News in brief

26th September 2007

Brilliance Focus on way to UK?
It's Brilliance – but is it any good? British buyers could soon find out for themselves, because Chinese firm Brilliance is planning to sell this Ford Focus rival across Europe. Called the Jinjue FRV, it features a 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine and could become the first car from a Chinese manufacturer to be available in the UK. The maker already sells its BS6 saloon in Germany, but the FRV has to overcome a major stumbling block before it reaches British showrooms. That’s because bosses have yet to confirm if and when it will start building right-hand-drive models.

 
BMW and Smart bosses agree to end row over Shanghuan copycats
A hotly anticipated dust-up failed to materialise at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Before the start of the event, Shuanghuan was threatened with legal action by BMW and Smart. The German makers object to the CEO 4x4 and Noble city car, which they claim look like the BMW X5 and Smart ForTwo respectively. But the writ – which could have seen the Chinese firm ejected from the expo – wasn’t served. Shuanghuan is looking for a UK importer, and can even supply right-hand-drive cars.

 
SAIC fuel cells in the pipeline
Fuel cell development continues apace at SAIC. The Chinese maker already has a hybrid prototype based on its Roewe 750E saloon, but it plans to build up to 50,000 hi-tech fuel cell models every year as soon as 2010. SAIC recently joined forces with MG owner Nanjing Automotive, and claims to have created a prototype capable of more than 90mph.