Global cars on agenda for Beijing show

AUSTRALIAN attention will be trained on the Beijing auto show next week after GoAuto revealed exclusively last month that Chery would begin selling cars in this country in the first quarter of 2009, and that Geely was also preparing for a tilt at the Australian market in 2009/10.

Details are sketchy at this stage, but both manufacturers have committed to unveiling a host of new models, some of which will be aimed at export destinations.

Among the Chery cars expected to be shown will be the second generation of its QQ compact hatch, dubbed the QQ2 and featuring unique styling (rather than a design that was allegedly borrowed from the Daewoo Matiz) and powerplants ranging from 800cc to 1.3 litres.

Over at Geely, the independent car-maker is tipped to show no fewer than 18 new models, including an evocative GT (or Geely Tiger) sports sedan and a new compact car known as the Panda (or LC-1) that will rival Chery’s QQ2, and a mini-MPV codenamed FC-1.

As previously reported, General Motors will also use the Beijing show to unveil the next iteration of its future design direction for Buick. After the Riveria concept received widespread acclaim at the Shanghai auto show last year, the brand will take the wraps off the Invicta luxury car concept.

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