Prepare your eyes - the Chinese are coming!!!

[drivin_me_nuts]

First iteration may have comedic value, but no doubt the products will improve.

I'm not so sure if I can see a credible luxo car lexus style taking off, but a serious competitor in the small throw away market would have European manufacturers concerned.

[renrut]

Looks like a Rover 200 which has stolen the front end off an Insignia.

Wise to be cautious IMO, they have the volume potential to make everyone else bit players. Regardless of how well made Western and Japanese cars may be price is clearly a big thing as seen with the latest Korean invasion during the scrappage scheme.

My concern would be they do what they seem to do in most other markets - sell at a loss initially to kill off the local products and companies then once in start to bump the prices back up.

[poo at Paul's]

It is a Rover Streetwise in a bad (worse!) suit!

But then again, the DS3 looked like it had been designed with a crayon when it first came out, so maybe this will be the new thing?

On the whole, I prefer that to some of the Korean crap that is out there.

[kambites]

It just looks like another dull hatchback painted daft colours with particularly stupid wheels fitted, to me.

I'd take that colour scheme over grey or silver, anyway.

[Blue Oval84]

This video has helped to slow them down in the West:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbe5ILICT4M&fea...

But by all accounts they have rapidly improved things and are now turning out 3 star NCAP stuff, I'm sure in a couple more years they'll have that up to 5 stars.

[Mr Gear]

Since Kia and Hyundai are now making better cars than most European mainstream manufacturers, I really won't be surprised when the Chinese produce something good too. They have enough money to poach engineering, tooling and skills from Japan.

[mikefacel]

[mat205125]

BlueMR2 said:

It just looks like a generic VAG car with chrome arches and wire wheels.

If you took off the chrome and wire wheels, then put on some standard alloys and a VAG badge it would fly out of the dealerships no question.

The car behind looks like an Audi A4 clone too.

[mat205125]

mikefacel said:

That is a far smarter looking car than most of the korean offerings that we buy by the thousand each year.

Once they can get their foot in the door with a competetive warranty and dealer network, then the western brands need to be very afraid.

[DannyVTS]

So this is the part of the thread where I post a "Brilliance" crash test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbe5ILICT4M

[kambites]

DannyVTS said:

So this is the part of the thread where I post a "Brilliance" crash test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbe5ILICT4M

You'd be rather late since someone already has.

Seems a bit irrelevant though, since this isn't a Brilliance.


Besides, it still did better than your Saxos did in the same test, and you still seem to be alive.

[DannyVTS]

kambites said:

You'd be rather late since someone already has.

Seems a bit irrelevant though, since this isn't a Brilliance.

Teaches me for reading through a thread before posting!

Also, the Chinese copy of what I can assume is supposed to be a Vauxhall Frontera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZWy_fASSiQ&fea...

[kambites]

DannyVTS said:

Also, the Chinese copy of what I can assume is supposed to be a Vauxhall Frontera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZWy_fASSiQ&fea...

WHich also isn't even made by the same company as this?

[DannyVTS]

kambites said:

WHich also isn't even made by the same company as this?

What's your beef?

I would have assumed this topic is about Chinese cars, so I was just showing people what the Chinese are selling over there.

Also don't forget the MG6!

[Beefmeister]

**sigh**

I'm fully aware that the base car is quite nice (the blue car above) - but that doesn't excuse the visual rape that is the Cross.

F**king awful.

[kambites]

DannyVTS said:

What's your beef?

Nothing in particular, it just annoys me when people take a few examples of poor cars and use them to imply a national stereotype. It's like pointing at a few Rovers and saying that all cars made in the UK must suffer from head gasket failures all the time.

China will be making better cars than Europe within ten years.

[Bill]

Beefmeister said:

**sigh**

I'm fully aware that the base car is quite nice (the blue car above) - but that doesn't excuse the visual rape that is the Cross.

F**king awful.

Looks like they've looked at the ultimate luxury speedster for inspiration:

[kambites]

The Crack Fox said:

Define 'better' please.

Capable of doing the job that the market demands of them better for the same outlay.

[ajprice]

Cupramax said:

Looks like the bd lovechild of a Rover 200 and old shape Astra.

Its from an alternative universe where people thought the Rover Streetwise was a good idea, but didn't have enough bling

[kambites]

The Rover Streetwise was a good idea, it was just too soon. Look at the number of jacked up FWD hatchbacks with pseudo-offroad bodywork that are on the market and selling well now.