Qoros 3 Sedan Styling Accessories Concept Unveiled in Guangzhou

Chinese-Israeli automaker Qoros unveiled a Styling Accessories Concept for its first production model, the 3 Sedan, at the Guangzhou Auto Show. The study shows exterior personalization options for the sedan, including small spoiler extensions to the front and rear bumpers, subtle side skirts and a rear wing on the trunk.

Qoros says these parts not only give the car a sportier look but also optimize airflow under, around and over the car to improve aerodynamics and fuel economy. The study also features 18-inch 20-spoke alloy wheels with a matt smoke silver finish, wrapped in low-profile tires. Additionally, the Qoros 3 Sedan Styling Accessories Concept has more prominent wheel arches than the standard production model.

The company says the car previews a comprehensive range of accessories currently under development for the 3 Sedan that will be available for order exclusively from Qoros retailers in China in the second half of next year.

The carmaker also brought the standard production car to Guangzhou and announced pricing for China. The sedan will go on sale with a lineup of six variants, ranging in prices from 119,900 yuan ($19,680) to 167,900 yuan ($27,560). The carmaker is developing its dealer and aftersales service networks following the opening of its first dealer in China in Nanjing in early November.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Debuts at the Guangzhou Auto Show

China will be the 14th market worldwide to get Smart’s ForTwo Electric Drive model, with the EV minicar becoming the first Europe-imported all-electric model available in the world’s largest car market.

The announcement was made at the Guangzhou Auto Show, where the ForTwo Electric Drive celebrated its Chinese debut. The EV is already available to buy from dealerships around the country.

The new generation Smart Electric Drive has been available in Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan since production began in 2012. The model is the number one battery-powered electric vehicle in Germany, making up around 40 percent of the EV market. Smart says roughly 93 percent of customers would recommend the smart electric drive.

The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive is powered by a 55kW (74hp) electric motor delivering 130 Nm (96 lb-ft) of instant torque which helps the EV sprint from 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in 4.8 seconds. Top speed is limited to 125 km/h (78 mph) to help the car achieve a driving range of 145 km (90 miles).

Smart sales in China rose 43.8 percent in 2012, with the country set to become a crucial market for vehicles with alternative drive systems, thanks to supportive measures from the local government. Many analysts predict China will become the world’s largest market for alternative drive vehicles as well. 

By Dan Mihalascu

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New Fiat Ottimo is a Dodge Dart Five-Door Hatchback

It's reveal time for Fiat that pulled the covers off the new Ottimo, which is the hatchback version of the China-market Fiat Viaggio, or as North American consumers know it, the Dodge Dart sedan.

Displayed at the 2013 Guangzhou International Auto Show, the Ottimo comes with a very-Alfa Romeo Giulietta-style roofline and a more youthful looking front end featuring a thinner and overall sleeker grille and bumper design than the Viaggio, with Fiat also redesigning the tail lamps and bumper at the back.

Inside, the dashboard remains the same as the Viaggio, with the Dodge-sourced steering wheel looking kind of out place for anyone familiar with Fiat's interiors.

Fiat said that the addition of the five-door hatchback model to its China range will practically double daily production at the plant it runs in southern China with local carmaker Guangzhou Automobile Group.

Sales of the hatch will begin in China this December. There are no known plans to offer the car in other markets.

Live photos via Pcauto

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Infiniti Q50 Gets New Mercedes-Sourced 211HP 2.0L Turbo Engine at the Guangzhou Motor Show

Infiniti has unveiled a new four-cylinder engine for the Q50 sports sedan at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China. The new turbocharged unit will be on sale in China from spring 2014, with other global markets to follow.

The result of Infiniti’s partnership with Daimler, the 2.0-liter unit will add to the Q50’s current powertrain options – a 3.7-liter gasoline engine, a 3.5-liter hybrid and a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel. On sale in Europe this autumn, the latter is also a fruit of the company’s collaboration with Daimler.

The Euro5-compliant 2.0-liter turbocharged engine features direct injection with precise Piezo injections and produces 211hp (214PS) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque from as low as 1,250 rpm. As with the 2.2-liter diesel, the gasoline engine has been modified by the Infiniti engineering teams to ensure engine response is in line with Infiniti’s brand characteristics.

Infiniti hasn’t offered fuel economy or performance specs of the Q50 with the new engine.

The unit is part of the company’s strategy to expand its product offerings and to adapt its model range to local customer requirements. Over the next five years, Infiniti plans to increase its model lineup by 60 percent and more than double the number of its powertrains.

Infiniti also announced that next year it will begin production of long-wheelbase Q50 and QX50 models at the Xiangyang plant in Hubei Province, China.

By Dan Mihalascu

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