SAIC Roewe 550

**Admin** · 02-03-2007, 04:07 AM

Ford pulled a shrewd move back in September when it exercised an option to purchase the rights to the Rover brand name from BMW, which meant that Chinese automaker SAIC couldn't use the brand name to sell the ex-Rover cars it had just won the rights to build. Hence, the Roewe brand was born and the 750E was unveiled soon after.

AutoExpress is now reporting that SAIC is readying a slap right back at Ford in the form of a Focus fighter for the European market.

The small family hatch will come in both three- and five-door models, and it's being developed locally in the U.K. by Ricardo 2010, an engineering firm bought by SAIC that just happens to employ a number of ex-Rover employees.
2010 was also responsible for reengineering the Roewe 750, which will go on sale in Europe later this year.

The small car is being developed using the RDX60 chassis, a still-born platform that didn't get the chance to see the light of day before Rover went bankrupt.

We find it amusing SAIC is developing a car to take on the Focus considering Ford threw a major wrench in their works by buying the rights to the Rover name at the last minute. The Rover name will likely never be commercially used by Ford, which wasn't keen on the idea of Chinese-built passenger vehicles being confused with its high-end, off-road Land Rovers.

[Source: AutoExpress]

MartinW · 02-03-2007, 04:26 AM

Full story on AutoExpress site here

cryptonx · 02-04-2007, 10:44 AM

lol FORD ,,, sick :P
SAIC ... smart :P but hope they pull it off , I hate Ford(S)

phaeton · 02-04-2007, 08:47 PM

LOL Its taken Kia/Hyundai a while to get a proper Focus fighter.
Not sure on sales for the new Cee'd but it has been well received.

I'd be skeptical on a Roewe Focus fighter as would the Europeans

MartinW · 02-05-2007, 03:35 AM

Assuming it is based on the original RDX60 that was being prepared at the time of the colla[se, then it has every chance of at least competing with Focus. But back in the 90s Rover raised the bar and by comparison Ford and GM took another few years to catch up and get ahead of Rover.

4*real*Made_in_China · 02-05-2007, 01:16 PM

I just read about that in TopGear. They took a tour of the Longbridge facility and found the prototypes there. Complete with Sedan(Saloon), 5 and 3 dr hatch and I think a wagon too. I looked it up- its based on a modified Rover 75 platform. Its supposed to be "the car that would have saved Rover". If they'd had the money(it was ready, they just couldn't afford to launch it).I guess its good that something's come out of it.

Seamaster · 02-13-2007, 08:02 AM

..and no Rover Group DNA.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphoto...-new-roewe-450

chinacartimes · 02-13-2007, 08:22 AM

aha ! The infamous Seamaster. Got yourself banned from Austin-Rover?

How'd you manage that then?

Windy · 02-13-2007, 08:51 AM

Are you going to publish the story in the China Car Times when he answers?

Make him really infamous!

Seamaster · 02-13-2007, 09:42 AM

If I told you my friends, you wouldn't believe me, but you can read all about it on www.macdroitwich.com, the new home of CLASS on the net.

02-03-2007, 04:07 AM	#1
Admin Chery Driver Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,055	SAIC Roewe 550 Ford pulled a shrewd move back in September when it exercised an option to purchase the rights to the Rover brand name from BMW, which meant that Chinese automaker SAIC couldn't use the brand name to sell the ex-Rover cars it had just won the rights to build. Hence, the Roewe brand was born and the 750E was unveiled soon after. AutoExpress is now reporting that SAIC is readying a slap right back at Ford in the form of a Focus fighter for the European market. The small family hatch will come in both three- and five-door models, and it's being developed locally in the U.K. by Ricardo 2010, an engineering firm bought by SAIC that just happens to employ a number of ex-Rover employees. 2010 was also responsible for reengineering the Roewe 750, which will go on sale in Europe later this year. The small car is being developed using the RDX60 chassis, a still-born platform that didn't get the chance to see the light of day before Rover went bankrupt. We find it amusing SAIC is developing a car to take on the Focus considering Ford threw a major wrench in their works by buying the rights to the Rover name at the last minute. The Rover name will likely never be commercially used by Ford, which wasn't keen on the idea of Chinese-built passenger vehicles being confused with its high-end, off-road Land Rovers. [Source: AutoExpress] __________________ Chinese Cars/Auto Community - for anyone interested in Chinese Cars

02-03-2007, 04:26 AM	#2
MartinW Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chester, UK Posts: 83	Full story on AutoExpress site here __________________ MartinW MG ZT & MG BGT Rover 214 for the Missus - 8yrs old and no HGF yet And a CV including Minis, Austin , Rover 400s and 75

02-04-2007, 10:44 AM	#3
cryptonx Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cairo , Egypt Posts: 481	lol FORD ,,, sick :P SAIC ... smart :P but hope they pull it off , I hate Ford(S) __________________ Look into my eyes , Tell me what you see You don't see a damn thing , 'cause you can't relate to me You're blinded by our differences , My life makes no sense to you I'm the persecuted one , You're the red, white and blue

02-04-2007, 08:47 PM	#4
phaeton Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 827	LOL Its taken Kia/Hyundai a while to get a proper Focus fighter. Not sure on sales for the new Cee'd but it has been well received. I'd be skeptical on a Roewe Focus fighter as would the Europeans __________________ VWNEWSBLOG https://twitter.com/VWNEWSBLOG https://www.facebook.com/vwnewsblog/ http://vwnewsblog.blogspot.com.au/

02-05-2007, 03:35 AM	#5
MartinW Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chester, UK Posts: 83	Assuming it is based on the original RDX60 that was being prepared at the time of the colla[se, then it has every chance of at least competing with Focus. But back in the 90s Rover raised the bar and by comparison Ford and GM took another few years to catch up and get ahead of Rover. __________________ MartinW MG ZT & MG BGT Rover 214 for the Missus - 8yrs old and no HGF yet And a CV including Minis, Austin , Rover 400s and 75

02-05-2007, 01:16 PM	#6
4realMade_in_China Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US of A Posts: 263	I just read about that in TopGear. They took a tour of the Longbridge facility and found the prototypes there. Complete with Sedan(Saloon), 5 and 3 dr hatch and I think a wagon too. I looked it up- its based on a modified Rover 75 platform. Its supposed to be "the car that would have saved Rover". If they'd had the money(it was ready, they just couldn't afford to launch it).I guess its good that something's come out of it.

02-13-2007, 08:02 AM	#7
Seamaster Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 82	Roewe 450... ..and no Rover Group DNA. http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphoto...-new-roewe-450

02-13-2007, 08:22 AM	#8
chinacartimes Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 325	aha ! The infamous Seamaster. Got yourself banned from Austin-Rover? How'd you manage that then?

02-13-2007, 08:51 AM	#9
Windy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Devon, UK Posts: 469	Are you going to publish the story in the China Car Times when he answers? Make him really infamous!

02-13-2007, 09:42 AM	#10
Seamaster Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 82	If I told you my friends, you wouldn't believe me, but you can read all about it on www.macdroitwich.com, the new home of CLASS on the net.

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