[triton.]

Triumphant Horse Launched by China Brilliance
Date posted: 02-21-2006

SHENYANG, China — China Brilliance has just released the first product of its new car plant in Zhonghua, which was set up with technical assistance from BMW. This is China Brilliance's second passenger car, and it is named the Jinjue (which can be translated either as "Triumphant Horse," or "Winning Gold").

Whatever you call it, it is a sporty sedan designed by Pininfarina in Italy. China Brilliance hopes that it will help raise sales levels from last year's 17,500 to 30,000 units this year. Sedans have higher profit margins than minibuses, which are still the key products of the company.

The Jinjue is 183 inches long, built on a shortened version of its bigger brother's platform. That car, called the Grandeur, is already being distributed in Europe. The Jinjue has four powertrain options from 1.6 to 2.0 liters, most of which are supplied by Shenyang-Mitsubishi.

What this means to you: The crowded compact-car segment in China has another competitor, and another Chinese utility-vehicle builder makes the leap to passenger-car production.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=109384#3

[arcrox]

Almost-kidney grills and 7 series-esque headlights...it's quite easy to see where they got their inspiration.