Well, the Chinese do it again...

[RICHARDO]

Fail: http://www.sma-global.com/F50_intro.html

When will they just give up!?

 

[V1P3R]

I sooooo wanna see a crash test.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I don't know why, but I find the rear (after the door) pretty funny. Maybe it's because it looks like they glued that part on from some other car.

 

[High-Test]

How dare they extrapolate on the children of the Renault Quatr'elle!!

I want to see a crash test. The language is terrible, the features are dumb, but it isn't that ugly..

So uh.. what did they copy?

And can't Ferrari sue over the name?

 

[RICHARDO]

I just pray to Shiva they never come to the States. Malcom Bricklin already tried to bring them over here and thankfully failed.

 

[Jim Prower]

1: Ferrari should stop worrying about McLaren: They need to sue these guys for the sacrilege to the F50 name.
2: Woman-oriented cars NEVER work. Ask Dodge about their LaFemme of 1956. *FLOP*
3: Seriously, I think they stole the plans for the Diahatsu Storia, and threw in a set of doors from an '88 Nova.

 

[High-Test]

Bricklin actually tried with Chery, who copied off of a GM product. there would have been hell to pay if they tried to sell an unlicensed GM product here.

 

[TopHat]

Complete gallery @ http://www.autoblog.com/photos/shanghai-maple-f50/402727/




This thing = horrible. Hideous. Stupid. Probably crumples up like a tin can too.

 

[RICHARDO]

Bricklin actually tried with Chery, who copied off of a GM product. there would have been hell to pay if they tried to sell an unlicensed GM product here.

I remember, it was more like a clone of it than anything. Atleast the Chevy could move under it's own power.

 

[Philly]

I sooooo wanna see a crash test.

Meh?

Looks quite ugly. But I am wondering just how well it looks compared to other Chinese cars. They all push the boundaries of ugly to new levels in their own ways.....

 

[High-Test]

Unless, of course, It's Buick of China.

 

[Keef]

It has Audi headlights, Civic tailights, and the rest is just crappy. Oh, and OMS the panel gaps.

 

[TopHat]

Unless, of course, It's Buick of China.

Or certain Chery's. Buick of China is some real high-quality stuff.

 

[zdenko]

Wow this is good for a laugh in the under the safety section.

"The user could also have the compass for option to guarantee the driving direction"

LOL

Hows a compass fit under safety. I thought the chinese were supposed to be smart people. If they are they will read right through that. Most I've met are smart.


@Jimprowler
What do you mean women orinted cars never work. Maybe in the USA but in other countries they work well. See women in other countries have choice because of democracy something which the US.........I'll stop there before i cause trouble.
Anyway women oriented cars that work.
Toyota Vitz/Yaris/Echo
New Mazda2
Nissan Micra
Etc
Then again the US don't get any of these cars. Intsead you get the Gas Guzzlers that no else buys.

 

[TopHat]

But those cars aren't purposely aimed towards women. They just kinda end up like it.

You obviously don't know a terrible amount about the US car market. We get the Vitz/Yaris, and we're getting the Mazda2/Fiesta in a year or two. And isn't Australia the land of the huge RWD land barges? Like those are econo-boxes.

Best selling car in America:

Best selling car in Australia:

Guess which gets better economy? The American "Gas-Guzzler" or the Aussie?

 

[Perfect Balance]

It has Audi headlights, Civic tailights, and the rest is just crappy. Oh, and OMS the panel gaps.

Similar in shape and nothing more.

 

[High-Test]

Or certain Chery's. Buick of China is some real high-quality stuff.

No kidding, Don't they still have the Park Avenue? (Albeit a totally different car than the last one we got)

 

[Tornado]

Similar in shape and nothing more.

I'm sure they aren't literally Audi headlights either.

The car itself is actually kind of bland, in a weirdo, early 90's French car sort of way. Right down to apparent part theft.

Woman-oriented cars NEVER work.

Add to those any crossover SUV or minivan, particularly Subaru Foresters.

Oh, and this one.

 

[franz]

It could be really affordable in China, but I just can't find any femininity on this piece of crap. Why they always hire bad taste designers?

 

[Freddie]

Isn't it obvious? They don't.

In this case they took an early 90's Skoda Felicia station wagon, chopped of a bit of the back to turn it into a sedan, added the rear-light clusters from both the Honda Civic and the Opel Corsa, gave it Audi headlights and a misproportioned grille. Then they proceeded with filling the boot (and glove-compartment) with so much acessories that it's practical value is nullified.

At least they're original with all the extras. Pity about the rest.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Hmm, at least it looks better than these:

^ I think BMW got this idea of a 'slant-back' SUV for their X6!

-> At least China is slowly on the right track, while we Filipinos offer this monstrosity:

-> I'll add that Chinese F50 on my wish list.

 

[zdenko]

But those cars aren't purposely aimed towards women. They just kinda end up like it.

You obviously don't know a terrible amount about the US car market. We get the Vitz/Yaris, and we're getting the Mazda2/Fiesta in a year or two. And isn't Australia the land of the huge RWD land barges? Like those are econo-boxes.

Best selling car in America:

Best selling car in Australia:

Guess which gets better economy? The American "Gas-Guzzler" or the Aussie?

Ok for starter that is not the best seling "veichle" in the US.
Isn't that thought between Ford F-series and Chev Silverado? Normal people use them as transport so don't give me any "they are commericial veichles rubbish".

And in Australia, sure the best selling veichle is the commodore, but how many other big cars are at the top, well none really. Next is the Ford Falcon at 4th best selling. Then next is the Aurion but that has the same fuel economy as the 4cylinder camry. In the top 10 we have actually i'll give u Octobers sale figures.
5 of the top 10 are small cars
7 out of 10 of those cars have 4cylinder engines

Don't tell me how the US has a good fuel econmical car on the top.
Ow and look at that, no giant 4wd's.
There is a Honda CRV but thats a compact 4cylinder waste of time 4wd.

There ya go copied froms carsguide

1 Holden Commodore (Australia) 4440

2 Toyota Corolla (Japan) 4123

3 Mazda3 (Japan) 3125

4 Ford Falcon (Australia) 2439

5 Toyota Camry (Australia) 1994

6 Hyundai Getz (Korea) 1896

7 Toyota Aurion (Australia) 1831

8 Mitsubishi Lancer (Japan) 1446

9 Honda Civic (Thailand) 1409

10 Honda CR-V (Thailand) 1291


Something interesting from that though. Mazda does not sell fleet cars in Austrlia. Ie no rentals cars etc. It is actually the most sought after private car by far.
Now the commodore, i remember reading somewhere that something like 80% were fleet/company cars. Its not really the peoples choice car. Its what they are given.


Now back on topic

Whats with the stupid design of this "F50". Looks like an 80's car with a couple of new bits of plastic.

 

[niky]

-> At least China is slowly on the right track, while we Filipinos offer this monstrosity:

Can't be helped. None of the big financial backers helped with the building of the car, and it was built on a shoe-string budget... $20,000 may sound like a lot to build a car with, but if you're producing a production model with brand new fiberglass molds and body panelling, a brand new engine and drivetrain sourced from another maker, and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera... it's little more than a drop in the bucket.

I've sat in conference with the guys who built that. They admit it isn't very good, but seeing as they had no automotive designer or background in building anything more modern than a Willy's Jeep knock-off, that's the best they could get.

I actually did a review here (I used to be an editor/contributor on this site):
http://www.tsikot.com/auvs/an-mvpmap-phuv-review.html

Ladder-frame, solid axles and front drum brakes... not for the faint of heart.

-----

It takes a ton of money to build a car... actually, megatons of money. That's why the Philippines can't do it (nobody wants to cough it up) and why a whole lot of other countries besides the big boys don't (except Malaysia... and look where that's going).

But with all the billions pouring into China in investments, it won't be long before they come up with something that can actually challenge the Japanese... but by that time, the Koreans will be firmly entrenched in the market segments China has to conquer to get to the top...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

2: Woman-oriented cars NEVER work.

Could it be because they're designed by men?

 

[Sting]

The Eos is a woman's car!? I've seen more men driving that than women. Heck, even I would drive it, its a tidy looking car.

 

[TheCracker]

The Eos is a woman's car!? I've seen more men driving that than women. Heck, even I would drive it, its a tidy looking car.

It's a convertable saloon/hatchback - only a women would want to buy a car that sacrifices the element of practicality that comes from a hatchback or saloon just so they can feel 'the wind in their hair' - if you want messy hair then just wind your windows down and keep the reasonable luggage area, rear seat space and rigidity - or buy a proper sports car!!!

 

[Jim Prower]

I'm sure they aren't literally Audi headlights either.

The car itself is actually kind of bland, in a weirdo, early 90's French car sort of way. Right down to apparent part theft.

Add to those any crossover SUV or minivan, particularly Subaru Foresters.

Oh, and this one.

Pah, they never, ever mention, though, that the car is "Specifically Designed for Women." When you do that, It becomes a flop. Again, I claim "La Femme."

Sebring: Grandpa car
Rabbit Cabrio: Men bought them, too.
New Beetle: It wasnt' for women when the original design came out. I dare you to call a Turbo S or RSi a "Girl's" car, anyway.
Eos/C70: See Sebring. Except faster, better built, and better looking.

Ladies seem to have an aversion to cars designed "Specifically for them."

 

[TheCracker]

Ok, women and gay men buy convertables.

 

[kikie]

This Chinese F50 looks a lot like a Citroën ZX avantage.

 

[davygravy]

Their entire range is just re-made Citroen ZX's.