Autoblog

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.


All photos Copyright ©2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

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.


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

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.


All photos Copyright ©2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autoblog Chinese, Straightline Blog]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Geely NL Concept

Geely's Beijing Motor Show concept parade rolls on, and the latest preview from our counterparts at Autoblog Chinese focuses on the NL concept. As has been the case with many of these Beijing-bound concepts, details are scarce, and we can't vouch for the accuracy of the renderings you see in the enclosed gallery, either. If they're actually indicative of the vehicle that Geely will present, expect to see an SUV blending the general shape of the Ford Kuga with a front end that's vaguely reminiscent of an Opel Antara/Saturn Vue Red Line. In this case, things seem to come together rather nicely. We'll find out what the real deal is next week when the Beijing show kicks off.


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Click image for a photo gallery of the Geely CE concept

Via Autoblog Chinese, the parade of Beijing-bound debuts continues. Today we've got another one from Geely, which seems to be working to establish itself as a style leader in a sea of Chinese cars, the looks of which range from the vanilla to the bizarre. The renderings you see here show the Geely CE concept, a compact 5-door hatch that easily has the looks to appeal to shoppers outside of Geely's home market. If Geeley is able to bring this car to production and make it safe enough to meet Western crash test standards (something we have yet to see on anything remotely resembling a consistent basis from the Chinese manufacturers), it is going to make a lot of noise, particularly in Europe where a low-priced, stylish, compact hatch like this would sell like french fries at McDonalds. From what we've seen so far, Geely's 18-car Beijing parade is setting itself up to be a stylistic quantum leap over some of its ridiculous past concepts and mundane current offerings.


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

When it comes to new Chinese debuts set for Beijing next month, the steady drip of photos accompanied by little to know info continues apace. The latest is another MPV study from Geely, which will have eighteen vehicles scattered about the show floor. Geely might call this an MPV, but everything we see screams "crossover!" Note the high ground clearance and tall-wagon bodystyle -- elements which pretty much define the segment. It's hard to judge the styling based on a single profile shot, but here again we have a vehicle that looks like it's not going to have anyone pointing and snickering. The shape of the side glass adds a bit of flair, and the wraparound LED taillamps seem to finish the rear off pretty nicely. We'll have to sit tight and wait for more photos and tech specs, but between this, the HL, and the GT, Geely appears to be putting together a show lineup that's going to be worth at least a serious look.

UPDATE: New name! Autoblog Chinese now reports that this is called the FC-1 Wagon concept.

[Source: CarScoop via Autoblog Spanish]

Click image to enlarge

According to its company website, Geely will have eighteen concept and production vehicles on display at Auto China (a.k.a. the Beijing Motor Show) next month. We have a feeling the spiffy Geely GT will suck all the oxygen out of the room; unless someone else unveils something completely spectacular, the GT concept should be the the big attention hog.

Now, while attractive GTs are good for publicity, more standard fare is good for the populace. To that end, we present the Geely HL MPV, a crisply-styled minivan of as-yet-undetermined size (Mazda5-class, perhaps?) with an Acuresque grille, if the rendering our friends at Autoblog Chinese have obtained is accurate. The HL will also wear Geely's new logo front-and-center. Autoblog Chinese will be on the case in Beijing, and we'll bring you coverage by proxy.


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

Click above for a gallery of the Geely GT concept

The 2008 Beijing Motor Show will play host to the usual assortment of real automakers' wares, direct knock-offs of said automakers' wares, and a few concepts and production vehicles of genuine interest beyond comedic value. We'll count the Geely GT among that last group. Details are sparse at the moment -- we have no clue what the proposed powertrain consists of, for example -- but Geely's coupe concept this year looks to be substantially more ambitious and voluptuous than the Mybo II 2-door show car it displayed last year in Shanghai. The Mybo II didn't have a whole lot going on in the looks department except a peculiar face that had us expecting it to transform into a giant robot at any moment.

The Geely GT mashes up a variety of looks -- we see some Maybach Exceleo, Ferrari 612, Nissan GT-R, and assorted Peugeot in there. The end result is something that we'd actually be interested to see in person, as the preview photos (or are they renderings?) demonstrate. We won't be there, but we'll bring you the live photos via our friends at Autoblog Chinese when things kick off next month.


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

click above to view more images of the Geely FC

Of all the Chinese automakers in attendance this year at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Geely is the only one with cars we believe could actually be sold in the U.S. We have no idea if its new FC sedan, which debuted in China just five months ago, would pass strict U.S. safety and emissions standards, but its design, features and build quality seemed just up to snuff for an American consumer shopping for an inexpensive four-door sedan.

The FC was developed in-house by Geely and features a 1.8L four-cylinder with variable valve timing producing 137 horsepower and mated to a five-speed manual. A 13-second trip to 62 mph isn't a world record, but it's just enough to keep up with traffic and return good fuel economy at the same time. There's also an available in-dash navigation system, dual airbags, and ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution. The interior, as well, didn't look or feel like it was made from recycled Tonka toys.

Mind you, we're not saying the FC would set the sales charts on fire in the U.S., but it could be competitive with the bottom dwellers in its class. For a Chinese automaker hoping to sell cars in the world's largest market, that's progress.

New Geely logo at left, Toyota on right for comparison

You can exhale now. We know you've been holding your breath waiting for this one. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group finally showed off its new Geely logo (above left) in Beijing a couple of days ago. it chose this new logo following a nearly year-long "global design contest" that used a combination of online voting and a panel of 66 "professional adjudicators."

Hailing it as "a significant milestone for Geely's brand building, but also the maturity of China's self-owned and corporate brands," Geely spokesperson Wang Ziliang said, "China's self-owned brands have come to realize the importance behind having the right auto brand and auto culture when trying to succeed overseas." Now they just have to work on innovative product that doesn't crumple like a beer can in barrier tests. Just kidding.

The logo you see at left above was picked as the best amongst the 27,336 entries submitted. To show how seriously this was taken by the rest of the world, a record was set when more than 100 countries participated, making it the most widely entered corporate logo design contest ever. At least that's what the release says. The winning logo was designed by Yue Xiande from Anhui province, and is clearly not a Toyota ripoff. "The Toyota logo has a whole 'nother ring in it," Geely spokespeople did not say. "While the Toyota is a soulless tin can, Geely has the top popped already, indicating it is much more fun," they did not add.

[Source: Geely] more pics:autoblog china.