2013 Guangzhou Auto Show: Qoros 3 Launches in Home Market, Opens First Chinese Dealer, Introduces QorosCloud
Qoros, the joint venture between the Israel Corp. and China’s Chery based on the business model of designing the cars in Europe and building them in China, took an important step as it introduced their Qoros 3 sedan to the Chinese market at the Guangzhou Auto Show. The car had earlier been shown to the public at the Geneva auto salon, but this is the first time it has appeared before an audience in its most important market. Qoros also announced that the first authorized Qoros dealer in China has been opened in Nanjing. dealers. The 3 sedan will be priced between 119,900 yuan ($19,680) and 167,900 yuan ($27,560), and it will be only the first model announced from what Qoros says will be a new model introduced to the Chinese market every six months for the near future. The next model is likely to be a compact crossover.
Qoros is promoting the car based on size and technology. It has the widest body in its segment and one of the longer wheelbases so the important-in-China backseat passengers will be comfortable. A large center stack touchscreen is hooked up to what Qoros calls the “ QorosCloud“. Free internet access on the go via 3G is standard, with additional services available at extra cost. Qoros says that the Qoros 3 sedan has a world-class drag coefficient of 0.287.
The company also announced that it’s first dealershop opened its doors in Nanjing earlier this month, based on Qoros’ dealer guidelines for uniform buildings and equipment. Outside of China, Qoros continues the brand’s rollout in it’s first European market, Slovakia.
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It's quite a nice design; however I am alarmed by the unabashed amount of thinly-disguised Volkswagen design motifs that are on this car. On the rear fascia, for example, they *did* do something different with the lights and they upended the bumper-situated license-plate frame, but it's not all that original. Still, we have to remember that the original Lexus LS didn't exactly have a groundbreaking design...
The Qoros is going to be fun to watch from a business standpoint. Several Chinese companies know how to build cars but not world class cars. Will the Israel conglomerate provide the money and expertise to build a car able to meet standards the world's consumers expect? Does any market need another mid-level car? Does China need another ICE or cleaner air? Is it too late to build something in China and ship it around the world - their labor costs have gotten much higher in the past few years and shipping cost have gone up? I like the belt buckle and a car with rear seat room is a feature forgotten by other manufacturers but does any market want this car or need it?