China's Ferrari-Lamborghini-Audi-Inspired S11 Coupe Rumored to Debut as a JAC Model in Beijing

If you're experiencing a little bit of déjà vu after looking at these photos, no need to worry because chances are you remember our post on the red Tong Jian S11 coupe from the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show.

The news coming in from several automotive websites in China is that Jianghuai Automobile, more commonly known as JAC Motors, will present the S11 under its own nameplate at this month's 2012 Auto China Show in Beijing.

The same sources show a set of allegedly scoop photos of the S11 in a yellow exterior finish that they claim to be the JAC model, even though the car does not sport any of the brand's badges.

If true, then JAC Motors, which recently made headlines in the States for cloning the Ford F-150 pickup truck, may have come sealed some sort of deal with Tong Jian to build the coupe – that or it just "borrowed" the design…

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Watch Citroën's New Numéro 9 DS Luxury Concept on the Move

The first video of the Citroën Numéro 9 has sprung up in the wake of its official presentation on Thursday night.

The sleek looking concept model continues to push Citroën's DS lineup more upmarket while also previewing the design elements to be found in three brand new DS vehicles that will soon launch onto the market, including a C-segment compact sedan, an SUV and a mid-size D-Segment sedan.

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Fiat Drops Official Info on New Dodge Dart-Based Viaggio Compact Sedan

After the first photos of Fiat's Viaggio leaked on the web (pun not intended) on Thursday, the Italian carmaker decided it was time to officially release the teaser images and provide initial details on the compact-sized sedan model.

The Viaggio will have its world preview at the 2012 Beijing International Auto Show on Monday, April 23, before it goes on sale in China this fall. The car's name is Italian for voyage or journey, while Fiat says its Chinese name 'Fei Xiang' means flying.

As is evident from the teaser photos, the Viaggio is based on the 2013 Dodge Dart, which in turn, uses Fiat's new CUSW (Compact US Wide) platform derived from the Compact architecture originally developed for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

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Lamborghini CEO Says SUV Could Launch in 2017 if it Receives the Green Light from the VW Group

There's no end to the news surrounding Lamborghini's upcoming SUV project, which will be previewed through a thinly disguised concept model at the 2012 Auto China Show in Beijing on April 23 to test the waters in the same way that Bentley did with the EXP 9 SUV study in Geneva this past March.

According to a report in the German business daily Handelsblatt, Lamborghini Boss Stephan Winkelmann believes that the SUV is a crucial model for the brand that has been losing money since 2009, and that VW will most likely give the green light, in which case, it could launch onto the market in 2017.

"We definitely need a third line in the mid- and long term," said Winkelmann. "An SUV would be the first Lamborghini for everyday use, not just for the race track or weekends. We would have the opportunity to win new customers. It usually takes 48 months until an all-new vehicle arrives at dealers, so the new Lamborghini would not be available to buy before 2017."

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I Am Numéro 9: Citroën’s DS Concept in Detail with Over 120 High-Res Photos

Over the past few weeks, we managed to gather bits and pieces about Citroën’s newest DS concept study and now, we not only have more than 120 high-resolution photos to share with you, but we also have all the details in advance of its world premiere at the Beijing Motor Show on April 24.

Previously believed to be named the DS9, the French study is called the Numéro 9 concept, though Citroën makes it clear that it belongs to the DS lineup.

Citroën says that the Numéro 9 introduces the more chic and premium DS lineup to Chinese consumers before the company launches its first DS products onto the market later this year.

More importantly though, Citroën states that the Numéro 9 refines the brand's design language and signals the styling cues of the next three DS line models including a C-segment premium sedan (think Audi A3 Sedan), an SUV and a D-segment (mid-size) executive saloon.

As you can see, Citroën is all hyped up about its DS line, which currently consists of the DS3 supermini, DS4 compact hatch and the larger DS5, and all for good reason as it has notched up more than 200,000 sales worldwide just two years after launch.

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Citroen's Luxurious New DS9 Concept Study is Ready for its Beijing Auto Show Debut [35 Photos]

We've been closely following Citroën's new DS study and today, the first official photos of the concept model hit the web, a couple of weeks ahead of its world premiere at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

The French automaker's luxury concept is named DS9 and is said to be a further development of the Metropolis study shown back in 2010 for an upcoming flagship model.

The two concepts share a similar design language, though instead of a sedan body style, the new DS showcar adopts a more shooting break-like styling in the tradition of Citroën's range-toppers such as the original DS and the more modern CX, XM and C6 models.

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Say Ciao to the Dodge Dart's Italian Cousin, the New Fiat Viaggio

We knew that the Fiat Group is planning to introduce a Fiat-branded version of the Dodge Dart named Viaggio at the upcoming Auto China Show 2012 in Beijing later this month, but now we can show you the first teaser images of the compact sedan.

The images, which surfaced on the Italian forum Autopareri, provide us with a glimpse of the Viaggio's front and rear ends as well as its profile.

Even with these pictures, it's not hard to see that Fiat's re-branding of the Dart is limited to the new bumper and headlamp assembly at the front and the new tail lamps and possibly a more pronounced boot lid edge at the back.

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Saab Offers Evaluated by Administrators, All Bidders Want to Restart Production

Reports of Saab’s death may or may not have been greatly exaggerated. The saga has been dragging on for over a year and whilst the Swedish carmaker filed for bankruptcy last December, it’s far from over.

According to Automotive News, the deadline set by the administrators who handle Saab’s bankruptcy expired on Monday, April 9. Hans Bergqvist, one of the administrators who evaluated the offers, reportedly told the Swedish press that all bidders want to restart production – though, like the rest of his colleagues, he wouldn’t disclose their identity.

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Russians Teach us How Not to Pull a Truck with Another Truck

Thanks to the prevalence of handheld filming devices, nowadays we can amuse ourselves with incidents that occur half way around the world that otherwise we would have never known happened.

In one such instance, a driver of a Russian Kamaz truck wanted to help a fellow driver whose truck of Chinese origins (according to the YouTube uploader) was stuck on a snow-covered road.

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Bufori to Bring Geneva Sedan to Beijing Auto Show, Opens its First Showroom in China

Nowadays, just about everyone and their mother wants a chunk of China's car market, no matter how small or large the company.

Few will actually know the name Bufori, but the Malaysia-based boutique automaker, which was originally launched in Australia by brothers Anthony, George and Gerry Khouri, has opened a new flagship showroom in the center of Shanghai.

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Audi Records Best Quarter and Monthly Sales in its History

At the same time that many European carmakers are reporting dwindling sales, Audi is breaking one record after the other.

Not only did Audi record its best ever first quarter with 346,100 sales, an increase of 10.8 percent over last year, but also March was the best month in the company's history with around 143,500 automobiles delivered worldwide (+14.1%).

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Honda Outlines Plans for China, will Debut Two New Concepts at the Beijing Auto Show

Honda has important plans set for the Chinese market over the next few years, as it will enhance its range with the introduction of more than 10 brand new or redesigned models from 2013 to 2015, while also increasing its local production capacity.

We'll get a taste of what Honda has in store for Chinese consumers at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, as aside from the presentation of the CR-Z, Insight and Fit hybrid models that will all be launched onto the market this year, the company will also debut two new concept models.

The Japanese automaker isn't willing to reveal anything about the two studies yet, but it did release a pair of sketches that outline the shape of a minivan and a what is most likely a sedan model.

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Ferrari Dresses up 458 Italia in a Chinese Costume for its 20th Anniversary in the Country

Western automakers and Chinese market special editions go hand in hand these days. The latest company to ready a dedicated model for the world's most populous country is Ferrari, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in China with a limited production version of the 458 Italia.

Only 20 examples of the 458 Italia Special Edition will be built exclusively for China. The car's most prominent feature is the exterior livery said to be inspired from the longma theme, which is an old Chinese idiom that means “the vigor and spirit of the legendary dragon-horse”.

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Toyota Reveals New Strategy, will Roll Out Three Global FWD Platforms

It's time for a strategic change over at Toyota as the Japanese automaker today announced a new framework for vehicle development that will affect all brands within the group with the aim of lowering costs, reducing launch times as well as making its vehicles more appealing both in terms of styling and handling.

A core element of the firm's new strategy is the development of new global vehicle architectures that are to be shared across the world, a move that Toyota claims will ultimately help in the creation of better cars.

"Cooperation between planning and design divisions will result in a revised vehicle body structure with which new platforms will feature a lower center of gravity and bolder styling," said Toyota in a statement. "This will help to realize the development of cars with never-before-seen emotional designs and superb handling."

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Chrysler to Celebrate Return to China with 300C and Jeep Wrangler Concepts at the Beijing Auto Show

One of the main goals for the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance is to increase its presence in the hugely important Chinese market. And today, the alliance is making another step in this direction by announcing the return of the Chrysler Group return to China at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 23, 2012.

The celebrate the occasion, the Detroit-based automaker will present two special edition models at the Beijing motor show.

These include a Chrysler 300C design concept created specifically with Chinese elements in mind and a Jeep Wrangler study inspired by the Year of the Dragon, which the company says, "showcases the opportunity for special editions that might be available for Chinese customers in the near future".

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Subaru to Unveil Chinese Market 2013 Legacy Sedan at the Beijing Auto Show

Following the reveal of the North American specification 2013 Legacy at this week's New York Auto Show, Subaru is now planning to unveil the Chinese spec version of its mid-size sedan model at the upcoming Beijing International Auto Show, which will be open to the public from April 27 through May 2.

The Japanese carmaker teased the Chinese market 2013 Legacy through a darkened image, but it isn't really telling us anything about the changes that take place nor if they will be the same as the ones found on the updated American model.

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New BMW 3-Series Long-Wheelbase Model Heads to the Beijing Auto Show

At the upcoming Auto China Show 2012 in Beijing, BMW will present the world premiere of its long-wheelbase 3-Series sedan, tailored to the needs of Chinese customers who appear to have a thing about extra leg space in the rear passenger area.

The new 3-Series LWB rides on an extended 2,920mm (114.9 inches) wheelbase, which is 110mm (4.3 inches) longer than that of the regular model that is also offered in China, increasing the car's length to 4,734mm (186.4 inches).

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Hawtai B35 SUV Drops Bentley Grille for a Jaguar Piece, Keeps Porsche Cayenne Shape

This is Hawtai's updated B35 SUV, which will be displayed at the upcoming Auto China Show in Beijing later this month, albeit not as a world premiere as the Chinese company first revealed the car at the Guangzhou Auto Show last November.

Our more loyal readers will remember seeing the Chinese automaker's attempt to clone the Porsche Cayenne for the first time at the 2010 edition of the Beijing show.

The facelifts brings some minor cosmetic touches, the most prominent of which is the replacement of the Bentley-inspired front grille of the original model […] with something that heavily resembles the grille found on the latest Jaguar XJ saloon.

The 4,618mm long, 1,858mm wide and 1,753mm tall SUV rides on a 2,620mm wheelbase and is offered in China with a choice of two powerplants, a 1.8-liter turbocharged four producing 158hp (160PS) and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel rated at 148hp (150PS).

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Daimler and China's BYD Name Their New EV Brand Denza

It's been close to two years since Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler and China's BYD formed a new 50-50 joint venture under the name BDNT (BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd) for the development and production of affordable electric vehicles for the Chinese market.

Today, the two companies came out with an official announcement saying that their China market brand will be named Denza and that we'll see the first concept car at the Auto China Show 2012 in Beijing this April, with first production planned in 2013.

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Roewe Presents New Flagship 950 Sedan for the Chinese Market Based on the Buick LaCrosse

Roewe is a new brand that was born from the ashes of Rover after its parent company and one of China's largest automakers, SAIC, acquired the rights to the British firm's platforms and powertrains but not its brand name in 2007.

Up until now, the Chinese automaker's largest model was the 750, which is a rebadged Rover 75 sedan. This week, Roewe pulled the wraps off a new flagship sedan, this time based on the Buick LaCrosse, which uses GM's Epsilon II platform.

The two cars share similar dimensions with the 950 measuring 4,996mm long (196.7-in), 1,857mm (73.1-in.) wide, and 1,502mm (59.1-in.) tall with a wheelbase of 2,837mm (111.7-in).

Roewe said that the 950 will launch with two engines, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder petrol and a 3.0-liter V6 with direct injection, which as you may have already guessed, are sourced from GM and the LaCrosse.

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