Detroit Auto Show, changfeng, china, kylin, liebro

Detroit Auto Show: Merch Patrol, Changfeng Pomp and Circumstance

Apparently I am now a graduate of China's Liebro University, and all I had to do was attend the Changfeng (rhymes with "Wang Chung") press conference here in Detroit and pick up my tassel. The Chinese automaker made another bid for acceptance in the Detroit community, showing off two cars, the Liebro CS7 crossover SUV and the Kylin small MPV today at the show. They're still well behind baseline in quality/styling standards. The smell of petroleum-based adhesives still waft from the interiors, where a visual-tactile mashup of early-'80s Subaru and mid-'90s Dodge Neon await. But the company, considered an also-ran in the push to bring the first Chinese cars to the US, is improving its presentation skills, though still adorning their cars with random alphanumeric sequences.

2:58 PM on Mon Jan 14 2008
By Mike Spinelli
974 views
18 comments

Comments

Bentos, Der Frischmacher! at 03:25 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 153
Brought to you by Acura TSX

Thats Classy!
Hoser Dave at 03:29 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

And sexy!
combat chuck at 03:41 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

I'm seeing a Kia Sorento and a Hyundai Tucson. What does Liebro mean in Chinese?
Hoser Dave at 03:53 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

Liebro means blatant rip off or copy.
I like the mid 90's Honda gage cluster.
squablow at 03:59 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

How many Fruit Loop UPC's do I need to get me one of these?
stopcrazypp at 04:05 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

@HoserDave:
The SUV was designed by Pininfarina. Goes to show that even when the Chinese spend good money for design they will still be accused of copying. Seeing as lately all the mainstream automakers have been "copying" each other too, I now understand why it makes more sense to just blatantly copy others. Even when you don't, as in this case, you get accused of doing so.
Triborough at 04:07 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

[In Jeremy Clarkson voice] It may look like actual cars you may have heard of, but just wait until you get some Germans to crash it properly.
BMRFILE at 04:23 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

What a pile of metal turd. Very typical of the Chinese. Poor build quality, design and completely lacking class. They are barely capable of building cheap computer parts and trinkets and they are getting ahead of themselves by wanting to market their s&*tboxes worldwide?!

And they run a car company with no PR firm to handle the media?!

China=Half Ass Attempts
FreeMan at 04:36 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

[jalopnik.com] they can't even stick the steering wheel on straight?
yellofury * * * * * at 05:40 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

@FreeMan:
they are trying to recreate either the Citroen CX or the Subaru XT6
Novaload at 08:47 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 176
Brought to you by Acura TSX

@squablow: Not many for the vehicle but a lot more for the lead paint test kit.
skierpage at 10:31 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*

Everybody Changfeng tonight,
Everybody Changfeng!

Oh Jack Hues and Nick Feldman, how I miss your Dance Hall Days, we were so. in. phase.
Novaload at 10:50 PM on 01/14/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 176
Brought to you by Acura TSX

@skierpage: You nailed it. They will totally do this if someone will explain it to them. They will probably give you a Changfeng!
ZWECK at 01:27 AM on 01/15/08
Reply by Email
*

When I saw the interior, I threw-up in my mouth a little. BTW, I think that's a good-luck charm they gave you.
skulldriveshaft at 05:37 AM on 01/15/08
Reply by Email
*

Throw away the charm - it's a gps equipped tracking device - they are now following you around - throw it in the dumpster and see who follows the garbage truck the next day!
Hoser Dave at 09:58 AM on 01/15/08
Reply by Email
*

@stopcrazypp: Just because an Isuzu had suspension designed by Lotus, doesn't make it an awesome car like a Lotus. Fact is that China has a horrible reputation for blatant rip offs of other cars (see all the posts about the Smart copies ect...)
If China wants to make an impact in the North American market, they wont do it by selling us the same old SUV's we had in the mid 90's.
windnsails at 12:35 PM on 01/15/08
Reply by Email
*

China owns 80%-90% of what was USA's toy/textile/computer and other small manufacturing industries. Now they are going after the big boys. The sad part ... US citizens WILL buy them! And the big industries here will crumble.
Kacey1348 at 12:03 PM on 01/16/08
Reply by Email
*

Where and when can I buy one?