The New Roewe 250

Doesn't look much like the Rover 25 it is based on!

what's the status of Nanjing FIAT? That looks like a Punto... surely something like this will be the basis of the new MG3...

Definately got a Fiat flavour to it, infact the boot-badge indentation looks like a Fiat badge. Front end looks quite smart. Is this going to be shown off at the Auto show? Look forward to seeing the MG variant.

Infact, it IS a Punto:

skyblueads wrote:Infact, it IS a Punto

I was having a hard time seeing much Rover 25 there, that explains it

However it is labled "Rongwei" (Roewe) and that grill has a place for a Roewe badge:




I don't know how much of this is accurate, speculation, misleading?

"According to SAIC internal sources, this new vehicle from a platform ZP11 SAIC's, ZP11 platform known as the S261 platform, the first is the SAIC Technology Center under the Rover 25 platform to improve from this point, the exposure of the Roewe 250 model is also the technology platform derived from the NAC MG3 Rover 25 platform."

http://bbwdm.cn/show_info.asp?id=184498

Other sources suggest the new MG3 will be based on NAC's A0 platform, and others that it is a Ssangyong project., It's like trying to make two jigsaws from the pieces of six!

Maybe all will become clear at the show...

I'm betting it's a Punto with a different front bumper and an N-series lump under the bonnet, hence the 'technology derived from the Rover 25'.

patpending wrote:what's the status of Nanjing FIAT?

Nanjing Fiat is no more, however SAIC / NAC and Fiat still have a good and profitable relationship in the IVECO truck business. The NAC part seems to be working flat out to keep up with demand.

Windy wrote:

patpending wrote:what's the status of Nanjing FIAT?

Nanjing Fiat is no more, however SAIC / NAC and Fiat still have a good and profitable relationship in the IVECO truck business. The NAC part seems to be working flat out to keep up with demand.

Thanks.

In fact, didn't hundreds (200+?) of people from the Fiat JV move to work for MG?

patpending wrote:

Windy wrote:

patpending wrote:what's the status of Nanjing FIAT?

Nanjing Fiat is no more, however SAIC / NAC and Fiat still have a good and profitable relationship in the IVECO truck business. The NAC part seems to be working flat out to keep up with demand.

Thanks.

In fact, didn't hundreds (200+?) of people from the Fiat JV move to work for MG?

They did, but that was back when MG was first set up. Nanjing Fiat was closed down when SAIC took over MG, SAIC were not interested in the loss making Nanjing Fiat joint venture, but were interested in the factory which now makes Voltswagan Santanas for SAIC's VW joint venture. Most of the staff are still there and making far more cars than they ever did under Nanjing Fiat.


It is possible this car is just a mule for testing the pedestrian impact abilities of their new front grill/bumper design.

Windy wrote:They did, but that was back when MG was first set up. Nanjing Fiat was closed down when SAIC took over MG, SAIC were not interested in the loss making Nanjing Fiat joint venture, but were interested in the factory which now makes Voltswagan Santanas for SAIC's VW joint venture. Most of the staff are still there and making far more cars than they ever did under Nanjing Fiat.


It is possible this car is just a mule for testing the pedestrian impact abilities of their new front grill/bumper design.

Thanks - I think I need to keep up at the back.

Mind you, Voltswagen - is that an alternative electric model?

My German is not good - I missed the "t" at the first attempt

Windy wrote:My German is not good - I missed the "t" at the first attempt

so you "missed a T"?

I see this has become the Roewe 150 in todays speculation:



Source: http://www.leblogauto.com/2009/04/spyshot-roewe-150.html

Windy wrote:I see this has become the Roewe 150 in todays speculation:



Source: http://www.leblogauto.com/2009/04/spyshot-roewe-150.html

that article mocks certain Chinese sites for getting their paintbrushes in a twist! saying there are plans for a 250 and for a 150!

The blue car "is an Auto Sina photoshop of a 150" but the brown car "is a mule for the 250".

It says the 150 would be an important contender in the subsidised sub-1.3l category and would be launched by 2011 with 1.3l and 1.5T engines.

It also suggests that there were plans at Nanjing Fiat which came to nothing to build Grande Puntos in China and that, following the takeover, SAIC now has the prototypes. (the "patpending thought"...)

They also say that a Rover 45 "MG5" was used as a mule to test the MG6...

Fascinating site - stuff there about the N1 and the MG6...(however, that's signed "Ash" )

OK its all getting confusing, but I already thought the 250 would be the 150 and a different 250 would appear later, and I'm going to tell you why even though I'm about 95% certain to have gotten my R's mixed up with my elbows! So here's my tuppence worth.

The 450 thread seems to deal with what is going to be the 350, the Roewe version of the MG that will sit below the MG6, i.e. the MG4. This is basically the N1 concept. Maybe there will be a 450 scooby or coupe later on, or the number might crop up on a future generation medium car. Perhaps a reengineered ZS/45 will appear and it will be called the 450...

The MG3SW will appear as a Roewe 150 - and MG2 - courtesy of a rebody. It'll probably be a bit smaller and narrower than the 25 too. The pic above looks like it probably is that animal.

The 250 will be a Roewe version of the new MG3 which will be a bit larger than the 25 but smaller than the N1-related MG4 and have a new platform (probably an MGR project split of the RDX60 platform).

The MG4 might be called the MG5, but that has been used recently for the aborted ZS resurrection. If the ZS does crop up as a 450, it might be the MG5 anyway.

This is SAIC making best use of old and new models and platforms for different markets, but sticking with the same numbers to avoid confusion. Though I am confused anyway!