The Chinese don't lack an automotive industry, that's for sure. What they do lack is a little bit of imagination. Because, as we see once again in the case of the newly launched BC301Z from BAIC, original design is not quite a Chinese trait.
Looking pretty much like a B-Klasse Mercedes, but wearing a different badge, the BC301Z will be launched on the Chinese market in the near future as a five-door hatchback. We can only wait and see to what other model the sedan and wagon versions, which will arrive later in 2011 as the BC302Z and BC303Z, respectively, will look like.
The hatchback will come powered by Mitsubishi-sourced engines, with displacements of 1.3l and 1.5l. The smaller unit will be paired to a five-speed manual transmission, while the bigger one will be kept at bay by a CVT one.
BAIC announced yesterday that it planned to quadruple the size of its dealership network in China to support its growth. The three models mentioned above will be at the core of the future strategy. 2011 will also witness the launch of the C60, a model built using the recently acquired Saab tech.
Based on the former platform of the Saab 9-3, the car will be offered with two engine configurations, 2.0l and 2.3l.
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