Currently reading: Frankfurt show: four Chang'an cars
Chinese car maker Chang'an showed off four models at this year's Frankfurt motor show.

Chinese car maker Chang'an showed off four models at this year's Frankfurt motor show.

There were two concepts: the sleek-looking Sense and the Chang'an SUV, which is a petrol-powered five-seater.

The Sense, first seen at the Shanghai show earlier this year, is a plug-in hybrid with a three-litre V6 engine. It is unlikely to reach production but hints at the design of future Chang'an production cars.

Chang'an also displayed the Eado, which is a saloon with a four-cylinder, 1.6-litre engine and a five-speed manual gearbox.

The final car on display was the Clover, which is powered by a 33.8kWh lithium iron nitrate battery that takes about six hours to fully charge.

Chang'an only sells in China at the moment, but in its homeland it is one of the top four best-selling manufacturers. It currently produces about two million vehicles each year and also has joint ventures with Ford, Mazda, Suzuki and PSA.

It could enter European markets by 2013. Last year Chang'an established a UK R&D centre in Nottingham, focusing on powertrain design and development for its future vehicles.

Niki Sorabjee

Add a comment…