China: BYD to debut F3-R at Shanghai motor show; reveals future model plans
By Glenn Brooks12 April, 2007
Source: Automotive World
BYD Auto, one of China's largest privately-owned OEMs, has announced the F3-R, a five-door hatchback which will have its premiere at the Shanghai motor show on 20 April.
High-spec versions will be powered by a Mitsubishi 4G15S 1.5-litre I4 gasoline engine, with Delphi supplying the electronic injection management system.
"The model will be priced less than Yuan 100,000 (US$12,937) and we will offer two specifications with a Mitsubishi or an independently-developed engine," Xia Zhibing, the company's general manager of sales, said in a statement.
Xia added that BYD plans to produce and sell 300,000 vehicles in 2008 and 500,000 vehicles in 2009.
The F3-R's main rivals will be Shanghai Volkswagen's Polo Jinqing, Shanghai General Motors' Buick Excelle HRV and Dongfeng Motor's Nissan Tiida. The car is 4,325mm long, 1,460mm wide and 1,490mm high. The 2,600mm wheelbase is identical to that of the ninth generation Toyota Corolla, while the car's interior is strikingly similar to this model.
For 2006, BYD Group reported profits of Yuan 1.128 bn (US$145.92 million), up 113% year-on-year. It sold 63,153 units of its Toyota Vios-based F3 sedan, an almost five-fold gain over 2005.
As well as production versions of the F6 mid sized sedan and F8 convertible it has displayed at past Chinese motor shows, the Xi'an, Shaanxi-based OEM says it will announce details of three further models later this year, revealed only as the F2, F7 and F9 for now.