Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[China continues foreign automotive investment incentives after all]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/china-continues-foreign-automotive-investment-incentives-after-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/china-continues-foreign-automotive-investment-incentives-after-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/23/china-continues-foreign-automotive-investment-incentives-after-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Buick and China flags fly at dealership

China has reversed a policy that would have nixed incentives for investments from foreign automakers, paving the way for further expansion by General Motors, Volkswagen and others. Legislators had removed automotive manufacturing from the list of industries that would receive government support in the future, but foreign investment fell off significantly in April. The country's National Development and Reform Commission responded by not only reinstating foreign automotive investment but by giving the business "preferential treatment," according to Automotive News. Last year, China's central and western regions attracted $19.2 billion in foreign investment across the board.

With China serving as the world's largest automotive market, manufacturers are keen to make inroads in the region. The local government incentivised foreign-owned manufacturing plants for some seven years before the National Development and Reform Commission removed the industry from its approved list in an attempt to stave off overcapacity. Automotive News reports GM and VW have both invested heavily in the region, with the latter set to begin construction on an all-new facility. The new plant is part of a $13 billion investment in China and will join Volkswagen's 12 other car and component facilities in the region.

China continues foreign automotive investment incentives after all originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 May 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese auto marketchinese carschinese governmentgeneral motorsgminvestmentnational development and reform commissionvwThu, 23 May 2013 08:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20575202/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/23/china-continues-foreign-automotive-investment-incentives-after-a/20575202/article-detail.xml 20575202 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/buick-and-china-flag-at-dealer_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/buick-and-china-flag-at-dealer.jpg <![CDATA[Farley says Lincoln learnings in China could influence brand in US]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/farley-says-lincoln-learnings-in-china-could-influence-brand-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/farley-says-lincoln-learnings-in-china-could-influence-brand-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/farley-says-lincoln-learnings-in-china-could-influence-brand-in/#commentsFiled under: ,

2013 Lincoln MKZ - front three-quarter view

Automotive News reports Lincoln is looking to Chinese luxury shoppers for customer service ideas. Those notions may eventually make their way back to the US in the form of new dealership training. Jim Farley, the executive vice president of global marketing for Ford, tells Automotive News, "In many ways, China will be a listening post for Lincoln in the United States. Soon China will be the largest luxury market in the world." Farley also said that in China, the Lincoln brand is currently where Lexus was when the Japanese brand first landed in the US.

Lincoln is slated to open its first Chinese dealerships in 2014. The brand is largely unknown in Asia, and Lincoln representatives have been visiting other luxury dealers in China for an idea of what buyers there expect. Lincoln has also studied non-automotive luxury shopping, paying special attention to high-end retail branding.

Of course, this whole song and dance feels awfully familiar. Lincoln has focused heavily on remaking the brand and recrafting its marketing here in the States, thus far without sufficient product to back the play. Lincoln is already late to the China game, and without the necessary products to lure buyers away from established bodies like Buick and Cadillac, Lincoln may be doomed to repeat its fate here in the US.

Farley says Lincoln learnings in China could influence brand in US originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 May 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinajim farleylincolnlincoln motor companyTue, 14 May 2013 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20567873/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/14/farley-says-lincoln-learnings-in-china-could-influence-brand-in/20567873/article-detail.xml 20567873 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/lincoln-mkz-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/lincoln-mkz-628.jpg <![CDATA[Nicolas Cage flogs Saab-based Senova from Beijing Auto [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/nicolas-cage-seen-stunting-saab-based-senova-from-beijing-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/nicolas-cage-seen-stunting-saab-based-senova-from-beijing-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/nicolas-cage-seen-stunting-saab-based-senova-from-beijing-auto/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BAIC Nicholas Cage

BAIC has officially pulled the covers off of its new Senova D Series sedan for China. The four-door is based on the old Saab 9-5 and boasts a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Local buyers can get their hands on the machine for around $22,745 at current conversion rates. Other engine options include a turbocharged 1.8-liter four cylinder as well as turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder, and a wide range of safety equipment comes standard on every trim except the very base model. Those goodies include a tire pressure monitoring system, active head restraints, blind spot detection, driver fatigue detection and parking sensors.

The Senova nameplate serves every model based on former Saab architectures, including the Epsilon, GM2900 and GM2400 platforms as well as engine and transmission tech. In order to promote its new products, BAIC has hired Hollywood staple Nicolas Cage to serve as the company's brand ambassador. Cage stars in the Senova-heavy Town of Car Legends action-packed video short (directed by Olivier Megaton of Transporter 3 and Taken 2 fame) which you can view by scrolling below.

Continue reading Nicolas Cage flogs Saab-based Senova from Beijing Auto [w/video]

Nicolas Cage flogs Saab-based Senova from Beijing Auto [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baicchinanic cagenicolas cageolivier megatonsaabsaab 9-5senovasenova d-seriesshenbaovideoMon, 13 May 2013 17:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20566463/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/13/nicolas-cage-seen-stunting-saab-based-senova-from-beijing-auto/20566463/article-detail.xml 20566463 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/baic-nicholas-cage-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/baic-nicholas-cage-628.jpg <![CDATA[Chinese patent filing shows what could be next Royal Limo from Jaguar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Someone filed a patent application in China for the Jaguar XJ limousine seen above, but no one's sure who filed it or what the car is for. One camp thinks it's a State limo for UK royals like the Bentley State Limousine, another camp thinks it's the work of aftermarket coachbuilders.

One thing's for sure: Assuming it ever gets made, anyone who buys it wants an XJ in name only; the modifications have removed almost all of the grace of the standard sedan. Estimated to be more than three feet longer than an XJ, the stretched rear doors are backed by an even more stretched rear section that, in losing the trademark XJ C-pillar (the D-pillar on this car), adds all sorts of ungainliness to its backside. What's more, the roof rises from front to rear, we can only assume to make room for people with large hats. Or the NBA player that the Chinese call "Sweet Melon."

Head over to AutoSohu for more photos from the application, if you're sure that's what you really want.

Chinese patent filing shows what could be next Royal Limo from Jaguar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinajaguarjaguar xjjaguar xj limousinelimopatentpatent applicationFri, 10 May 2013 16:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20564550/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/10/chinese-patent-filing-shows-what-could-be-next-royal-limo-from-j/20564550/article-detail.xml 20564550 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/jaguar-royal-limo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/jaguar-royal-limo.jpg <![CDATA[GM to build $1.3 billion Cadillac plant in China]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/gm-build-cadillac-plant-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/gm-build-cadillac-plant-china/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/gm-build-cadillac-plant-china/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



General Motors has gotten approval to build a $1.3 billion manufacturing facility for its Cadillac brand in China. China's National Development and Reform Commission signed off on plans for GM to build the plant in the country's Shanghai's Jinqiao zone; construction is expected to begin in June of this year. According to a Bloomberg report, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 units.

No surprise here, but Cadillac would like to sell a lot more cars in the plush Chinese luxury market. The brand moved only 30,010 cars in China last year, compared with 400k for Audi, and about 330k for BMW. With Cadillac already telling us that it would be moving production of its XTS sedan to China - a production decision that saves having to pay 25-percent import tariffs - approval of the factory is a critical win for the company.

In fact, according to earlier comments by GM China president Bob Socia, it's at least conceivable that Chinese-built Cadillacs could be shipped back to the US for sale. The brave new world of globalization, getting stranger by the minute.

GM to build $1.3 billion Cadillac plant in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillaccadillac xtschinageneral motorsgmWed, 08 May 2013 18:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20562283/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/08/gm-build-cadillac-plant-china/20562283/article-detail.xml 20562283 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/cadillac-xts-china-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/cadillac-xts-china-628.jpg <![CDATA[China bans military license plates on luxury autos]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/china-bans-military-license-plates-on-luxury-autos/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/china-bans-military-license-plates-on-luxury-autos/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/china-bans-military-license-plates-on-luxury-autos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Porsche Cayenne GTS with two Chinese models at Beijing Motor Show

Driving a vehicle with a military license plate in China provides many privileges. Legally reserved for official vehicles only, the designation apparently allows drivers to enjoy special liberties on the roads, including breaking traffic laws, filling up with free fuel and receiving light-and-siren escorts through congested cities. So attractive are the benefits that there is a secondary market for used legal and counterfeit plates - especially among those wealthy enough to afford luxury cars. But all of that is reportedly coming to an end, as President Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, is on a mission to fight corruption in his country.

A new license plate system goes into effect today, and it is designed to "maintain social harmony, stability and the reputation of the military," says the PLA Daily, the armed forces' official newspaper. While the abuse has been going on for many years, the internet has put the spotlight on the bad behavior, and the negative press does not represent the morals and true colors of the armed forces, say officials.

While military-plated Porsche drivers have been singled out as offenders, Bloomberg notes that all vehicles with engine displacements above 3.0 liters and with a sticker price in excess of about $73,000, will be banned from receiving military plates. This includes vehicles from Audi, Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln and the Volkswagen Phaeton. Even if drivers are savvy enough to circumvent the new issuing system, the military has put technology at toll gates to catch users of counterfeit plates. There has been no word on the punishment if caught.

China bans military license plates on luxury autos originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina militarychina military plateschinese militarylicense platesmilitary license plateporscheWed, 01 May 2013 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20552127/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/01/china-bans-military-license-plates-on-luxury-autos/20552127/article-detail.xml 20552127 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/porsche-cayenne-gts-at-beijing-motor-show_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/porsche-cayenne-gts-at-beijing-motor-show.jpg <![CDATA[BMW Shanghai: Driving in mega cities, designing the future and more]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The BMW enclave is a suitable mix of high-tech and throwback cool.

A few days before the Shanghai Motor Show kicked off, we were part of an international group of media that was invited to have a look at the BMW Designworks Shanghai Studio and ConnectedDrive Lab facility. The building that BMW found to house its Chinese think tank is in a lovely part of Shanghai known as the former French Concession. The late 1890s and early 1900s French architectural style, brick-paved streets and tree-lined spaces feel a world apart from the ultra-modern heart of Shanghai, and the BMW enclave is a suitable mix of high-tech and throwback cool.

We were visiting, in short, to understand just why BMW has found it important to have design and research capability in China. As it turns out, answering those questions also served to shed some light on the Chinese auto market as a whole - what it looks like today and where it's going over the next few years.

Of course, the basic idea of developing new facilities and human resources in a foreign market is to be able to better design and build cars for that market. In terms of design, this isn't a new concept. In terms of BMW design, and more specifically its DesignworksUSA team, the concept has been a reality for more than ten years now. In Shanghai, the process is just getting going, with the BMW team getting a late start, setting up shop just last year.

Continue reading BMW Shanghai: Driving in mega cities, designing the future and more

BMW Shanghai: Driving in mega cities, designing the future and more originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomous vehiclesbmwbmw designworksbmw designworks shanghaibmw designworksusachinafeaturedshanghai motor showThu, 25 Apr 2013 17:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20548464/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/25/bmw-shanghai-driving-in-mega-cities-designing-the-future-and-m/20548464/article-detail.xml 20548464 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bmw-shanghai-facility-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bmw-shanghai-facility-628.jpg <![CDATA[Dodge Dart getting hatchback variant... sort of]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/dodge-dart-getting-hatchback-variant-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/dodge-dart-getting-hatchback-variant-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/dodge-dart-getting-hatchback-variant-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fiat Viaggio - front three-quarter view live

In other parts of the world, Fiat builds and sells a version of the Dodge Dart called the Viaggio, and it appears that in addition to the current sedan bodystyle, a new hatchback version of the car is also in the works. Autocar says that the general manager for China's Guangzhou-Fiat joint venture, John Burton, has confirmed that a new Viaggio hatchback will be revealed by the end of this year before it goes on sale in early 2014.

The Viaggio will soon be joined by the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, which in China will be called the Liberty Light, at the Guangzhou-Fiat plant. While the idea of a Dodge Dart hatchback might be enough to enable most of us to forget about the Dodge Caliber, a North American variant doesn't appear to be in the cards. We reached out to Chrysler PR boss Rick Deneau, and he offered a succinct: "No plans at this time."

Dodge Dart getting hatchback variant... sort of originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 fiat viaggiochinadodgedodge dartfiat viaggiofiat viaggio hatchbackThu, 25 Apr 2013 14:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20548292/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/25/dodge-dart-getting-hatchback-variant-sort-of/20548292/article-detail.xml 20548292 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/webfiatviaggio5_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/webfiatviaggio5.jpg <![CDATA[Qoros could finally be the Chinese brand to fear in the west]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/qoros-could-finally-be-the-chinese-brand-to-fear-in-the-west/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/qoros-could-finally-be-the-chinese-brand-to-fear-in-the-west/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/qoros-could-finally-be-the-chinese-brand-to-fear-in-the-west/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Can Qoros Make A Difference Outside The Walls Of China?

Qoros badge

I know of no sober industry executive who fears a Chinese entry into the US.

Qoros is a venture between the Israeli Israel Corp. and state-owned Chinese company Chery. Chery, up to now, has been known mostly for "appropriating" western designs and having an ill-fated, ridiculous and half-baked venture with Malcolm Bricklin to bring Chery vehicles to the United States a few years ago. Bricklin was an original distributor of Subaru and Yugo in the US. The only people to find any success in that venture were the lawyers.

But what gets my attention now with Qoros is that the company seems to be addressing the cultural mistakes and barriers that have bedeviled every other Chinese automaker with aspirations to be successful beyond China. It is using non-Chinese executives - people with legitimate experience in the Western auto industry - in the areas of design, engineering and distribution.

Heretofore, I have been bored silly watching Chinese automakers like Chery, Great Wall and BYD either come to the Detroit Auto Show with a car, or strike some preposterous distribution deal with the hacks and ne'er-do-wells of the western auto retailing space. It's been all for naught. These cars and ventures have been so inept and awful that I know of no sober industry executive who fears a Chinese entry into the US.

Continue reading Qoros could finally be the Chinese brand to fear in the west

Qoros could finally be the Chinese brand to fear in the west originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese carsdavid kileyopinionqorosqoros 3 sedanWed, 24 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20547570/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/24/qoros-could-finally-be-the-chinese-brand-to-fear-in-the-west/20547570/article-detail.xml 20547570 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/02qorosteasers_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/02qorosteasers.jpg <![CDATA[Kia unveils Horki sub-brand in China, kicks off with concept car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/kia-unveils-horki-sub-brand-in-china-kicks-off-with-concept-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/kia-unveils-horki-sub-brand-in-china-kicks-off-with-concept-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/kia-unveils-horki-sub-brand-in-china-kicks-off-with-concept-car/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Kia-DYK Horki Concept live at 2013 Shanghai Motor Show

While we were busy ogling new vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept, Maserati Ghibli and Hongqi L9 at the Shanghai Motor Show, Kia was busy unveiling an entire brand. Through its Chinese joint venture, Dongfeng Yueda Kia (or DYK), the South Korean automaker has introduced its new Horki sub-brand and a concept car, simply called the Horki Concept.

The name Horki comes from the combination of two Chinese characters "Hor" and "Ki," which translates to "China driving." As this suggests, the brand will only be offered in China, and this concept sedan shares its platform with the 2014 Kia Forte. We didn't happen to catch the car live at the auto show, and apparently neither did Kia, since it only provided us with some drawings rather than live (or even studio) shots of the actual concept car. Thankfully, our friends at Newspress managed to ferret it out, so we have a couple of live pics to share after all.

Continue reading Kia unveils Horki sub-brand in China, kicks off with concept car

Kia unveils Horki sub-brand in China, kicks off with concept car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showchinadongfeng yueda kiadykhorkihorki conceptkiakia ceratokia forteshanghaishanghai motor showWed, 24 Apr 2013 13:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20547444/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/24/kia-unveils-horki-sub-brand-in-china-kicks-off-with-concept-car/20547444/article-detail.xml 20547444 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/kia-horki-concept-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/kia-horki-concept-628.jpg <![CDATA[Honda boss says Chinese drivers don't want green cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/honda-boss-says-chinese-drivers-dont-want-green-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/honda-boss-says-chinese-drivers-dont-want-green-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/honda-boss-says-chinese-drivers-dont-want-green-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Honda Concept M minivan for 2013 Shanghai Motor Show

According to The Wall Street Journal, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito believes that China's nascent car-buying demographic isn't all that interested in hybrid cars - at least not yet. The emissions story doesn't resonate with them, and certainly not for the higher purchase premium such models usually carry. What they really want, Ito believes, is reliable, affordable cars that fit their needs. When it comes to Honda sales, the numbers would appear to jibe with his thoughts: Honda sold 598,577 vehicles in China last year through its two joint ventures, yet just 542 of them were hybrids - not even a tenth of a percent. However, Toyota sold 840,500 cars in China last year, and two percent of that total, 17,300 units, were hybrids, which is closer to the still-piddling three-percent ratio of sales that Toyota posted in the US last year.

Honda offers the Insight, Fit Hybrid and CR-Z in China and plans to make components for its Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system there from next year, the hope being it will reduce the cost of hybrid cars for local buyers. That was one part of the plan Honda laid out last year to popularize its IMA system in China. Other initiatives include the introduction of a new hybrid system for mid-sized and large vehicles and a plug-in hybrid. Among the four new vehicles Honda showed during this weekend's press day for the Shanghai Motor Show (including the Concept M minivan pictured above) there was not a single hybrid among them.

Honda boss says Chinese drivers don't want green cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina hybridshondahonda hybridhybridtakanobu itoWed, 24 Apr 2013 10:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20547653/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/24/honda-boss-says-chinese-drivers-dont-want-green-cars/20547653/article-detail.xml 20547653 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/honda-concept-m_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/honda-concept-m.jpg <![CDATA[Hongqi L9 offers retro-weird style for Chinese bigwigs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/hongqi-l9-shanghai-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/hongqi-l9-shanghai-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/hongqi-l9-shanghai-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Hongqi means "Red Flag," and the sub-brand of Chinese automaker FAW was created in the 1950s to build cars for leaders of the nation known by its red flag. In those early days Hongqi designers took inspiration from what looks to be fifties Chevrolets; these days they've kept a little of the Chevrolet but look more the way of England. The L9 executive sedan about the length of a Rolls-Royce Phantom - on Mercedes S-Class-like wheels - and not much cheaper than the Rolls, to boot.

According to China Car Times this L9 is the civilian version of the bulletproof L9 sedan that carried then-chairman Hu Jin Tao through the capital during the 60th anniversary celebration of The People's Republic. It's a little shorter and gone are the bulletproof body and platform, but you'll still get a 6.0-liter V12 with something like 400 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. FAW hasn't released any info and listed prices vary greatly - anywhere from $800,000 to one million pounds ($1.5M US) - and it's not even clear if people can buy it or if it's merely meant to be for VIPs.

Not that it matters, because you'll probably never see one outside the gallery of high-res images above.

Hongqi L9 offers retro-weird style for Chinese bigwigs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showchinafawhongqihongqi l9shanghaishanghai motor showSat, 20 Apr 2013 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20546284/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/20/hongqi-l9-shanghai-2013/20546284/article-detail.xml 20546284 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hongqi-l9-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hongqi-l9-628.jpg <![CDATA[Hyundai Mingtu revealed on billboard ahead of Shanghai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/hyundai-mingtu-revealed-on-billboard-ahead-of-shanghai/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/hyundai-mingtu-revealed-on-billboard-ahead-of-shanghai/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/hyundai-mingtu-revealed-on-billboard-ahead-of-shanghai/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hyundai Mingtu billboard

The so-called Hyundai Mini-Sonata now has a proper name. Called the Mingtu in China, this new sedan will slot in between the compact Elantra and midsize Sonata, and it sports a pretty nifty look.

We've known for a while now that Hyundai is working on a more mature version of its Fluidic styling language, the first fruits of which showed up in the latest Santa Fe, and the Mingtu seems to take that refined appearance to the next level with a refined look of creased lines, a chiseled fascia and a smooth greenhouse.

There's no indication that this car will be offered in the US market, but it's certainly possible that some of its styling elements will carry over to the next Elantra or Sonata. In any case, expect a range of 1.8- and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines to be announced for the Chinese market when the Mingtu makes its official debut at the Shanghai Motor Show this weekend.

Hyundai Mingtu revealed on billboard ahead of Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showchinahyundaihyundai mingtushanghaishanghai motor showFri, 19 Apr 2013 14:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20545286/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/19/hyundai-mingtu-revealed-on-billboard-ahead-of-shanghai/20545286/article-detail.xml 20545286 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hyundai-mingtu-billboard_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/hyundai-mingtu-billboard.jpg <![CDATA[Jaguar planning two bodystyles for next XJ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2014 Jaguar XJR

As we alluded to in today's F-Type first drive, Jaguar hasn't been selling its wares in China for very long, and as a result, buyers there usually don't have the same appreciation for the brand's history. So you might reasonably think that the company's recent radical styling shift (kicked off by the 2008 XF) wouldn't be as jarring to the nation's buying populace since they really didn't have the automaker's more traditionally styled models from years past to compare them against.

Yet while Jaguar and its sister marque, Land Rover, continue to pick up steam in China's developing market, that apparently isn't necessarily the case. Local buyers there tend to have more conservative tastes when it comes to styling, preferring more upright dimensions, big back seats and larger quantities of traditional luxury materials (think: chrome and wood) than other markets currently find desirable. Thus, the very bold current-generation XJ sedan may be leaving some sales on the table.

According to Edmunds, Jag doesn't want to risk that, and as such, it is preparing two bodystyles for the next-generation XJ - one with the rakish coupe-like styling of the current model, and a more "old-school" three-box sedan designed to appeal to a wider swath of Chinese buyers.

Given that Jaguar's small size means that nearly every model it generates must play worldwide today (with exceptions made for variants like the XF Sportbrake, which hasn't been engineered to global crash standards), it's reasonable to question whether Jag might offer both XJ bodystyles here in North America - perhaps in a tiered scheme like the Audi A8 and A7. That strategy might catch more profits for the marque, but it might also represent a setback to design head Ian Callum's vision for a thoroughly modern Jaguar portfolio.

Jaguar planning two bodystyles for next XJ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 jaguar xjchinaian callumjaguarjaguar xjWed, 17 Apr 2013 19:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20543424/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/17/jaguar-planning-two-bodystyles-for-next-xj/20543424/article-detail.xml 20543424 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/004-jaguar-xjr_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/004-jaguar-xjr.jpg <![CDATA[Bird flu threatens Shanghai Motor Show... again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/bird-flu-threatens-shanghai-motor-show-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/bird-flu-threatens-shanghai-motor-show-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/bird-flu-threatens-shanghai-motor-show-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

bird at Shanghai Motor Show

We're less than two weeks from this year's Shanghai Motor Show, and word has it the number of cases of H7N9 Bird flu have increased significantly in the areas around Shanghai. ChinaAutoWeb.com reports a total of 24 cases, and seven deaths have been reported in the city and surrounding regions, forcing government officials to cull thousands of birds, close live poultry markets and remove pigeons from public spaces. The precautions come despite the fact that doctors insist there's no evidence of "inter-human transmission" of the virus - perhaps they missed the winged specimen above?

In 2003, the Shanghai Motor Show closed its doors three days early due to the outbreak of the H5N1 virus strain, which killed more than 360 people worldwide. Before organizers shuttered the event, visitors and show professionals donned face masks in an attempt to protect themselves from infection. The last year Shanghai hosted the motor show in 2011, the event drew an estimated 7 million visitors.

Bird flu threatens Shanghai Motor Show... again originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bird fluchinah7n9h7n9 bird flushanghaishanghai motor showThu, 11 Apr 2013 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20535335/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/11/bird-flu-threatens-shanghai-motor-show-again/20535335/article-detail.xml 20535335 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bird-shanghai_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bird-shanghai.jpg <![CDATA[Chinese bus driver barely cheats death by pole]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/chinese-bus-driver-barely-cheats-death-by-pole/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/chinese-bus-driver-barely-cheats-death-by-pole/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/chinese-bus-driver-barely-cheats-death-by-pole/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Chinese bus driver hit by a pole - video screencap

We aren't entirely sure what happened here, but we do know this is one of the luckiest bus drivers we've ever seen. This guy's bus struck what looks to be a light pole while he was driving his passengers around in China. The pole came crashing through the windscreen, knocking him out of the driver's seat in the process. While getting batted around by a big steel tube is no great day at work, the driver narrowly avoids getting his head taken off by the fixture. What's more, he manages to pick himself up off the bus floor and bring the vehicle to a stop before anyone else got seriously injured. Atta boy.

Here's hoping this guy got the chance to stop by a hospital for a quick check up on his way home. You can take a look at the scary video below for yourself.

Continue reading Chinese bus driver barely cheats death by pole

Chinese bus driver barely cheats death by pole originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentbusbus driverbus videochinachinese bus drivercrashdashcampolevideoThu, 28 Mar 2013 12:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20521635/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/28/chinese-bus-driver-barely-cheats-death-by-pole/20521635/article-detail.xml 20521635 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/chinese-bus-driver-pole-crash-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/chinese-bus-driver-pole-crash-628.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo uncovers widespread cheating by its Chinese dealers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Volvo dealer sign

According to a report in Reuters, the findings of an internal investigation conducted by Geely-owned Volvo is that its Chinese dealers vastly overreported their sales numbers in 2011, then even more vastly underreported their 2012 sales figures. About "half the dealers" out of the 151 total outlets gamed the system in order to get incentives for reaching volume objectives, falsely recording about 7,000 more units sold than was actually the case. Instead of 47,140 cars sold in China in 2011, the real number should have been 39,871.

Volvo corporate books a sale once it ships a car to a dealer, so that meant there were 7,000 more cars in inventory than there should have been. To restore the balance, the dealers underreported their 2012 sales while they unloaded those extra cars since, naturally, they couldn't claim the sale again. That made it look like sales declined by 11 percent in 2012, even though they actually increased year-on-year. The adjusted sales number for 2012 totalled 45,896.

Volvo has met with its dealers and told them to stop the deceitful practice. The discrepancies weren't so great that the company plans to restate its historic numbers, but from now on, it apparently plans to occasionally check inventory to make sure the numbers match and that it has a true picture of how individual models are selling.

Volvo uncovers widespread cheating by its Chinese dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinacrooked dealerdealer scamdealershipsalesscamvolvovolvo chinaTue, 26 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516235/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/26/volvo-uncovers-widespread-cheating-by-its-chinese-dealers/20516235/article-detail.xml 20516235 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volvo-dealer-sign_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volvo-dealer-sign.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Brad Pitt's Chinese Cadillac XTS commercial]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/watch-brad-pitts-chinese-cadillac-xts-commercial/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/watch-brad-pitts-chinese-cadillac-xts-commercial/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/watch-brad-pitts-chinese-cadillac-xts-commercial/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Brad Pitt Cadillac XTS

Once upon a time, in a land not so far from this one, Brad Pitt was the very face anti-consumerism. You see, when he slipped into the role of the elitist-loathing, food-abusing, violence-embracing Tyler Durden from Fight Club, his visage was inextricably married to images of leveling credit card corporations with nothing more than a little human fat and some determination. Of course, that was before Pitt settled into old age with a passel of children at his feet. Now, it seems, he'll shill for something as long as it doesn't damage his reputation in America.

Need proof? Look no further than this Chinese ad for the Cadillac XTS. In it, Pitt contentedly wafts the big front-wheel drive barge around San Francisco against a mildly euphoric soundtrack. You can check out the scene for yourself below, just make sure you have your last meal squarely situated in your stomach before pressing play. We have to wonder if Pitt wakes up in the middle of the night with Chuck Palahniuk's oddly omniscient words echoing in his ears: "Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you."

Continue reading Watch Brad Pitt's Chinese Cadillac XTS commercial

Watch Brad Pitt's Chinese Cadillac XTS commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 cadillac xlsbrad pittbrad pitt cadillacbradpittcadillaccadillaccadillac chinacelebrity endorsementchinavideoxlsThu, 14 Mar 2013 16:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20498708/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/14/watch-brad-pitts-chinese-cadillac-xts-commercial/20498708/article-detail.xml 20498708 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/brad-pitt-cadillac-xts-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/brad-pitt-cadillac-xts-628.jpg <![CDATA[Chinese airline preparing to launch in-flight car dealerships]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/13/chinese-airline-preparing-to-launch-in-flight-car-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/13/chinese-airline-preparing-to-launch-in-flight-car-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/13/chinese-airline-preparing-to-launch-in-flight-car-dealerships/#commentsFiled under: , ,

China Spring Airlines

Better hire an automotive editor, SkyMall. The Chinese are about to one-up you.

Spring Airlines, a Chinese-based budget airline, will soon be adding cars to the slew of goodies that can be purchased via in-flight catalog. According to CNN Travel, passengers will be able to use their credit cards to make payments on the automobile of their choice. At least initially, Chinese-branded cars will be the only ones on offer, with prices averaging around 100,000 yuan (about $16,000).

Of course, this means Spring Airlines' entire cabin crew of 500-plus men and women will now have to be trained on selling cars and learning the specs of the variety of models on sale. And we do think it's a bit strange to buy a car without actually, you know, seeing it, let alone actually taking it for a test drive.

It's unclear exactly how customers who do fork over their credit cards mid-flight will take delivery of the cars they purchase. Furthermore, specific financing details are unavailable at this time - will customers need to pay all at once, or will payment plans also be available in-flight?

Spring Airlines plans to kick off its car-buying initiative in April, starting with flights out of Shanghai. Color us intrigued.

Chinese airline preparing to launch in-flight car dealerships originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingchinachinese carsduty freein-flight shoppingnew car salesnew car shoppingshoppingskymallspring airlinesWed, 13 Mar 2013 14:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20500583/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/13/chinese-airline-preparing-to-launch-in-flight-car-dealerships/20500583/article-detail.xml 20500583 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/56446441043b0ea97058z_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/56446441043b0ea97058z.jpg <![CDATA[China considering upping hybrid car incentives]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/china-considering-upping-hybrid-car-incentives/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/china-considering-upping-hybrid-car-incentives/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/china-considering-upping-hybrid-car-incentives/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota dealer in China with salesmen on phone

Bloomberg reports China may be set to step up subsidies for hybrid and fuel-efficient new automobiles. The country's industry minister, Miao Wei, said, "New-energy vehicles are the future. Fuel-efficient cars are now," while speaking with reporters at the National People's Congress. So far, the Chinese government hasn't had much luck talking buyers into fuel-efficient models. Last year, the country forecast total electric vehicle sales to reach 500,000 by 2014, but 2012 only saw 13,000 models sold. Rather than adjust those targets, some analysts believe China will extend incentives to hybrid vehicles as well.

China just concluded a three-year pilot program that gave buyers the equivalent of $9,650 toward the purchase of an EV and $8,045 for plug-in hybrids. Standard hybrids, meanwhile, only saw incentives of $482.73. But that may change as the country moves toward its target of selling a combined five million EV, plug-in and hybrid models by 2020. If China does increase its hybrid incentives, the news may help Toyota more than any other company. Like other Japanese automakers, Toyota has seen sales slide off in the wake of an ongoing territorial dispute between the Chinese and Japanese governments. But stronger incentives may make the Toyota Prius, the world's most popular hybrid, attractive enough to overcome those hurdles.

China considering upping hybrid car incentives originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina hybridselectric vehicleevhybridhybridsincentivesnew car incentivesplug-in hybridMon, 11 Mar 2013 15:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20496162/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/11/china-considering-upping-hybrid-car-incentives/20496162/article-detail.xml 20496162 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/toyota-dealer-in-china_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/toyota-dealer-in-china.jpg -1 2