[jmsteiny]

Wowsa............

TWO THUMBS UP FOR CHERY!!!:thumb: :thumb: It will be VERY interesting to see what the details are (engine displacement, standard features, options, prices, etc...) - but if it is affordably priced THIS is a car I would be REALLY HAPPY to buy!! Maybe it's a good thing that I am waiting a bit longer to make a final decision on WHAT car to buy - this car could be worth waiting for!!

 

[jmsteiny]

some new pics..............

I just found these on the internet this morning, so I thought I would share them with you! The S12 will actually be called the Qq5 or Qq7 (not sure which), which makes it a part of the growing Qq "family - the "classic" Qq (now known as the Qq3), the new Qq6 (which will go on sale in 2-3 weeks, around the middle of August) and the upcoming S12 (to be renamed in the near future). I don't know about prices or options yet - but I think it is safe to say that it will most likely offer pretty much the same amenities and options as the new Qq6. I would guess that the price will also be about the same as the new Qq6..........anywhere from 42,000 - 52,000 rmb. Enjoy the new pics!!

 

[jmsteiny]

Interesting...................

GREAT pics!! It's very interesting to note that the S12 is somewhat bigger than I imagined - especially when sitting side by side with a VW Santana!! I was thinking the S12 would be more of a "sport" model in the QQ family............but now I would almost consider it the QQ "minivan". A LOT more attractive than the OTHER minivan Chery is developing (check out the pics that Hazik posted in another thread called "chery minivan"), I think - I hope that they are still on schedule to debut this new model in early 2007 as I will be looking forward to seeing it with my own eyes!!

 

[jmsteiny]

Pretty cool...............

I LOVE this new A1..............and I can't wait until August!!!!

 

[jmsteiny]

Great.............

COOL.............I don't have to wait until August!!:thumb:

 

[jmsteiny]

Very cool............

Hey hazik...........GREAT pictures!!! I have a question though........I wonder if the CD/DVD system will be available with a ENGLISH menu?!?!?!?????? Hell, if I have to choose the base model instead, no big deal. The only differences between the 2 models available (53,800 and 59,800 rmb) is the DVD system and airbags ..........I don't watch movies while I'm driving and while it WOULD be nice to have airbags, I always wear my safety belt and make my passengers do the same.

It's still going to be 1-2 months until the A1 reaches Nanning........but you can bet once it's here I'll be test driving it and giving my impressions here - I hope it's worth the wait!!

 

[jmsteiny]

The DVD player is factory installed. There are 2 models of the A1 (actually 3)...the "basic" model (without DVD player) is about 54,000rmb and WITH the DVD player......about 58,000rmb. The THIRD model is the A1EC......this is the A1 with MUCH better emissions controls - it matches up to euro 5 specs now. This was necessary for Chery/Dodge's world plans for the car AND the fact that up until now the A1 could not be sold in Beijing because it didn't qualify for Beijing's tougher pollution laws (minimum euro 3 specs for any car sold in Beijing now). I don't know about the price of the A1EC, though - if Chery is smart it won't cost any extra for the EC model AND to make it cost effective I could see them making the EC model the "standard" model for ALL of China. It could also be a good marketing move - Chery could promote themselves as "responsible" with a car like the A1 with it's euro 5 specs......helping the environment, less pollution, etc. Let's see if Chery IS smart about this.

 

[jmsteiny]

It looks like VW golf VI or am I wrong ?

Actually, you need to reverse that - the Golf VI looks like the A1. Why? Well, let's see here...........the A1 debuted (at the auto shows) in 2007, and went on sale in China in early 2008. The Golf VI did not debut until October 2008 at the Paris auto show, and on sale this year (2009) in China. We all accuse the chinese companies of copying and cloning other foreign cars (and for the most part we have ample evidence to do so in many cases) - I think it is entirely reasonable to assume that as ORIGINAL chinese designs continue to get better and better, foreign companies could begin to start "borrowing" design ideas from chinese cars! The A1 might not be the best car out there, but it is a attractive small car, no doubt about it. Some other examples - how about the Roewe 350? Brilliance FRV/FSV? Chery A3 (especially the 5 door)? All original, all very attractive and worthy of attention from foreign car designers.

Now...........do I really think that VW actually looked at the A1 and said "hmmmm.......we can do something with that"? NO. I do think Chery looked at many other cars (including the Golf V) when designing the A1.........but no copying or cloning in this case. The A1 IS original - so let's give Chery credit where credit is due.