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Detroit 2008: A second visit for Changfeng (video)

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Khatir Soltani
Last year, Chinese automaker Changfeng unveiled a sport utility vehicle at the North American International Auto Show: the Liebao CS6-Y. It actually became the first car maker ever from China to introduce a new product at North America's premier auto event.

Round two: this time, Changfeng President Li Jianxin announced the arrival of the company's products on American soil (around 2010). After the press conference, a company spokesperson said that: "The management of Changfeng figures that the American market is unavoidable," signifying the firm intention that the carmaker wants to enter it as soon as possible.

Changfeng Kylin

Once again this year, the President Li took advantage of the Detroit Show's worldwide coverage to introduce two new models: the Liebao CS7 SUV, a compact vehicle with modern, shapely looks and characterized by rather high ground clearance, as well as the Kylin, an elegant mini-minivan that's about the size of a Mazda5. Production in China of the two models has just begun.

In conjunction with its Japanese counterpart Mitsubishi, Changfeng hasbeen building the Pajero SUV as well as pickup trucks for the Chinesearmy for several years now.

Thanks to this technology sharing, the company is progressing, a point that was highlighted by Mr. Li in his speech, and the Kylin demonstrates this fact well. Under its hood is a Mitsubishi engine that's built under license and that features a Bosch multipoint engine management system. The suspension was tuned by Lotus. Another of the company's vehicles, the Liebao CS6 sport-utility, is bigger than the CS7 and sports more-conventional looks (comparable to the Mitsubishi Pajero) and has bodywork designed by Italian firm Pininfarina.

Changfeng Liebao CS7

photo:Sébastien D'Amour
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada