China's BAIC Looking to Buy one of Three Suitable European Automakers

As Chinese automakers grow (locally) and acquire more money, their expansionist tendencies will begin to take hold and what better market to concentrate on than the mature and traditional, but currently cash-strapped Europe.

Since Geely bought Volvo, we have become used to the idea of foreign ownership of an old European manufacturer. In fact, Volvo is on the road to doing quite well, even though they are not really there yet, I think, especially not with their limited lineup of models.

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Gone are the Days of Gone in 60 Seconds…This is Nicolas Cage’s Ad for China's BAIC

Nicolas Cage is a talented actor who just needs certain types of characters to shine. However, his latest role has him driving BAIC’s new Saab 9-5-based Senova D-series sedan for an ad that promotes the car for the local Chinese market. They are selling you a vehicle that can defy physics repeatedly, and drive backwards almost as quickly as it can forward, even when it has an Asian grandmother at the wheel. Read more »

Year of the Saab: China's BAIC Motors Launches 9-5-Based Senova D Sedan

The car you see pictured here is the Senova D sedan from China's Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. or simply BAIC, and under its body shell, elements of which will likely remind you of several other cars, is the platform and engine technology from the previous generation Saab 9-5, the rights for which the company acquired from General Motors in 2009.

It is the production version of last year's C70G and it was formally introduced to the world at last month's Shanghai Auto Show. The reason why we're talking about it now is that BAIC announced on Monday that the Senova D went on sale in China and Hong Kong (which is a special administrative region of China).

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China’s BAIC Hires Aussie Designer Responsible for Mercedes CL, CLS and Original ML

BAIC Motor of China has just announced that it has snapped up renowned Australian automotive designer Peter Arcadipane. He was chosen to draw up an entire range of luxury vehicles that are set to challenge the establishment, “with sophisticated styling and great proportions.”

The first of these new luxury models will be a rear-wheel driven sedan of “medium-large” dimensions, which will be predictably followed by crossovers and SUVs that are “big news in China.”

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BAIC Shows Part of its New Concept 900 Ahead of Shanghai Debut

BAIC of China, who recently employed the services of famous actor Nicolas Cage to promote one of their cars, has shown the first teaser photos for their latest design showcase, called Concept 900, a vehicle which is set to debut at the 2013 Shanghai motor show this weekend. The shots may not be particularly revealing, but it shows potential, which shouldn't be just skin-deep. Why? Read more »

China's BAIC Picks Nicholas Cage to Promote New Senova Brand's Saab-Based Cars

Nicolas Cage, the well-known American actor who has made some questionable choices in his movie career, has been officially selected by BAIC of China as a brand ambassador for the automaker's new line of Senova-branded cars. Now 49, Cage was reportedly chosen because he is a familiar face for the target buyers for the new cars, which are males in their 40s. Read more »

Turn Your Brilliance into a BMW and Your BYD Into a Lexus for as Low As $63 with Chinese Kits

Chinese carmakers cloning parts or even entire vehicles from Western companies, is nothing new or surprising, though, we will admit to raising an eyebrow when we saw joint-venture partners of European brands blatantly copying their business companion's designs, as was the case with Brilliance and the very BMW X1-like V5 SUV, and BAIC's call-me-maybe Mercedes-Benz B-Class lookalike, the "BC301Z".

Taking advantage of lax copyright laws and a system that turns a blind eye as long as these companies keep up appearances (pun intended) by avoiding the use of names and logos on their vehicles, many Chinese carmakers have managed to get away with it.

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BAIC Unveils a Raft of Concepts in Beijing Including the Saab-Based C70G and V12-Powered C90L

China's state owned Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) brought along a host of concept models to the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, though none stood out more than the C90L, a 5.2 meter long executive limousine with suicide doors and a V12 powertrain.

Also of interest are the C70G and C60F mid-size saloons that make use of the older generation Saab 9-5's platform, while the C50E sedan (that's the one with the Subaru-like front end) and the C51X crossover are both based on a modified version of the Saab 9-3's architecture.

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China's BAIC wants to Rival BMW and Mercedes with C80K Concept Sedan

With a little from design and engineering companies Fioravanti of Italy and Eastone, both of which have bases in Shanghai, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co Ltd, better known as BAIC, wants to take a shot at the domestic premium car segment and the long-wheelbase versions of the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

For this reason, BAIC has prepared a new concept model named the C80K that it will premiere at next week's Auto China 2012 in Beijing.

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