Autoblog

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Imagine a Hyundai Elantra minus the swoopy body line and with a more assertive, Opel-ish beak, and you have the Changfeng Qi Ling CP1A that'll be unveiled this weekend at the Beijing Motor Show. According to thetycho.com, the CP1A designation is simply a code name, and the sedan will get power from a 1.8-liter four of undetermined size and strength. That's the extent of the details at the moment, but we'll keep an eye out for more as Auto China '08 gets underway this weekend. Until then, there are three photos for you to check out in the gallery below.


[Source: thetycho.com]

Pininfarina is making its voice heard designs seen in China, with 30-percent of the company's business now being done with the Asian nation. At this month's Beijing Motor Show, two Chinese automakers will reveal three models designed and, in some cases, engineered by the Italian firm. What's more, all of the cars are meant to be sold in the European market, as well.

Anhui Jianghuai will have two Pininfarina designed cars, a sedan code named A108 (pictured) and a five-door hatch code named A107. They are meant to hit European markets in late 2009. Brilliance, which is BMW's Chinese partner, will be showing off the BS4 station wagon. It will head to Europe with the re-engineered BS6 sedan.

Though they won't be unveiling new cars, Pininfarina's other Chinese clients include Chery, Changfeng, and Hafei, who together have at least seven cars penned by Ferrari's favorite design house.

[Source: Auto News]

click above to view more images of the ChengFeng Leopard and Kylin

ChangFeng Motors was here last year and made the familiar claim that its Chinese cars would soon be on sale in the U.S. The Chinese automaker made the pilgrimage to Detroit again this year and was welcomed with open arms by Carl Galeana, Chairman of the North American International Auto Show, and Wayne County Councilman Robert Ficano. The warm greeting between these officials and ChangFeng Chairman Li Jianxin is proof positive that Michigan is looking to China for a way out of its economic slump.

Big ups to Chairman Li who abandoned the comfort and familiarity of his native tongue to tackle a three-page speech in English, though it was unfortunately for naught as we couldn't understand a single word he said. Thankfully we happened upon a transcript of the speech so we could tell you about these two vehicles shown by ChangFeng at the show.

The first is the Leopard CS6, the design of which we actually like because it was not only designed by famed Italian firm Pininfarina, but it also bears a slight resemblance to a Hyundai Santa Fe, one of the prettier CUVs on the market. ChangFeng says it's built on the Pajero V Series platform, presumably sourced from Mitsubishi. We think it has all-wheel-drive or, as the Chinese translate it, a "full driven system". That gives the CS6 "the perfect combination of military industry performance and urban fashion." Indeed.

The other car shown by ChangFeng today was the Kylin, which is already on sale in Japan. The five-door wagon isn't very attractive, but it's chassis was tuned by Lotus, so it's got that going for it. Powered by a 1.8L Mitsubishi engine, the little car is economical and might actually be fun to drive if it were ever sold here.

There's the rub, though. Last year when ChangFeng debuted in Detroit it claimed it would be selling cars in the U.S. soon. Today we got the same speech, just one year later with little visible progress made in the interim.

Forming a joint-venture with a Chinese partner seems to be the order of the day for most carmakers around the world. The latest company to join the bandwagon is Mitsubishi, which has announced that it will partner with Hunan Changfeng Motors to manufacture a range of Mitsu-branded sedans for the Chinese domestic market.

Changfeng has already worked with Mitsubishi in the past, building versions of the Pajero SUV, but this time 'round the two will be forming a 50-50 joint venture to produce a range of new vehicles. According to Chen Zhengchu, Changfeng's General Manager, the deal could potentially see Mitsubishi's Chinese production rise to roughly 100,000 cars annually and should rise further in ensuing years.

Most analysts consider the deal a win for both sides. Mitsubishi gets a stronger foothold in the rapidly expanding Chinese market, while Changfeng's rep will improve in the international spotlight. As it stands, both parties are still at the negotiating table and an application has been sent to industry regulators.

[Source: ChinaKnowledge.com]

Changfeng Motor Company took a pair each of SUVs and pickup trucks to the NAIAS in Detroit as a first salvo at attacking the US market. Changfeng is a state-owned manufacturer that used to build vehicles for the Chinese army. Before you walk away snickering, consider this; Changfeng is hot to start exports to the US within 3 years, they claim they can meet US standards for emissions and safety, and they've enlisted the design hand of Pininfarina. A bargain-priced Italian-styled vehicle with a high level of content like all the power gee-gaws buyers want like nav, DVD screens, etc. has the potential to be a quick seller. From what we've seen, they're not there yet. The Feibao CT5 (shown above) reminds us of a late '80s Hyundai in material quality and fit and finish. Changfeng will get there, but there's lots of work still to be done. There is no US sales organization, nevermind a dealer network, and the product had best be up to par when it finally appears for sale here. There's also the issue of perception. China is, after all, the country that is siphoning tons of jobs world wide because of their rock-bottom labor costs. There's resentment, as well as real and percieved quality issues to overcome. We have no doubt, though, once these vehicles hit the market, some US buyers will forget all about their gripes and buy on price if the vehicles approach acceptability. Maybe they could even partner with Wal-Mart to sell them?

[Source: Drive.com.au]

With China's Geely out of the picture for now, it looks like Chang Feng will be the Chinese representative in Detroit next year. Dow Jones reports that Chang Feng will bring four vehicles to NAIAS 2007. Chang Feng is expected to show up with two Liebao (Chinese for Cheetah) branded pickup trucks and two SUVs. Photos and details are scarce, as you might expect from China. The above photo is Chang Feng's Cheetah concept, unveiled at the 2005 Shanghai Auto Show. Currently, Chang Feng produces licensed Mitsubishi designs.

Chang Feng chairman JianXin Li says his company plans to begin selling cars stateside sometime within the next decade.

Formerly known as No. 7319 Factory of Chinese People's Liberation Army Chang Feng Co. Ltd., Chang Feng reorganized in 1996 and says it is on track to produce 200,000 vehicles by next year, which would be twice its current output.

[Source: Dow Jones via Canadian Driver]

For those in the industry, it's common knowledge that Detroit's Cobo Hall isn't exactly the sprawling chunk of real estate that automakers want and need from the venue for the most important auto show in North America. Regardless, North American International Auto Show executives are pushing for U.S. market hopefuls Hunan Changfeng Motor Co. Ltd., Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd. and Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Co. Ltd. to display at NAIAS after Geely's premiere in Cobo's concourse last year.

The companies, which could sell cars in the U.S. as early as 2008, were offered a pavilion to share amongst the three of them, but they rejected the plan. Instead, they will likely take up residence downstairs in Michigan Hall, where aftermarket parts and other specialty companies such as American Specialty Cars exhibit. One day soon, however, Chinese automakers likey hope they'll be able to sit at the big kids table in Cobo Hall itself. NAIAS executives will have some pretty creative floorplan problems when that day comes.

[Source: Detroit News]