Brilliance FRV - 2008 Beijing Auto Show Preview

The newest model from China's Brilliance Automotive, the compact FRV hatchback, rolled off the assembly this week and will make its public debut later this month at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

The FRV was first unveiled as a concept at last year's Shanghai auto show. Brilliance reportedly spent $140 million to develop the car under the internal code name A1 and has constructed a $90 million assembly line at its manufacturing facility here in Manchuria to build it. Initial annual capacity is 100,000 units, which could make the FRV the company's best-selling model.

Prices in China will start at less than $10,000. The FRV will be marketed in Europe in late 2008 or early 2009, rebadged as the Brilliance BS2.

Power is supplied by a 106-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The FRV measures about 165 inches long overall, about a foot longer than a Chevrolet Aveo 5.

What this means to you: The FRV could be part of the product portfolio that Brilliance hopes eventually to bring to North America.

© Source: edmunds
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Shanghai VW Lavida - 2008 Beijing Auto Show

BEIJING — Volkswagen's new Lavida sedan debuted at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. The Lavida, developed in cooperation with local partner Shanghai Auto, is said to be "thoroughly tailored to the automotive wishes of modern Chinese society." Apparently Chinese society is not so demanding in its automotive wishes.

The front-wheel-drive Lavida, known during its gestation as Model Y, has little to distinguish itself aesthetically from the dozens of competitors it faces from Chinese and overseas competitors.

VW brags in its press material that the Lavida is "the first Volkswagen to be designed and developed entirely in China" and that it is intended to "blend into the urban environments of Chinese metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou." It blends a little too well.

The car is relatively large by Chinese standards, measuring 181 inches long — 2 inches longer than a Jetta. It will be offered with a choice of four-cylinder engines, with an optional six-speed Tiptronic available.

Standard features include antilock brakes, front airbags, climate control, a CD player with an MP3 interface, power windows and an anti-theft alarm. A DVD nav system, CD changer and side airbags are among the options.

The Lavida will be assembled by Shanghai VW and goes on sale this summer.

What this means to you: If this is the best we can expect from its Shanghai R&D center, perhaps VW should go back to the drawing board in Wolfsburg.

© Source: edmunds

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BYD e6 - 2008 Beijing Auto Show

BEIJING — BYD Auto is rapidly establishing itself as China's green car company, with an ever-expanding portfolio of vehicles powered by batteries and hybrid systems. Its latest effort, a midsize electric crossover dubbed the e6, broke cover at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

This pure electric is expected to reach the China market within the next 12-24 months and could be among the initial wave of BYD models planned for export.

The e6 has a range of 186 miles on a full charge and can zip from zero to 60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Top speed is 99 mph.

No word yet on pricing, but BYD's existing range sells for $12,000-$20,000.

What this means to you: BYD continues to stretch the green envelope.

© Source: edmunds
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