick out the color scheme and options (apparently no one told him he could do it online), and pay a whopping 25 million yuan (approximately $3.6 million, more than twice the sticker price) for the privilege of owning the first Veyron in China. Mao who?

Click on the images below and the press release after the jump for more on the Veyron's unveiling in Beijing.

Gallery: Beijing 2008: Bugatti Veyron


[Source: Bugatti and Gasgoo]

Continue reading Beijing 2008: 1st Bugatti Veyron in China sells for $3.6m

Beijing 2008: 1st Bugatti Veyron in China sells for $3.6m originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing motor showbeijing2008beijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowbugattibugatti chinabugatti veyronbugatti veyron beijingBugattiChinaBugattiVeyronBugattiVeyronBeijingveyronveyron chinaVeyronChinaWed, 23 Apr 2008 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: From Jeep clones to this? Beijing 700R concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/beijing-2008-from-jeep-clones-to-this-beijing-700r-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/beijing-2008-from-jeep-clones-to-this-beijing-700r-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/beijing-2008-from-jeep-clones-to-this-beijing-700r-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It turns out that the Geely GT didn't corner the market on coupe concepts at Auto China 2008. Beijing Automotive -- whose Wrangler-style B40 you saw earlier -- is also on the case with its 700R coupe concept, a clean and attractive design with some interesting details. An accent line angles upward, merging with muscular rear haunches, giving the car a nice, aggressive presence. In front, knifelike headlamps; stylized, outboard air intakes; and a teensy main grille slit come together to give the car a good face. Out back, a similar motif finishes the car off, and the result is very attractive overall.

Of course, it'll probably never be anything more than vaporware, but generally speaking, it makes you wonder what on Earth goes on in the boardrooms of Chinese car companies. If they have the ability to deliver clean, original designs like this, then why bother copycatting at all? The mind reels. Until originality in this vein is the norm, the phrase "Chinese car" will remain a punchline. Too bad, because stylewise, this 700R concept is no joke.

Gallery: Beijing 700R


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Beijing 2008: From Jeep clones to this? Beijing 700R concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing 2008 autoshowbeijing 700rbeijing 700r conceptbeijing auto showbeijing automotivebeijing autoshowbeijing motor showbeijing2008Beijing2008AutoshowBeijing700rBeijing700rConceptBeijingAutomotiveBeijingAutoShowbeijingmotorshowTue, 22 Apr 2008 14:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: Land Wrangler? It's the Beijing B40!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/beijing-2008-land-wrangler-its-the-beijing-b40/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/beijing-2008-land-wrangler-its-the-beijing-b40/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/beijing-2008-land-wrangler-its-the-beijing-b40/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Beijing B40

The basic Jeep shape has essentially carried forward from World War II to the present day. It has also been replicated many times over by automakers scattered around the world, and variations on the theme continue to appear. The Chinese auto industry has never been shy about (ahem) "borrowing", and Beijing Automotive has come through with one of the "better" quasi-clones we've seen so far. The B40 is obviously Jeep Wrangler-inspired, but rather than ape the Jeep's signature front end, the B40 instead sports a more Land Rover-ish look (think LR2/Freelander 2). And you know what? It's actually kind of interesting to look at.

The interior is gussied up with contrast-stitched leather seats, a nav system, and a steering wheel that looks like it's been ripped from a modern Opel. The wheels are OEM Jeep knock-offs. One thing that jumps out at us is the door handles -- they're a flat style, similar to the ones Jeep used before switching to the circular push-button handles on the current JK Wranglers. We really like that old look better. Anyway, back to the B40 -- the only technical info Autoblog Chinese has is that it's powered by a gasoline engine. Offroad prowess is unknown, as is its production status, but at least we know what a Wrangler/Freelander love child might look like.

UPDATE: As has been pointed out in the comments, Beijing Auto is the current name of the automaker once known as the joint venture, Beijing Jeep. (Stands up, ready to catch javelins.) As such, this is in all likelihood derived from actual Wrangler mechanicals. As one commenter theorizes, if the nomenclature is related to the actual powertrain, this may well have the old 4.0L I6 underhood. You know -- the one you can't get in the USDM Wrangler anymore.

Gallery: Beijing B40


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

Beijing 2008: Land Wrangler? It's the Beijing B40! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaAutoChinaB40beijingbeijing 2008beijing 2008 autoshowBeijing Autobeijing auto showBeijing Automotivebeijing autoshowbeijing motor showBeijing2008Beijing2008AutoshowBeijingAutoBeijingAutomotivebeijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowBeiking B40BeikingB40land wranglerLandWranglerwrangler freelander love childWrangler knock-offwrangler lr2 love childWranglerFreelander love childWranglerfreelanderLoveChildWranglerKnock-offWranglerLr2LoveChildTue, 22 Apr 2008 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: Brilliance BS4 wagon is good looking... no BS!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-brilliance-bs4-wagon-is-good-looking-no-bs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-brilliance-bs4-wagon-is-good-looking-no-bs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-brilliance-bs4-wagon-is-good-looking-no-bs/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Brilliance BS4 Wagon

The Brilliance BS4 sedan is a pretty good-looking car, so it stands to reason that its wagon variant would be easy on the eyes as well. Unveiled in Beijing, the BS4 wagon is indeed a snazzy-looking, ostensibly practical machine. Power comes from a 1.8L Mitsubishi G93 four-cylinder making 134 hp (100 kW) at 6500 rpm. The BS4 wagon also comes equipped with an alphabet soup of safety feature acronyms like "ABS + EBD + EDS" but word association games involving "Brilliance" and "safety" only call to mind the BS6 Euro NCAP debacle (since corrected, allegedly... but still). The bad news continues, as a recent Inside Line review of the BS4 sedan concluded that the car was generally lackluster at best. Based on that, we can probably assume that the same shortcomings afflict the wagon. It does look nice, at least.

Gallery: Brilliance BS4 Wagon


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Beijing 2008: Brilliance BS4 wagon is good looking... no BS! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing 2008 autoshowbeijing auto showbeijing autoshowbeijing motor showbeijing2008Beijing2008Autoshowbeijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowbrilliancebrilliance bs4brilliance bs4 wagonBrillianceBs4BrillianceBs4WagonMon, 21 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: Volkswagen Lavida meets its home audience]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-volkswagen-lavida-meets-its-home-audience/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-volkswagen-lavida-meets-its-home-audience/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-volkswagen-lavida-meets-its-home-audience/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Lavida for China

Shanghai Volkswagen developed the new VW Lavida in China, for China. Now it's made its big debut before the home-market audience in Beijing. Stylistically, the made-in-China design looks oddly dated, quite frankly. The petal-shaped head- and taillamps look like something you might find on a 1990's Korean import and not a newly-minted VW, regardless of origin.

The Lavida's positioned below the new VW Bora (also introduced in Beijing), with a shorter overall length (around 3 inches) but an identical wheelbase, so passenger comfort should be around the same as the larger car. The interior is a blend of familiar VW partsbin stuff with elements that just seem a little odd-looking in a VeeDub, like the silver audio head unit and the silver HVAC knobs set against a healthy dose of woodgrain trim. Power comes from 4-cylinder engines displacing 1.6L or 2.0L, with a six-speed Tiptronic available to handle shifting duties. It may be all-new, but it's also pretty boring.

Gallery: Volkswagen Lavida


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Beijing 2008: Volkswagen Lavida meets its home audience originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing 2008 autoshowbeijing auto showbeijing autoshowbeijing motor showBeijing2008Beijing2008Autoshowbeijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowshanghai veshanghai volkswagenshanghai volkswagen lavidashanghai vw lavidaShanghaiVeShanghaiVolkswagenShanghaiVolkswagenLavidaShanghaiVwLavidavolkswagen lavidaVolkswagenLavidavw lavidaVwLavidaMon, 21 Apr 2008 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: Nissan unveils new Teana and Teana XV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-nissan-unveils-new-teana-and-teana-xv/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-nissan-unveils-new-teana-and-teana-xv/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-nissan-unveils-new-teana-and-teana-xv/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Nissan Teana and Teana XV

Back in October of last year, Nissan unveiled the Intima concept at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. The large front-wheel-drive sedan previewed the styling for the new Teana (above, dark) and more luxurious Teana XV (above, light) that Nissan and its Chinese joint-venture partner Dongfeng debuted at the Auto China show in Beijing. The connection between concept and production vehicle is strong here, with the windswept front fasica, large greenhouse, and kink at the bottom of the C-pillar coming over intact. The flush grille, LED headlamps and suicide doors, however, did not.

The Teana will have a strong link to the western world thanks to the platform on which it rides, which is also shared with the Altima, Maxima and Murano. Power is provided by Nissan's award-winning 3.5L VQ V6 engine, which is mated to a CVT transmission for the Chinese. It appears that a bevy of 2.0 and 2.5L four-cylinder powerplants will also be available when the car goes on sale in late Summer.

Make no mistake, the Teana is a large, luxurious front-wheel-drive sedan, just like the current Maxima here in the U.S. It even features such niceties as a BOSE 5.1-channel surround sound system and Nissan's panoramic sunroof in the XV version.
Check out more pics of the new Nissan Teana in the gallery below.

Gallery: Nissan Teana and Teana XV


Gallery: Nissan Intima concept


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Beijing 2008: Nissan unveils new Teana and Teana XV originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing motor showBeijing2008beijingautoshowbeijingmotorshownissan dongfengnissan teananissan teana xnissan teana xvNissanDongfengNissanTeanaNissanTeanaXNissanTeanaXvteanateana xvTeanaXvMon, 21 Apr 2008 15:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Geely TX4 LTC show car turns London taxi into hot rod. Sort of.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/geely-tx4-ltc-show-car-turns-london-taxi-into-hot-rod-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/geely-tx4-ltc-show-car-turns-london-taxi-into-hot-rod-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/geely-tx4-ltc-show-car-turns-london-taxi-into-hot-rod-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for a gallery of the Geely TX4 LTC

Geely builds the LTI TX4 under license, and naturally, it's showing off the popular London taxi at its display in Beijing. The standard TX4's kind of vanilla though, so to grab showgoers' attention, the automaker has also plopped an electric blue "hot rod" version called the TX4 LTC in its display, as well. It might more appropriately described as a "not rod", since the TX4's stock 2.4L Euro IV-compliant diesel remains underhood. For maximum visual effect, Geely appears to have raided the Chinese equivalent of a Pep Boys, adding a faux dual exhaust, bolting on truck running boards and fitting six-spoke wheels that might be just a smidge oversized. Call us crazy, but it looks like turning could become a bit of an adventure.

Inside, the passenger compartment gets a white interior and possibly some stereo upgrades along with a nice photo of Big Ben on the bulkhead. You might be stifling a giggle, but compared to some of the vehicular insanity that's showed up at previous years' Chinese auto shows, the TX4 LTC is almost boring, and even with that stock engine, lead-footed hacks can probably still smoke Geely Beauty Leopard drivers at red lights. Just don't take the bait and follow them into the twisties -- you might run into some issues.

Gallery: Geely TX4 LTC


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Geely TX4 LTC show car turns London taxi into hot rod. Sort of. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing 2008 autoshowbeijing auto showbeijing motor showBeijing2008Beijing2008Autoshowbeijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowgeelygeely tx4geely tx4 hot rodgeely tx4 ltcgeely tx4 not rodGeelyTx4GeelyTx4HotRodGeelyTx4LtcGeelyTx4NotRodlondon taxiLondonTaxilti tx4LtiTx4Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: Roewe 550 debuts, still good lookin']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-roewe-550-debuts-still-good-lookin/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-roewe-550-debuts-still-good-lookin/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-roewe-550-debuts-still-good-lookin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Roewe 550

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation debuted the Roewe 550 over the weekend at the Auto China show in Beijing, and it joins the 750 in a lineup that was designed and engineered entirely in Britain. For those who don't remember the story, a little history lesson might be in order. SAIC fought long and hard against cross-town Chinese rival Nanjing for the right to purchase the bankrupt English automotive brand Rover. SAIC won the battle, but didn't secure the rights to the Rover name. Hence, Roewe was born and the 750 debuted as a rebadged version of the Rover 75. The Roewe 550, however, is its own car with a design that doesn't carry forward any obvious cues from Rover. Based on a shortened version of the Rover 75 platform, the 550 was reportedly being developed before MG Rover bit the dust in 2005, and SAIC has made sure to keep the car palatable to European tastes as it plans to sell the 550 in Europe eventually.

The 550 features a clean and tasteful exterior design, though some at the show note its interior isn't made of the highest quality materials. We do, however, like the digital gauge cluster that wraps around the analog tach, as well as the flush nav screen. The 550's available engines, however, are not as impressive and include the same 1.8T and 1.6L K-Series four-cylinders, as well as a 2.0L diesel, that were sold in Rovers before the company collapsed. Autocar points out it's also possible that the 550 could be badged as an MG in Europe, as SAIC recently bought its rival Nanjing, which settled for buying the MG name when it lost the bid to own Rover's assets.

Check out the new Roewe 550 in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Roewe 550 - Live Shots


Gallery: Roewe 550


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Ibiza Wang / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese, Autocar]

Beijing 2008: Roewe 550 debuts, still good lookin' originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing motor showBeijingMotorShowroeweroewe 550Roewe550Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 2008: Geely CE concept makes its debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-geely-ce-concept-makes-its-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-geely-ce-concept-makes-its-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-2008-geely-ce-concept-makes-its-debut/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Geely CE

Ok, the Geely car parade at Beijing is officially in full swing. One of the good-looking renderings we posted during the runup to the show was of the CE concept, a small hatchback that looked like it could just as easily be an Acura that's slumming in the entry-level class. In the metal, it looks pretty much exactly like the rendering -- a well-styled little Acura 5-door hatch. Only that's the Geely badge on that shield-shaped grille. It It is better-looking than any of Geely's current market offerings, and that's about all there is to say, because we have neither interior shots nor technical details to flesh things out any further. As such, we'll treat it as a styling exercise that's likely got Honda/Acura designers grumbling under their breath, and Chinese showgoers and (potential car-buyers) nodding approvingly.

Gallery: Geely CE Concept


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]
All photos Copyright (C)2007 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

Beijing 2008: Geely CE concept makes its debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto chinaauto china 2008AutoChinaAutoChina2008beijingbeijing 2008beijing motor showBeijing2008beijingautoshowbeijingmotorshowgeelygeely cegeely ce conceptgeelyceGeelyCeConceptMon, 21 Apr 2008 12:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Beijing 208: Geely Tiger GT concept steals the show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-208-geely-tiger-gt-concept-steals-the-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-208-geely-tiger-gt-concept-steals-the-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/beijing-208-geely-tiger-gt-concept-steals-the-show/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Geely Tiger GT concept

Of all the cars being debuted at this year's Auto China show in Beijing, most of them are from one company: Chinese domestic automaker Geely. The brand has over 20 some debuts, but most are ho-hum little econoboxes that Chinese consumers are buying by the ton right now. The Tiger GT concept, however, is one vehicle from Geely that's getting a lot of attention for a different reason. It's an all-Chinese design concept, and as you can clearly see, looks like nothing else on the road. Whether or not that's a good or bad thing is up to you, but Geely makes no apologizes for new coupe concept that takes its basic shape from the Italian school of design and adds some unmistakable Chinese touches. As described by our blogging buddies at Autoblog Chinese, "the front is extremely arrogant." Indeed. They liken the grille to a Chinese mask and we wouldn't be surprised to find a sword rack hanging in the back window.

The Tiger GT is reportedly powered by a 3.5L V6 producing 225 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque. Riding on 19-inch concept wheels, the concept's motor would appear to have a hard time backing up the shear loudness of the coupe's design. It's got chrome fangs, for Pete's sake. Love it or hate it, the Geely Tiger GT concept is at least original, and as our colleagues in China tell us, that alone is worthy of applause.

Check out our full high-res gallery of the Geely Tiger GT below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Gallery: Geely Tiger GT Concept


All photos Copyright (C)2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese, Straightline Blog]

Beijing 208: Geely Tiger GT concept steals the show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above to view high-res gallery of the Audi Q5 with new images

Audi released the other half of its Q5 glamour shots over the weekend. We've updated the gallery with all of the images we could get our hands on (you can switch to a "high-res" view with the button on the upper right corner - perfect for saving desktops). Audi also tossed in several shots from the Q5's world introduction at the Beijing Auto Show. We always get a kick out of the designers, engineers, and executives standing around like beaming new parents. From our perspective, the Q5 looks like a typical Audi, the designs of which are beginning to lose their visual punch after having been spread across so many models.

Gallery: Beijing '08: 2009 Audi Q5


[Source: Audi]

Pics Aplenty: Audi releases more images of new Q5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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