Qoros Auto, a 50:50 joint venture between Chery and Israel Corp., plans to launch four models in the coming few years: a sedan (codenamed CF11), a hatchback (CF14, derived from the CF11), an MPV (CF16) and an SUV(CF1X). The sedan, the first Qoros car to go on sale, has been undergoing road tests since the beginning of this year. It is scheduled to debut in March 2013 at the Geneva auto show, and hit the Chinese and European markets in the second half of the year.
Built on a platform developed by Magna Steyr, the CF11 sedan has a wheelbase of about 2700mm and is powered by a 1.6TGDI engine. The turbo-charged 1.6 liter, resulting from the joint effort of AVL and Chery, is believed to be able to deliver no less than 85KW/L of power and 184NM/L of torque. It will be matched with either of the two gearboxes from Getrag, a 6DCT and a 6MT, the latter of which can be seen in one of the spyshots below.
The exposed model features a touch screen that can provide navigational and live traffic information, thanks to a cooperation between TomTom, AutoNavi, and Qoros. Other smart devices include auto climate control and intelligent key.
Qoros cars will be produced in Changshu, Jiangsu, about 100km from the automaker’s Chinese R&D center in Shanghai. The Changshu factory will open towards the end of 2012. Its initial capacity will be 150,000 units a year.
