• spy photos

    Chery Eastar Convertible, Cheapest Four-Door Convertible On Earth, Spied in China

    By removing its B-pillar and extending its wheelbase, Chery hopes to make its mid-size Eastar sedan the last word in four-door convertible luxury. Little else is known about the vehicle, other than that it may be equipped with Chery’s patented FlexFrame™ ride improvement system. It's not known when the Chery Eastar Convertible will hit the market, but we’d put our money on it dropping at next year’s Beijing Auto Show.

    [via China Car Times]
    Spy Photos

    2:20 PM on Tue Sep 2 2008
    By Wes Siler
    2,344 views, 29 comments

    Most discussed FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system: Does it come with the red hula hoops, or do I have to add my own? more »

  • detroit auto show

    Detroit Auto Show: Chinese Buick Riviera Concept to Make North American Debut at Detroit

    The boys over at the blog that likes to spend more time Kicking Tires than not reminded us of a little Zeta-platformed concept designed jointly by GM and SAIC that we'd totally forgotten we hadn't yet seen in person, but we need to be looking for at the Detroit Auto Show next month. It's quite possibly the most amazing Buick concept car we've ever seen — the Chinese Buick Riviera concept car. The Riviera concept made its initial debut at the Shanghai Auto Show last year, and now it'll be coming to make it's North American debut at none other than the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS — it's the fancy name for the Detroit Auto Show). Basically, it'll be the first time we've seen a Buick sedan we'd actually want to buy. Well, at least since the GNX anyway.

    [Kicking Tires via AutoBlog]
    Feature

    7:30 AM on Mon Dec 17 2007
    By Ray Wert
    31,708 views, 27 comments

    Latest by superbmtsub: That coulda been the Mercury Cougar. more »

  • shanghai auto show

    Roewe, Roewe, Roewe Your Boat, Old Chap!

    If buying Rover in all but name (thanks to those crafty bastiches in M nchen-Stadt) and slapping a weird melange of 300C and Audi schnoz on the front gives one mad Brit cred, SAIC may as well change its name to Pete Townshend, Carnaby Street or the Earl of March. The Roewe booth at the Shanghai show had the models all dolled up in riding gear, standing prim, proper and vaguely Stepford-esque. To be fair, the Roewes were likely the most well-realized seeming of the Chinese automakers' non-joint-venture products, and they do look a helluva lot better than Rovers past. That said, we'll wait for the JD Power numbers on these puppies. (Insert Five Deadly Venoms fighting the ghost of Joe Lucas joke here. Thanks.) – Davey G. Johnson More »

    10:30 PM on Thu Apr 26 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    751 views, 11 comments

    Latest by ddsurace: Sorry, I didn't get past "Insert Five Deadly Venoms..." What am I sposed to do next? BTW, I can't feel more »

  • commentary

    Fast as a Shark: Living on Chinese Rocks

    I can't in truth call my Shanghai trip a comedy of errors, although there were errors, one of which resulted in my flying home first class. And while some of the Engrish I encountered was laugh-out-loud gut-busting. I can't quite refer to it as a tragedy, either. What it was, however, was a slightly nebulous, inchoate paradigm-fucker of a time/history/distance shift. More »
    Feature

    3:45 PM on Wed Apr 25 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    1,608 views, 11 comments

    Latest by olddavid: rgseidl- Yes, buying our convertibles with their artificially depressed currency to keep exports flowing- Which came first? more »

  • shanghai auto show

    Stuck in the Middle Way-Oh, Way-Oh: IMSA GTO Audi 90

    In 1969, a man was born. His name was John Reis. At the tail end of the 1980s, he formed a band known as Rocket From the Crypt, which would go on to rock the faces off of the masses until their final show on Halloween of 2005. At the tail end of the 1980s, Audi entered two balls-to-the-wall 90s in IMSA GTO competition. The two prime movers behind the wheels were Hurley Haywood (who'd wrangled Porsche's Moby Dick and lived to tell the tale) and Hans J. Stuck. For longer events, the two were supplemented by Scott Goodyear and rally vet Walter R hrl. Displayed somewhat incongruously at the Shanghai Auto Show, this gonzo Stuck/R hrl 90 played bass licks on our grave and left skidmarks on our soul. The next year, after managing second in the manufacturers' standings in GTO in '89, Audi dumped their racing bux into DTM, handing Stuck a championship in the process. We want a ridiculously turbo'd and flared 90 with one final modification: an integrated iPod with the entire RFTC discography on it and a very light sound system that can be heard over the roar of the five-cylinder mill. If one is willingly inducing deafness, we can think of few finer ways to do it. – Davey G. Johnson More »

    11:30 PM on Tue Apr 24 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    925 views, 16 comments

    Latest by Das_Anthony: Fuck the SUV bullshit!!!! Everyone needs GTO!!!!!SEX ON wheels!!!!! more »

  • shanghai auto show

    More Articulate Than Dr. Killinger: Volvo Bus Chassis!

    Pack your magic murder bags, minions, and hop your eyes on over to this Volvo articulated bus chassis. There's all type of mechanically wacky madness going on here. Click through, thrill to the sight of hydraulics, air springs and large diesel engines designed to vibrate away beneath the load floor of a public transit vehicle so mighty, even the glorious Red Flag limo shall cower in its presence. What magnificence or joy can you find in these photographs? – Davey G. Johnson More »

    8:00 PM on Tue Apr 24 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    2,135 views, 9 comments

    Latest by Davey G.: @Retiree: The blue mat the chassis was on played absolute havoc with the automatic white balance on the camera I more »

  • shanghai auto show

    Operation Phoenix: Shanghai's First Car

    In September of 1958, Shanghai Auto Industry Corporation introduced the Phoenix, the first locally-built car. In 1964, its name was switched to "Shanghai Sedan." Oddly enough, in Shanghai, when a road sign features a pictogram of an automobile, it bears an uncanny resemblance to a head-on, simplified shot of a Phoenix. If only German road signs featured Porsche 550s and American signage Chrysler Conquests, just a little bit more would be right with the world. – Davey G. Johnson More »

    6:45 PM on Tue Apr 24 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    462 views, 3 comments

    Latest by Vega: They actually robbed Bruce for this one. The engine and chassis along with parts of the body (just look at more »

  • shanghai auto show

    Skoda Arrives in China!

    It took a car company birthed by fascism to bring a formerly state-controlled automaker to a nation rife with state-controlled automakers. Yes, we're talking about Volkswagen, Skoda and China. The Shanghai Auto Show served as Skoda's introduction to the PRC market. Comrades, this Superb in Tour de France support vehicle livery stands as an illustration of the pure joy of commerce ber alles; transcending fascism, democracy and communism — a bridge of openness between nations. Skoda, you truly are the living automotive embodiment of glasnost. Thank God for Lou Reed. Bless the Exploding Plastic Inevitable. – Davey G. Johnson More »

    11:30 AM on Mon Apr 23 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    590 views, 7 comments

    Latest by Turboner: Is that a new Superb or a superb 2000MY A6 painted red? Same wheels/body/lower grille? more »

  • taxi

    Black Magic Cab: The Volkswagen Santana

    Besides Chinese people and hazy air, the most common sight in Shanghai simply has to be Volkswagen Santana taxis. Based on the B2 Passat, the Chinese Santana is essentially a long-wheelbase Quantum, filling roughly the same role in PRC society that the Crown Victoria does in the US. In '91, the Santana was upgraded to Santana 2000 spec, and the Santana 3000 (the first car to be developed by Shanghai Volkswagen) followed in '04. Nevertheless the O.G. Santana remains on sale. Think of the B2 as VW's Panther platform. Meanwhile, scope the gallery of Santanas going about their business on the streets and avenues of Pudong. And yes, we said Pudong. – Davey G. Johnson More »

    9:00 AM on Mon Apr 23 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    3,865 views, 6 comments

    Latest by imager993: I got some great photos of these Taxi's while I was in China. Don't know if I can post more »

  • shanghai auto show

    Huffing Heavy Dongfeng!

    One of our favorite bits about the Shanghai show is the sheer volume of heavy trucks parked in the outdoor courtyard. Dongfeng, China's second-largest automaker (founded at the behest of Mao hisowndamnself back in '68), had a googolplex of heavy truckage on display. It also featured spokesmodels wearing what appeared to be the exact dress our stupid-hot 1993 Homecoming date wore. Sadly, they were attempting to beat the heat by holding press materials over their heads. Meanwhile, check the gallery for the amazing splitting cab display, an econo leaping cheetah door graphic and the crumpet in the Phillies minidress with the tiara. – Davey G. Johnson More »

    12:59 AM on Sat Apr 21 2007
    By Davey G. Johnson
    778 views, 7 comments

    Latest by Turboner: I tell you, the 80's are back! What a great time to be alive, if it weren't for my more »