BMW will not be happy about someone using this name

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Source: AutoCar

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We’re not sure that BMW is going to be too impressed by its name – a working title that will likely make way for a Chinese nomenclature on production versions, we hear. However, the swoopy new Zhonghua M3 managed to impress Beijing show-goers in droves.

And it wasn’t just the new two-door’s arresting canary yellow paint scheme that had them jockying for position as the wraps came off, either. No, it was the new coupe’s aggressive but uncharacteristically cohesive styling that had Chinese tongues wagging.

More original than any of Zhonghua’s previous models, the M3 is aiming into a market segment occupied by the likes of the Nissan 350Z, Audi TT Coupe and BMW Z4 Coupe – albiet at a much lower price than any of them.

Production is assured, though parent company Brilliance China Automotive, which ironically has close links with BMW and produces both the 3-series and 5-series in China for domestic sales, refuses to say when or if there are any concrete plans to export the new car.

Among the engines being touted for the new coupe is Zhonghua’s existing turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder, which Brilliance says gives it a top speed of 137mph.
 
These chinese guys love copying. I bet the architecture of their engine is a cheap VAG ripoff.
 
There are enough wacky car names out there, so surely they can think of a completely unique car name by themselves. At least this design is a bit different for once. There's still a few familiar parts of the design, though, but it has been uglified...

A good few names popped up in Autocar magazine yesterday that I didn't know about. The new Rover 75 being called the Roewe (Rover?), and a Chinese car maker that's teaming up with Fiat called Chery (Chevy?).

Mad...
 
I would of thought Chinese cars would of used a Chinese nickname or saying for something.
 
Since when have the Chinese cared about copyright laws?

Also, 137mph in top speed suggests south of 200HP, which isn't NEARLY enough to keep up with a Z4, 350Z, or anything like that. Hell, I think a stock AE86 could outrun it, given how heavy it looks.

I will say this much: It looks good. now, give it some balls, and change the name. 180C sounds good to me.
 
how about 180SX ripoff.. 186 maybe? ( one eightysix ) which would also refer to 86, hachi, AE86 or whatever you want to call that.
 
186...sounds like an Alfa Romeo model. Still, it's probably fair game.
 
This is a highly decent model even if it isn't much of an original design. I do agree that you can't use very long code names to name cars. Look at Jaguar and Lexus. They have more of code-like names for their cars, just not overly complex. In terms of car names, one could probably make the case for the lovely Chevrolet Corvette C5 against the also-lovely Citroen C5. Do you think suits at GM were p*ssed off that Citroen chose "C5" to name this car? Then again, there were a lot of Cx cars from Citroen including the very nice C3. I have patience for this car company. At least this is a better styling exercise than tht other car in the "The Chinese Love Copying..." thread in the Cars in General forum. I would make the rear bumper longer for safety measures. I would also do away with the elongated taillights at the bottom. You want to properly define the dimensions of a car to provide stylish and striking definitions of the corners. Or here's something else that could have been done about the taillights. The taillights kind of have a Mercedes-Benz vibe to them (even the headlights). So instead of that "L" design for the taillights, I'd make them more like a "D" style. I just don't want to say that China should stop trying to get their share of the world automobile market. I don't want to immediately tag Communism in talking about China because we're talking about cars, not politics. Out of 100% approval, I'm giving this car 70% approval.

Copying or not, at least this is a design that will move them in the right direction in the coupe and sedan segment. Crawl before you walk.
 
Excellent-looking car. 👍 Now they just need to work on the name and the performance.
 
I have yet to see a Chinese car design that doesn't look like a drunk college student tried tracing out some other car. This is the same as the other thing with the accordion trunklid: penned by someone who really loves cars, but has had zero training...and is probably related to Homer Simpson. There's lots of good ideas in these designs, but few of them are original, and hardly any of them look good together. They've got at least three different cars in there.

But at least they're trying. In my experience, good effort often leads to good results...sooner or later.
 
For some reason, I first thought of the BMW M6 when I saw the car. Just looks like it to me, though with its differnces.

Anyone else seeing it?
 
Renault Megan Coupe front end - check

Toyota Camry grill - check

Merc CLS/Maybach rear end - check


- It's certainly better looking than the 2006 'DongFeng D120' :yuck:

 
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