Production on the Hornet was affirmed back in July of this year, but since then the entire world has kind of gone up in a financial funeral pyre. None of this is official yet, but we'll be placing calls to find out what's going on. If this turns out to be true, it's rough news for Chrysler's product portfolio, considering it was slated as the efficient city-car when apparently that's the only thing we're allowed to want anymore. [ChinaCarTimes]

Chery is perhaps the best-known automotive company in the west due to its continued flirtation with Chrysler and frequent attempts to enter our market. Some in the Chinese automotive world were expecting Chery to display a new version of the Eastar sedan, which is old even by PRC standards. We'll just have to hold our breath until the Beijing Motor Show.

[Source: Auto.Mop.Com via The Tycho]

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: There are some concerning aspects of the short-on-details report from China Car Times, but the statistics seem to show more of a maturation in the Chinese car-buying public than a contraction of the vehicle market. In other words, the people are developing an automotive revolutionary consciousness. Although overall sales are down and some manufacturers reported sales declines of 50% or more, the big winners showed sales increases of 50% or more. Combined with the massive distraction of the then-pending Summer Olympics and government restrictions surrounding the games, we're going to have to see a longer-term steep decline before we start predicting doom in the Far East. [China Car Times]

Industry experts are skeptical of the deal's probability due to several factors, foremost of which is that Chery's total asset value is less than the $4.4 billion it needs to raise. Additionally, there's strong concern that being bought out by a Chinese company would immediately and drastically devalue Volvo, making it a money-losing prospect for Chery. After all, American suburbanites didn't spend $40k to drive a...well, a Chery.

Add to that the fact that Volvo is in pretty bad shape itself, losing $151 million in the first quarter of 2008. The loss was chiefly due to its reliance on the tanked U.S. market for sales, combined with its lack of production facilities here. In other words, as the U.S. dollar drops, it gets more expensive for Volvo to import cars to its key market. Kirk Kerkorian, a major Ford shareholder, has publicly called for Ford to sell off Volvo, and it's rumored that CEO Alan Mulally feels the same way.

Additional complications to the deal include Ford Motor China's agreement to produce S40 sedans there and Chery's recent deal to begin manufacturing small Chryslers. [via Forbes]

Hi guys I was over at CTC and I got pics of two cars. One set of pics is currently waiting to be reviewed by BP and won't be posted until i hear from her. In the meantime since i enjoy posting here in this forum heres a shot of the front of the dodge breeze enjoy and as soon as i hear from BP i will post the other pics

1. The Lifan "Mini Cooper" 320
Usually, when one manufacturer succeeds with a car another will try and take that idea and make their version different and better, a la the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. In China, when a company comes to market with a successful car rival automakers will merely make a poor imitation of it. Thus we present the Lifan 320, a car that somehow manages to maintain the original elements of the MINI we knew and loved, and manages to make it horribly and inexcusably terrible.

2. Great Wall Kunna Electric Concept
As if the Great Wall Kunna Electric concept car wasn't cute enough, there's a stuffed Panda in the passenger's seat. Though we don't think they're indicating you should pick up Panda hitchhikers (you shouldn't — they always want to control the radio), the company has embraced the idea that small cars always look odd and it's just easier to design that into the car than out of it.

3. MG TF Police Convertible
Though American undercover cops occasionally tool about in convertibles (think Miami Vice), we can't think of too many convertible, two-seater marked police cars here in the states. Nevertheless, that didn't stop the Chinese company that now owns classic British carmaker MG from making this MG TF Police Car. Though technically next door at the Police & Equipment Show, this hot little cop coupe was a hit and could be seen picking up political dissidents any day now — only one at a time.

4. Chinese Smart Clone - Harley Davidsion Edition
There's nothing special about a Chinese Smart Car clone as there are tons of them made by Shanghuan Auto. This time, however, the company's Kamino corporate rulers have one-upped themselves with the Harley Davidson Edition. That's right, it's a Smart knockoff with the knockoff of a Harley Davidson painted on the side. Genius! It even isn't big enough to hold a Harley — just like the F-150 pickup adorned with similar accoutrements stateside.

5. Souped Up London Taxi
This, technically, isn't a knockoff. Does it look like a Chinese cab? Yes. But Chinese manufacturer Geely has a contract with London Taxi Inc. to build the Black London Taxi. Totally legit. Though most think of the vehicle as a means for someone driving you around, if you need to get there in a real hurry then this TX4 "hot rod" model is the way to go. It has everything a real London cab needs, including a picture of Big Ben in the back. Tally Ho!

6. Huanghai Faster SUV
Though some Chinese companies might be tempted to take advantage of lax intellectual property laws and outright steal the popular design of the Lexus RX series SUV, automaker Huanghai should be congratulated for resisting the urge. Instead of taking the entire car, they merely took the rear 75% of a Lexus RX and grafted on the front 25% of a Pontiac Torrent for their Huanghai Faster SUV. To make it even more interesting, it's powered by a Mitsubishi engine. For reasons that currently elude our understanding, the car is flanked by car models dressed as hot cops. Maybe they just didn't fit in the MG cop car from earlier.

7. Hafei Saibao V
Though the Hafei Saibao V isn't the most original sports sedan (there's more than a touch of Mazda3 and Lancer Ralliart), we have to give them credit for taking all of the sporty visual cues they could think of — from a gigantic spoiler to super sporty wheels — and fit them all on one car. And if that wasn't enough, they also flanked it with not one, not two, but four models dressed for the prom. That's because when you want to sell a car to sporty guys you need as many gowned models as possible.

8. The Off Road BJ
If you think the BAW B60 Jeep — or BJ — looks a lot like an actual Jeep, you'd be correct. Chrysler and BAW worked together back in the day to co-develop this Jeep for non-Civilian use. Of course that development partnership fell through more than a few years ago, but why let a silly thing like trademarks, copyrights and international intellectual property laws get in the way? That may explain why it looks like the BJ has taken on a bit of Hummer and Land Rover DNA on the front fascia — BAW hopes it'll confuse anyone into thinking the other 90% is pure unadulterated Jeep. But, much like the originals, this formerly Military vehicle is ready to find use in the home of a minimally endowed real estate agent.



9. Hafei Minyi Elephant Transporter
As much as we Americans may love the idea of the minivan, the Chinese love the idea of the mini-minivan. But just in case should you think that this Hafei Minyi isn't big enough for you and your family, the company has put a stuffed baby elephant inside the strange little van to simulate the awesome carrying potential of a minivan crossed with a b-segment econo-box. Of course, even a baby elephant is a touch too big for the Minyi, so you can see the poor animal's stuffed behind sticking out the other end in a way we think would probably be a turn off for potential buyers.

10. The Hybrid Chinese Military Jeep

Kissing cousins to the BAW B60 "BJ" Jeep above, this military Jeep has what we'll call an "interesting" camouflage pattern. As opposed to the high-detail of the pixelated multicolor look of US Military vehicles, the pixels here look to be a few inches across. Was it perhaps designed to patrol the Lego cities of the future or play in some "War Games"-like game of Tetris? Despite the questionable paint scheme, the hybrid powertrain's far superior to your average Hummer. No sense sullying the air with more pollutants than necessary in your standard scorched-earth campaign, eh?

[Source/Photos: The Tycho, China Car Times, AutoExpress.co.uk]

Zhang also mentioned the Hornet, which is a rumor we've reported on before and now seems to have a bit more support. Either way, it looks like it'll happen but we just don't know how, when or necessarily what. [FREEP]

"a Chery spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday that the newspaper had misquoted his colleague and that the earlier deal with Chrysler Group was progressing."

China's Chery say deal with Chrysler not halted [MSNBC]

Related:
No Chery-Flavor For Cerberus-Owned Chrysler? [internal]

"Zhang Li, the general manager of Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., told the German financial daily Handelsblatt the company has halted the project and wants to renegotiate its agreement on building a new compact for Chrysler...Zhang said the deal came as a "total surprise" for his company and it had not yet talked with Cerberus about the move."

Report: Chery halts Daimler deal following Chrysler sale to Cerberus [AP via Detroit News]

[Photo credit to metrix x]

Related:
It's Official Unless China Says It's Not: Chery To Make Itty-Bitty Cars For Chrysler Group; Speculation No More! Chrysler Group Sold To Cerberus Capital Management! [internal]

China's Chery motors is showing off its version of the nouveau shooting brake ideal, most recently recast by Audi in 2005 with its, ahem, Shooting Brake Concept. Chery's version, the Shooting Sport, is somewhat more of a hatchback than a traditional English breakfast shooting brake. It'll make its debut at the Shanghai auto show this week. We'll see whether it spawns a competitor among the world's three-doors. Considering Chery just inked a deal for a plant in Israel to build cars for the local market and for US and European export, that could be sooner than we think. – Mike Spinelli

[via China Car Times]

Related:
Shooting for Sport: Chery Wagon Concept Set for Shanghai Debut; Exec: Audi Won't Build Shooting Brake; Audi to Show Shooting Brake Concept in Tokyo [internal]

China's Chery motors is calling on the English shooting brake as a theme for its latest concept wagon. It's the Shooting Sport, and it's set for debut at the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show. But don't go looking around for floppy-eared dogs and dubiously armed, pasty men in jodhpurs. This Shooting Brake Sport one of three concepts and 27 other cars the company plans to spotlight at the show. It looks to be a kind of Euro-style MPV that's been stylized for your protection. Or lack thereof. Either way, it's another example of Chery's long march upward, the culmination of which well see as a cheapo Chrysler product or two. Those will include a subcompact for the US market, based on the Hornet concept, and an export subcompact for South American and Chinese markets. That last part comes via Automotive News. – Mike Spinelli

[via Autoblog]

Related:
China's Hybrid Race: Chery to Show Hybrid at Beijing Show, Others to Follow? [internal]

Chery, always mindful of the the-dictator-on-a-budget demographic, has teamed up with Uruguay-based Bognor Automotive Manufacture and Assembly based on the Chinese automaker's Eastar midsizer. Uruguay's most famous vehicle, of course, was the Hillman Avengermino, sold as the Dodge 1500 pickup, which reputedly had a tendency to fall apart. We don't know. If we're planning to get shot at, we might prefer something a bit more substantial. Like an Abrams. – Davey G. Johnson

China's Chery forms jv for bullet-proof car [Reuters]

Related:
Avengermino! The Dodge 1500 Pickup! [Internal]