SAIC Roewe 550

118499 Views 135 Replies 40 Participants Last post by setareie_sokhte, Oct 18, 2014

Admin

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2007

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]

41 - 60 of 136 Posts

rudy

· #41 · Jun 1, 2007

it is very nice car. if SAIC can solve the process/manufacturing issues, i think the users will probably accept it.
Now in China or in the world, concept car is very nice and beautifully, but in the process of development, it may be changed due to manufacturing issue, cost issue, assembly issue. Otherwise the quality might be poor or unreliable.

rudy

· #42 · Jun 13, 2007

any photo to show the interior.

Windy

· #43 · Jun 13, 2007

This is the interior of the concept car:

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CCF mod

· #44 · Jul 10, 2007

4

http://images26.fotosik.pl/3/410f6685224e10f8.jpg

http://images25.fotosik.pl/3/b187830140447934.jpg

http://images26.fotosik.pl/3/3a83d1c389fc2b29.jpg

http://images25.fotosik.pl/3/25aee986c7348d88.jpg

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mgrovernut

· #45 · Jul 10, 2007

Interior looks cheap. Will it even be a Roewe? could be an MG at this rate.

erik (laofan) cmvdc

· #46 · Jul 11, 2007

Wh has PC Auto covered the logo on the steering wheel? Has anybody seen these pictures at another website including the logo?

ismathali

· #47 · Jul 12, 2007

Dear Sir,
We are leading car importers in Sri Lanka and has been for 20 years. We import only from Japanese and Singapore. But recently we found we can boomup Chinese vehicles also in our country. We actually need small trucks and commercial vans specially. Meanwhile we can import big trucks and small cars too. First we actually like to go for a small trucks and vans. We need to find out a reliable Chinese Automobile manufactures and act as their agent in Sri Lanka.
Thanks.

ISMATH ALI
+94-777-885566, +94-717-346407
Managing Director
ALI TRADERS PVT LTD.
86, Stace Road, Colombo-14.Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94-114-548015, +94-112-394445
E-mail:[email protected]
Website: alitraders.com

Raul

· #48 · Aug 17, 2007

3

Roewe 450 spotted on the road.

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fish4fun

· #49 · Aug 28, 2007

This blockbuster will be in the market before 2008.

1.6L engine, competing with Corolla directly.

can't wait to see!!

fhrblig

· #50 · Sep 4, 2007

The fact that a Chinese company can design a decent original car makes it even more shameful that the other Chinese companies persist in stealing other automakers' designs. There's no excuses anymore.

Windy

· #51 · Sep 4, 2007

fhrblig said:
The fact that a Chinese company can design a decent original car makes it even more shameful that the other Chinese companies persist in stealing other automakers' designs. There's no excuses anymore.

This car was designed in the UK, but your post is stll valid...

Admin

Discussion Starter · #52 · Oct 23, 2007 (Edited)

heres a promo commercial for the W2

Rally Red Lancer GTS

· #53 · Oct 23, 2007

Anyone know if the W2 or Rongwei 550 is coming to the U.S.? This is a desirable car, indeed.

mgrovernut

· #54 · Oct 25, 2007

I wonder if this British designed car will end up being called an MG?

fish4fun

· #55 · Oct 29, 2007

Saic Motor-W2/W261 will postponed to launch @ March, 2008 due to various reasons

So going to overseas needs time...

CCF mod

· #56 · Nov 13, 2007 (Edited)

3

According to China Car Times the car will indeed bear the name Roewe 550. The engine beneath the hood will be 1.8 turbo. Measurements are in at (LxWxH) 4624 x 1827 x 1480mm, the wheelbase measures 2705mm.

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daewoo-chevrolet

· #57 · Nov 13, 2007

The car looks very classy, balanced and chique. The front reminds me of the Chrysler Sebring and the Volkswagen Passat (Magotan). So perhaps the Roewe 550 and 750 will be sold as SsangYong in Europe? I hope so, because the cars are looking very well!

CCF mod

· #58 · Nov 13, 2007 (Edited)

Sneak preview of the interior:

And some pics from SAIC UK which was visited by several reporters recently.
http://118.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2007/8/29/22/10/1154c391e67.jpg
http://118.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2007/8/29/22/10/1154c390e14.jpg
http://118.img.pp.sohu.com/images/blog/2007/8/29/22/10/1154c38d7c6.jpg

They also get some official info from vice CEO of SAIC UK,
Engine: 1.8L/1.8T, 100kW-125kW, Euro IV with techs could upgrade to Euro V, possible more power engine in the future (1.6L engine also mentioned in the artile, but it's not official).

Crash Test: designed to be NCAP 5 star, they are satisfied with the test result now.

Road test completed: frigid area(Sweden), low and high temperature in mountain area(Spain), high speed(Germany)

Test nearly end focus on Chinese road circumstances: reliability test, winter test, summer test, plateau area test.

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CCF mod

· #59 · Nov 19, 2007 (Edited)

4

Some more pictures of the interior:

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CCF mod

· #60 · Jan 24, 2008

From Global Auto Sourcing:

After its Rover75-based Roewe 750 was launched in Chinese market last March, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) started to develop its second Roewe-branded sedan--Roewe 550. The sedan is set to debut at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show this April and go on sale in June, Xinhua News Agency reports today.

Priced at 120,800 Yuan to 160,000 Yuan (US$16,575-22,099), Roewe 550 is set to compete with models like Mazda3, Honda Civic, Ford Focus and VW Sagitar. It is 4,624 mm in length, 1,827 mm in width, 1,480 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,705 mm. The turbocharged engine could turn out a maximum of 118 kW.

"Roewe 750 absorbs the advanced Rover technology, but this car (Roewe 550) is definitely a technology innovation by SAIC on its own. It's based on a brand new platform, very different from Rover," said an unnamed SAIC official.

Roewe 550 is independently built by SAIC's technology center in Anting, the west suburbs of Shanghai. The automaker said that the center, together with its design workshops in Nanjing, Korea and UK, will develop about local brand models.

Road-test for the car has already been finished.

41 - 60 of 136 Posts

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