Chery A3 and A5 Hybrid

[pow]

This is Chinese-market only, but it actually looks kinda normal...

[pow]

And they made a hybrid version of their POS A5...

"Can we call this a Chery bomb? Chinese automaker Chery just dropped a bomb on the 2006 Ninth Beijing International Auto Exhibition. According to Autoblog Chinese, Chery introduced a hybrid Chery A5 ISG. The A5 is one of Chery's more popular family vehicles. This will be the first hybrid to be mass-produced in China.

The Chery A5 ISG is a parallel hybrid, using the gas engine and/or electric motor to power the vehicle independenty or in unison. It will use an ACTECO1.3L 4 cylinder, coupled with their 519 5-spd MT gearbox. At low speeds, it will essentially be an electric vehicle, with the gasoline engine shutting down. When the vehicle hits higher speeds (usually reach 40km/h above), or senses the need for more rapid acceleration, the gasoline engine will start up and supplement the power.

Regenerative braking will also be employed to capture kinetic energy for conversion into electrical energy. No word on what type of batteries they'll use, which is a big question mark. We'll keep our eyes open for additional English information, as our Mandarin is a bit rusty." - Autoblog

[Flybrian]

Nice Impala MAXX

Nice Optimaxima.

[pow]

I'm getting a Ford Europe vibe from the A3. The A5 Hybrid probably has a cloned last-gen Civic Hybrid powertrain.

[MGZ06]

How original to choose such a name for a line of vehicles. . . I didnt expect much more coming from china , the land of no imagination!

[regfootball]

chick in red is quite nice.

the cars, not so much

[Guest YellowJacket894]

Audi should throw a nice lawsuit at Chery over copyright infringement concerning the names of both cars (or at least the A3).

[Bimmer325]

I actually wish the Impala's front end looked more like that.

[ToniCipriani]

The A3 would actually make a great Lacetti/Optra5 refresh.

[the_yellow_dart]

The A3 looks like a better version of the Euro Civic hatch.

The A5 is not quite as nice design-wise, but still better than most of the Chinese designs I've seen.

Seriously though, that A3 is very nice. You guys know you would be praising it if it weren't Chinese.

[Intrepidation]

Not too bad actually, and not a total ripoff of another company's car either

[thegriffon]

Audi should throw a nice lawsuit at Chery over copyright infringement concerning the names of both cars (or at least the A3).

217358[/snapback]

The A3 is the internal code. It will have a Chinese character name as well (different in Mandarin and Cantonese).

[loki]

wait.. there's a car in those pics? i just say the hot blond!

[Cory Wolfe]

Hmm... the A3 actually looks good.

[ocnblu]

The A3 reminds me of a cross between a Civic hatch and a Euro Focus. At least it doesn't look like an embryonic copy of something specific.

[the_yellow_dart]

The A3 is the internal code. It will have a Chinese character name as well (different in Mandarin and Cantonese).

217456[/snapback]

Actually, Mandarin and Cantonese characters are (mostly) the same. Chinese only has one set of characters, but many sets of spoken languages. So, if a Mandarin and Cantonese speaker were trying to communicate, they could not do so by speaking, but they could grab and pen and paper, and write to each other with minor difficulty. The standard characters are based on Mandarin (the largest dialect). There are a few characters introduced by Cantonese, but these are specifically for pronunciation guides.

Vernacular Chinese

Edited November 19, 2006 by the_yellow_dart

[Sixty8panther]

That A3 has Daewoo written all over it.

[ponchoman49]

If there cars are anything like the junk that is made there we don't have much to worry about when they make it to our shores.

2 made in China Hoover vacuums less than a year old with shot motors

2 new China rotors from Autozone-one defective and out of round for a 2002 Impala that needed a brake job

Made in China rechargable light had to be returned to Big Lots because the fully charged battery lasted about 3 minutes and died off

And the last one was hilarious- a made in China prelit christmas tree that turned parts of it'self on and off at random with no flasher bulbs present when the cat walked under the tree.

All of this in one weeks time!

Gotta love our made in China quality products.

And WUBYA thinks that WE need to make relevant products!

Edited November 20, 2006 by ponchoman49

[sciguy_0504]

The A3 is the first Chinese vehicle I can't really complain about. Normal, semi-authentic design; nice wheels; cool exhaust; odd but slightly cool rear door handle placement. Does anyone have interior photos?

[the_yellow_dart]

sci - the Euro Civic hatch has the same rear door handle design. It's not unique, but still kind of neat.

[Drew Dowdell]

217308[/snapback]

Updated Daewoo Lanos?

[PurdueGuy]

Audi should throw a nice lawsuit at Chery over copyright infringement concerning the names of both cars (or at least the A3).

217358[/snapback]

copyrights are specific to countries, Audi can't sue unless Chery tries to sell it in a country where they have copyright on that name, which probably isn't the case in China.

[roadwarrior]

Well, Infiniti could make a trade dress issue out of that logo...not EXACTLY close, but maybe close enough?

Though if Hyundai can get away with theirs, maybe Chery can get away with this one.

Plus, isn't GM keeping (or trying to keep) Chery from using the "Chery" name in any market where "Chevy" is marketed?