Over the last year or so, the designs of Chinese made cars on the whole have increased dramatically. Gone are the boxy lines that were more reminessent of 1988, leaving us with some rather modern designs that are easily able to compete on the international stage. The below car, the FAW Besturn A501 is the latest motor to roll out from FAW under the Besturn name.The A501 was designed by ItalDesign Giugiaro spa. The A501 will be a ’sporty’ model, sold at around 100,000rmb. Engine power will come from either a 1.6 self developed motor, or the Mazda sourced 2.0l engine, which was used in the Mazda 6.

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11424341.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11424338.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11424335.jpg


source: le blog auto and China Car Times

First pics:
http://auto.sina.com.cn/news/2008-03-17/0941355425.shtml


http://i1.sinaimg.cn/qc/cr/2008/0317/3802076366.jpg
http://i0.sinaimg.cn/qc/cr/2008/0317/546821460.jpg

is this original or mix between ford and mazda?

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20080318/Img255775411.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20080318/Img255775412.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20080318/Img255775410.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20080318/Img255775406.jpg

They are getting better and better at this game

Some sketches:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/cn.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/b131-new1-mini.jpg
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/cn.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/b131-new-n-2.jpg
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/cn.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/b131-new3-55.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-10-foto_4219952_17375639_17513064.jpg
http://img.autohome.com.cn/2008/4/1/1-14-9-59-125791030.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-10-foto_4219952_17375639_17513065.jpg
http://img.autohome.com.cn/2008/4/1/1-14-10-4-986247044.jpg

Some more pictures:
http://www.thetycho.com/news/new/faw_sedan_1.jpg
http://www.thetycho.com/news/new/faw_sedan_2.jpg
http://www.thetycho.com/news/new/faw_sedan_3.jpg

Tycho
www.thetycho.com (http://www.thetycho.com)

Nice body design, yep.

Chinese car designs have comed a long way! Looks decent, though not a breakthrough.

A mix bag of Hyundai, Acura, Ford, Saturn cues. The wheels are still way too small.

Push the wheels out more to the 4 corners and use larger rims. Then it would look GOOD.

The FAW Hongqi A501 is tested in Germany:

http://www.autovandaag.nl/upl/bentung-1_6822.jpg

http://www.autovandaag.nl/upl/bentung-2_6823.jpg

http://www.autovandaag.nl/upl/bentung-3_6824.jpg

http://www.autovandaag.nl/upl/bentung-4_6825.jpg

http://www.autovandaag.nl/upl/bentung-5_6826.jpg

Source: http://www.autovandaag.nl/nieuws/scoop-faw-bentung-a-501-chinese-trots-gespot.html

Official presentation of Besturn B50:
http://auto.sina.com.cn/photo/B131xc/index.shtml


http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689102.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689095.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689117.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689120.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689148.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689143.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689139.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-3-foto_4219952_10796317_11689133.jpg

More live pics:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/12-15-38-21-928110240.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/12-15-38-16-248668584.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/12-15-38-23-88428554.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/Img1223124.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/12-15-38-26-105822625.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/Img1223131.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/Img1223128.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/Img1223129.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/AceWZDE7KL1919.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/v9rqNslt8y8727.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/daewoo-chevrolet/pdIshqOt8Z9129.jpg

Interior:

http://pic.xcar.com.cn/img/07news/ji2kIx6KTw0717.jpg

Sources: www.xcar.com.cn, auto.sohu.com & www.autohome.com.cn

not bad. rear actually looks good.

The company who brought the Chana brand here in the Philippines "FAW" logo in their business card. We thought that they will launch the FAW here in the recently concluded Manila International Autoshow last April.

do we know when that car will be launched on the Chinese Market?

The rear looks okay, but the front and side looks bland and boring. Not very exciting for a "sporty" model. Which Mazda platform is it built on? The revised Mazda6?

Besturn does China's FAW Car a good turn


The pace of sales in the Chinese automobile market slowed in the first half of 2008, but the listed unit of China's second-largest carmaker, First Automobile Works Group, performed strongly, on the enthusiastic reception for its midsized sedans as well as diligent cost-cutting efforts.

Amid consumer concerns about high fuel prices and inflation, growth in car sales moderated to 17% in the first half of this year, versus the comparable period last year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said on Wednesday. In the first half of 2007, auto sales grew 22%, year on year, over 2006. But FAW Car Co., based in Changchun, in the northeastern province of Jilin, and listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange, expects to post first-half profit growth of 200% to 250%.



http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/7043/Besturn-does-China-s-FAW-Car-a-good-turn.html

FAW’s B50 delayed.

August 01, 2008 - According to the Southern Daily’s reports, FAW’s new small sedan, the Besturn B50 has been delayed slightly although the exact date of it going on the market is currently unknown.

The Besturn B50, projected to be launched at the end of this year, will probably be put on sale in the beginning of 2009. FAW Car intends to maintain Besturn B50’s reliability through more tests, according to Yu Yang, vice marketing director of FAW Besturn. The model is reportedly receiving the road test in southern China’s Hainan Island.

Instead, FAW have announced that the sport version of larger model - Besturn B70 - will be launched in Guangzhou in August 2008. The sports model, code-named B70S, will be slightly altered with ’sports equipment’.

:nono:

Production version:

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20081009/Img259926067.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20081009/Img259926068.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20081009/Img259926069.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20081009/Img259926066.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20081009/Img259926071.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20081009/Img259926070.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20081009/Img259926074.jpg


Source: http://auto.sohu.com/20081009/n259925991.shtml

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-5-foto_4219952_13082292_13861078.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-5-foto_4219952_13082292_13861069.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-5-foto_4219952_13082292_13861072.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-5-foto_4219952_13082292_13861075.jpg

source:
http://keyun-auto.blog.sohu.com/101844441.html

Technical parameters of B50 1.6:
http://news.cheshi.com/gcxc/200810/79955.shtml

http://img.cheshi.com/200810/79955/4906d5c2097fd.jpg
http://img.cheshi.com/200810/79955/4906d5c41cb8d.jpg
http://img.cheshi.com/200810/79955/4906d5c5d9df5.jpg

Hongqi Besturn B50 at 2008 Guangzhou show:
http://cn.autoblog.com/2008/11/23/2008-guangzhou-09-besturn/

http://www.blogcdn.com/cn.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/img_1588.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/cn.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/img_1587.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/cn.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/img_1590.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/cn.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/img_1591.jpg

This car is great.. Very nice build. I hope it will be cater outside china. Very awesome looking car.

The long-awaited Besturn B50 sedan model of FAW Car Co., a subsidiary of FAW Group, rolled off the production line in Changchun on March 3rd, 2009. It is the second model of the FAW Besturn brand, after the 2009 Besturn B70. The Besturn B50 will go on sale by early May.

Last April, the Besturn B50 made its debut at the 2008 Beijing auto show. It is based on the previous generation Mazda6 platform, and equipped with a 1.6L gasoline engine with peak power of 76/6000 (kW/rpm), available with manual and automatic transmissions.

The Besturn B50 stands on a modified Mazda 6 chassis, as FAW and Mazda produce the Mazda 6 in their joint venture operation. A hybrid version of the Besturn B50 is expected to be available later.

Since FAW manufactures in China the Prius on behalf of Toyota, surely a hybrid engine will be a natural next step for FAW Group, who has seen Besturn as one of its own brands, like the HQ (Red Flag) brand.

The Besturn B50 will be delivered to the market in late April or early May this year, at a price between 110,000 yuan ($16,100) and 150,000 yuan.

http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/200903/55898-1.html

B50 1.6 with basic trim level:
http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/200905/60606-1.html

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-31-foto_4219952_17408027_18214724.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-31-foto_4219952_17408027_18214725.jpg

http://img.autohome.com.cn/upload/spec/3922/w_3922582057794.jpg

I like the bold look of this Besturn. I would take it over the Fengshen S30, the Geely GC1 or FC2, the Soueast V5, the JAC B18 or even the Roewe 550.
It's got a sturdy look compared to that look of fragility seen in so many of the sedans on display at Shanghai.

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173802.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173807.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173803.jpg
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/series/5465/1/312742.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/series/5465/1/312777.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/series/5465/1/312745.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/series/5465/1/312748.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/12/312772.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/12/312739.html

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173811.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173809.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173799.jpg
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/10/312786.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/10/312784.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/10/312717.html

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173810.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173801.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173804.jpg
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/3/312732.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/3/312787.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/3/312780.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/5465/3/312676.html


more:
http://car.autohome.com.cn/pic/series/632.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/pic/series-s5465/632.html?pvareaid=100635

Looks good and solid all the way around, including the interior.

Prices of B50:
http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/200905/61092.html

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-22-foto_4219952_17406190_18173890.jpg

overall not a bad effort

there's some fussy things like the center cut like that only goes half way to the fronts doors

the wheel bulges and the small 16" wheels - this car needs 17" wheels minimum

also some interior fittings/trim looks a bit cheap but overall... almost there... like Korea back in 2001?

Mabe that's why I don't mind it-I've owned both a 1999 Kia Sephia before and a 2001 Kia Sportage 4X4. Loved both of them.

B50 with new logo:
http://chezhan.bitauto.com/beijing/2010/besturn/bentengb50/
http://chezhan.bitauto.com/beijing/2010/besturn/b50phev/

http://img4.bitautoimg.com/autoalbum/files/20100423%5C364/2344085422_1247960_3.jpg
http://img1.bitautoimg.com/autoalbum/files/20100423%5C364/2344130422_1247974_3.jpg

http://img1.bitautoimg.com/autoalbum/files/20100423%5C436/2345592297_1248125_3.jpg
http://img1.bitautoimg.com/autoalbum/files/20100423%5C436/2346050578_1248143_3.jpg

2011 B50 1.6 with manual AC:
http://car.autohome.com.cn/pic/series-s8791/632.htm

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-35-foto_4219952_17415931_18331787.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-35-foto_4219952_17415931_18331785.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-35-foto_4219952_17415931_18331781.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-35-foto_4219952_17415931_18331782.jpg

http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/8791/10/936684.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/8791/3/936759.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/photo/series/8791/3/936762.html

Besides new logo, B50 is getting new new grill next year:
http://auto.163.com/10/1228/00/6OV0F3CB0008432U.html

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-37-foto_4219952_17420218_18384571.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-37-foto_4219952_17420218_18384572.jpg

Back to the old logo??

According to some older report FAW decided to terminate Besturn (Ben Teng in Chinese) brand. In this case B50 and B70 will obviously be sold as FAW and bear its logo (hawk spreading its wings).

Facelifted B50 @ 2011 Shanghai Auto Show:
http://auto.sina.com.cn/shanghaichezhan/2011hall/sub_brands559/
http://data.auto.qq.com/mshow/shcz11/serial/462/mshow_index.shtml

http://www.sinaimg.cn/qc/photo_auto/chezhan/2011/42/01/41/19317_950.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/qc/photo_auto/chezhan/2011/42/01/41/19314_950.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/qc/photo_auto/chezhan/2011/42/01/41/19309_950.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/qc/photo_auto/chezhan/2011/42/01/40/19268_950.jpg

2011 B50:
http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736139.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736138.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736141.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736140.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736143.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736142.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736144.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/avto7-foto_4219952_17450250_18736145.jpg

source:
http://photo.bitauto.com/model/12969.html
http://car.autohome.com.cn/pic/series-s8408/632.html