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Autos: A compact way to solve a big problem

By Hu Meidong, Rui Yang and Zhu Xingxin (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-04 11:07

A possible solution to the growing price of oil came off the production line last week.

The V3 LingYue compact car has been developed using independent research at the South East Motor Corporation depot in Fujian and will start being shipped in early October.

Using Sanling technology the 1.5L MIVEC engine, with a variable valve timing system, improves fuel efficiency and reduces fuel consumption. Under 60 km, fuel consumption is only 4.3L.

It is expected that 3,000 will be supplied per year, retailing at between 60,000 and 80,000 yuan. They go on sale on September 19.

Industry analysts say the compact car market is warming up due to increasing oil prices and the need for global emission reduction and protection of the environment.

Yuzhang Ling, chairman of South East Motor Corporation said last Thursday when the car came off the production line, that the depot has fully absorbed international resources and experience and mixed them with "re-innovation" to develop the car. He said it has enhanced the autonomy of the South East Automotive research and development and innovation capability, creating a high starting point of independent research and development.

At the beginning of this year, V3 LingYue showed outstanding performance of the successful completion of the "plateau, cold, high temperature" three-high polar test, he said.

South East Motor Corporation says it has continuously increased investment in independent research and development in the southeast since 2006. That has resulted in technology research and development centers, vehicle testing floors and physical and chemical composition test floors equipped with advanced international laboratories.

Comprehensive European and American laboratory equipment has been introduced, plus a vehicle emissions laboratory, environmental laboratory, modeling rooms, a multi-channel road simulation laboratory, silencer laboratories, a professional CATIA studio, and CAD modeling studios. One vehicle emissions laboratory even has national laboratory accreditation.

The manufacturer says the V3 LingYue has achieved a breakthrough in design, engine performance and configuration, which will happily sit alongside Japan's Mitsubishi, the US's Chrysler and Dodge, brand benchmarks of good.