Photo: Qoros
We were justifiably skeptical of what the new Qoros GQ3 sedan will actually look like, and while the teaser sketches the manufacturer put out onto the web did show promise, the finished product is much more conventional and rather Germanic in its appearance - not necessarily bad, but perhaps a bit too simple for our taste.
Being a car developed for both the Chinese and the European markets, it has been styled to look like an offering from an established brand, yet thankfully, it looks different enough not to be confused with anything else. The styling is clean, the proportions are good, and with the larger rims fitted to the car in the photos, it has a nice purposeful stance.
It reminds us a bit of the old-generation Renault Laguna, from the front, and it has the same basic shape as an Opel/Vauxhall Astra sedan, albeit with a shorter rear overhang. The interior looks clean and modern, and the car will come as standard with an eight-inch touchscreen control unit.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel looks quite good, we must admit, and the overall layout of the interior is minimalist and fuss-free. If the materials are up to scratch, then the interior seems like an airy and nice place to sit. The seats also seem to have decent bolstering on the side, so those traveling in the front will not move about during vigorous cornering maneuvers.
Curious for a premium car, which the Qoros GQ3 tries to be, is the fact that even on the top-spec model shown here, the parking brake is conventional, and not electrically operated - we like a good old fashioned handbrake, but in this day and age, the more modern alternative would have been preferable.
It will get a range of four-cylinder engines, which has yet to be detailed, and the European version will probably also benefit from diesel power. The car is set to go on sale in China in the second half of next year, while European buyers will be able to get it towards the latter months.
However, we will all get a better look at the car at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, as it is set to be revealed at the venue. It will be followed by the company's compact SUV, which will probably go on sale in 2014.
It reminds us a bit of the old-generation Renault Laguna, from the front, and it has the same basic shape as an Opel/Vauxhall Astra sedan, albeit with a shorter rear overhang. The interior looks clean and modern, and the car will come as standard with an eight-inch touchscreen control unit.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel looks quite good, we must admit, and the overall layout of the interior is minimalist and fuss-free. If the materials are up to scratch, then the interior seems like an airy and nice place to sit. The seats also seem to have decent bolstering on the side, so those traveling in the front will not move about during vigorous cornering maneuvers.
Curious for a premium car, which the Qoros GQ3 tries to be, is the fact that even on the top-spec model shown here, the parking brake is conventional, and not electrically operated - we like a good old fashioned handbrake, but in this day and age, the more modern alternative would have been preferable.
It will get a range of four-cylinder engines, which has yet to be detailed, and the European version will probably also benefit from diesel power. The car is set to go on sale in China in the second half of next year, while European buyers will be able to get it towards the latter months.
However, we will all get a better look at the car at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, as it is set to be revealed at the venue. It will be followed by the company's compact SUV, which will probably go on sale in 2014.
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