New Chinese SUV introduced in Europe

[markomalley]

Read the story and then click on the videos linked below!

Chinese 4x4 gets zero in safety test

The first Chinese car to be sold in Europe has scored zero — the worst-ever score — in safety tests.

The JiangLing Landwind was displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week and is expected to arrive in British showrooms within months. It is already on sale in Holland, Germany and Belgium and has been billed as the vanguard of a new invasion of Chinese vehicles.

The two-ton 4x4 scored zero stars in crash tests last week by the ADAC, the German automobile club, which carries out tests for Euro NCAP. “It had a catastrophic result,” said a spokesman for the ADAC. “In our 20-year history no car has performed as badly.”

Testers calculated that a driver would be unlikely to survive a head-on collision at 40mph, and in a side-on collision at 30mph the driver would suffer severe head and chest injuries due to a lack of side protection.

“This car seems to belong in the 1990s in terms of engineering,” said Chris Patience, head of technical policy at the AA Motoring Trust. “We will wait for the official Euro NCAP results, but if it really is that bad we hope people will think very carefully before buying this car.”

With an expected £10,000 price tag, the Landwind is designed to rival cars such as the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, both about £5,000 more expensive. The Chinese maker plans to sell at least 1,000 models before July 2006.

Source: London Times

Exterior Video of Crash Test

Interior Video of Crash Test

[herbiejuan]

Ahh yes the flying steering column, that could seriously screw up your plans for later that night.

Knowing China's determination to enter this market I'd guess they are putting together a think tank of American trained engineers, a Chiltons Repair Manual and a couple of rusted BMW's to figure out what went wrong.

China's been a pain in the arse to our manufacturing industry for years. They started out making toys for McDonalds and now make tires, textiles, cheap computer chips and a decent supply of what Americans buy while they are shopping the friendly megalomart aisles hand in hand with the dancing smiley face.

China has the momentum in regards to investment cash and the ability to develop or buy technology. They also have a 1 billion man army which can be directed anywhere their leadership should choose provided it makes significant inroads towards human rights openess and democracy.

Edited February 1, 2006 by herbiejuan

[Nottawayfer]

Damn scarey videos. I would NEVER want to be in that car, even after they revamp their design.