Here is the Qoros Model Young, a new SUV for the
Chinese market. And right away there is a surprise. Up until now we were led to
believe that 'Model Young' was the name of the car, and a silly name for that.
The reality is even sillier. 'Model Young' is the
name of a new brand! You can't make it up. The brand will be aimed at young
car buyers. There will be an SUV and a sedan. The SUV launched in Chengdu is
officially still a concept but the production version won't differ a bit.
The new Model Young brand will be a subsidiary of
Chery Auto. Chery is now the single largest shareholder in Qoros. The SUV is
based on the cheap-ass Chery Tiggo 5.
The sedan will most likely be based on
the Chery Arrizo 7.The engine comes from straight from the Tiggo 7: a 152 hp 1.5
turbo mated to a six-speed manual or a six-speed DCT. The latter 'box, it
should be said, is unique for Model Young.
The production version of the SUV will hit the
Chinese car market in Q4 for about US$ 18,000. So the name of the thing is going
to be something like Chery-Qoros Model Young xxx.
