Chery ready for UK launch?

This is called the Shooting Sport because it mixes the looks of a shooting brake with the three door bodywork of a hot hatch.

The Chinese machine is one of three concept cars and 27 production vehicles that Chery will show at next week's Shanghai show.

The lines of the new model are the work of Italian styling studio Torino Design, and the machine is likely to be engineered by UK firm Ricardo, which has helped Chery with vehicles in the past.

Norfolk firm Lotus Engineering is also being lined up to help develop the chassis to ensure that it has sporty handling to match its racy looks. Expected to go on sale in 2008, the new Shooting Sport is intended to cater for the Chinese market. However, the hatch could be one of the first Cherys to reach both the US and Britain, thanks to a new export agreement with an American firm called Visionary Vehicles. There is no word on possible prices, but expect the new Chery to be competitive.