The much-trumpeted Chinese car invasion has yet to happen in the United States and Europe, but that doesn’t mean automakers from the Middle Kingdom are standing still.
Lately, we’re seeing more and more Chinese cars undergoing tests in Europe, even from manufacturers most of us haven’t heard of. Check out these recent spy shots taken at German car industry supplier: would you guess the name of the car if it weren’t for the title of this article?
We guess not, but don’t worry: neither would we. The compact SUV you’re looking at is Jiangling Motors’ Yusheng S330, a model that launched in China in 2016. Why the camouflage foil, you ask?
As it turns out, the crossover is already getting a facelift, and that might have something to do with its upcoming debut in Europe. As you can see, only the front end is getting a subtle nip and tuck, with the rest of the bodywork staying the same.
As with most models from Chinese automakers, the Yusheng S330 looks like a mashup of other popular models from western carmakers. However, it manages to do that without the risk of being called a blatant copy of a particular car. The front end reminds of the Suzuki Vitara, but the “floating roof” design and taillights look quite generic. It’s not a bad looking car, we’ll give Jianling that.
The Chinese-spec model is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine making 163 hp, hooked to six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions that drive all four wheels. The Yusheng 330 actually shares the platform with an old acquaintance of ours, the Landwind X7 Evoque clone.
It’s sized similarly to the X7 as well, with a length of 4,588 mm (180.6 in), a width of 1,932 mm (76 in), and a height of 1,676 mm (66 in). The wheelbase is 2,712 mm (106.8 in).
We don’t know exactly when Jiangling will start selling cars in Europe, but we do know that slowly but surely, Chinese vehicles are coming to a dealership near you.