Autoblog

Beijing 2010: Geely's London Taxi-aping Englon TXN

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:21:00 EST

Filed under: China, UK, Geely, Beijing Motor Show

Englon TXN - Click above for high-res image gallery

As promised, Geely brought its Englon TXN to this year's Beijing Motor Show. In the flesh, the intended successor to London's black cab throne looks more than capable of hauling drunken tourists from place to place. The car appears to have stuck pretty close to the renderings we saw earlier this month, though we have to say the exterior looks quite a bit better under the show lights than it did photoshopped among England's various landmarks.

The company also displayed its TX4 - a more spacious version also built just for taxi duty. Both cars are motivated by either a 2.4-liter gasoline engine mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox or a 2.5-liter diesel powerplant that can be had with a five-speed manual transmission. So far Geely hasn't released any power numbers.

We do know that the cars will command a price tag that should fall in the $30,500 range at current exchange rates - not exactly cheap by anyone's standards. Will British taxi companies will be willing to give up their old rides for these new, Chinese-built examples? Hard telling, but at least they look the part.

Gallery: Geely Englon TXN Taxi

Gallery: Englon TXN

Beijing 2010: Geely's London Taxi-aping Englon TXN originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Geely to adopt (confusing) new multi-brand system

Zach Bowman — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: China, Marketing/Advertising, Geely, Beijing Motor Show

Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group is giving that divide and conquer thing a shot. The company is apparently planning to begin selling all of its vehicles under three different brands starting next year. That means current products will likely see a logo and name change before 2010 is over and done with. Starting in 2011, Geely Holding Group will sell vehicles under the Gleagle, Emgrand and Englon banners.

And what about Marple? That brand will continue to sell alongside its three new brothers, but only until the end of its vehicles product cycles. After that, it will fade into oblivion.

Why is Geely Holding Group shaking things up like this? Our bet is the company is hoping keep from overwhelming buyers. We recently heard Geely plans to show off a total of 58 vehicles at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show. Splitting those models up between three brands would be an easy way to make the products more approachable for buyers. Besides, it worked for General Motors, right? Right??

[Source: Gasgoo]

Report: Geely to adopt (confusing) new multi-brand system originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beijing Preview: Geely reinvisions London's iconic taxi with its Englon TXN

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, Sedan, Geely, Beijing Motor Show, Diesel

Geely Englon TXN - Click above for high-res image gallery

Geely may be content to let Volvo do its thing without any apparent outside intervention (at least for now), but the Swedish brand's new parent company apparently has its heart set on unleashing a wave of taxis on England. A set of renderings just hit the web featuring a freshly designed taxi rolling through London. Called the Englon TXN, the car is slated for an official unveil at the Bejing Motor Show at the end of this month.

Details are scarce at the moment, but the car's design takes a modern spin on the classic look of the old British taxis. While the exterior shots almost look to be Photoshop creations, the interior pictures appear to be the real deal, and it features a rather nifty driver-centric cockpit.

Everyone's favorite Chinese automaker has been aggressively snapping up stock in Manganese Bronze for awhile now in an attempt to grab a controlling stake in the purveyor or London's iconic black cabs. The Coventry-based taxi-maker also cranks out cars for China, though those vehicles fly under the Englon name. As we all know, what Geely wants, Geely gets, so don't be too surprised if the streets of London are flooded with Chinese cabs the next time you visit.

Gallery: Englon TXN

[Source: The Tycho via Autohome]

Beijing Preview: Geely reinvisions London's iconic taxi with its Englon TXN originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shanghai 2009: Geely GE goes for baroque. Again.

Chris Paukert — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, China, Rolls-Royce, Specialty, Shanghai Motor Show

Geely Excellence Limousine - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Asian consumers loves them some baroque styling. How else to explain the popularity of gaudy, over-the-top couture in the continent's major city centers? Indeed, how else to explain the existence of cars like the Mitsuoka Galue S50 and Galue 204? Proving that the love affair is still very much still alive is this, the Geely Excellence (GE) Limousine.

Despite the obvious aping of traditional Rolls-Royce styling cues (square-rigged waterfall grille, Spirit of ~~Imitation~~ Ecstasy hood ornament, wool carpets, etc.) there is some innovation here, in the form of the rear seat "throne," a kingly perch that forms the literal centerpoint of the car's unorthodox 1+2 seating arrangement.

In any case, the 17.5-foot Goliath is widely expected to be the first offering from Geely's new sub-brand, YingLun, or ENGLON (a melding of "England" and "London), but for the moment, the Chinese automaker is stopping short of confirming production.

Gallery: Geely GE Limo

Gallery: Geely GE

Shanghai 2009: Geely GE goes for baroque. Again. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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