Reports from China say that Volvo has handed over the XC90 platform to its Chinese owner, Geely. National Business Daily says that Geely will use the SUV platform to develop a vehicle that will sit in a new high-end sub-brand for the Chinese market. The hand over agreement was signed in March.
Makes good sense, since Volvo is already working on the next generation XC90 that will hit the market in 2014. And although the XC90 is far from a fresh face on the road (it has been around since 2003), Geely will be inheriting safe, sturdy and proven underpinnings that meet current standards. The P2 platform on which the XC90 is based on also underpins cars like the S80 and Ford Taurus.
Geely launched its first ever SUV at the recent Beijing show. Called the GLEagle GX7, the seven-seater is powered by a 4G18 1.8 litre and a 4G20 2.0 litre engine. Click here to view a live gallery from the show.
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and P1 only inherit….the famous “Lotus handling”….
power of money speaks
p1 cant hire someone designing a corporate grill and be paid 7 digit annually
because one thing it cant afford
second is because people like u will scream murder
yes they got several foreign faces but they hardly cost peter shreyer money
this china man job is all about whos got fatter wallet and unfortunately at these uncertain economy climate, money comes from china
thats why we are looking special editions/ long wheel base vehicles for china
and why bother developing if u want buy another company in all?
volvo is one of many proven, great car makers
lets hope it wont be ruined
P1 may make someone getting more than 7 digit annually without any real effort…
And our great Persona is called Lian Hua in China
Sure China man will copy the vlovo kaw-kaw………the result? would be likebotox session went awry!!!
Why Geely buys dated engine from Mitsu……since Geely got money to buy Volvo why not source engine from Ford Eco-boost….
I thought 4G18 is 1.6 liters?
Danny….any news on rebadging of land rover (china)?….using the body but the heart using china engine…..
geely = glee = GELI
proton better
So now Geely can build better cars than P1? :)
Geely was able to grow to such a size (big enough to gobble up volvo). And that fact ifself would speak volume for the geely owner, Li, esp his business acumen. And dont forget, he spent something like (huh?) USD1b to take over volvo. That is a huge investment. So mechanical wise – i.e. design, engineering etc etc – I believe geely would let volvo hv complete autonomy. Geely would instantly kill off the car if geely interfered in this aspect. I believe Li knows it. In any event Li has geely. He would be better off taking ideas from volvo and planting them into his geely cars for experiment. What about marketing? Now that is strictly business. That one I think geely would want to hv a say esp when it comes to selling the car in the chinese market and increasing market share. That is why, to satisfy the chinese fondness for large luxury cars, volvo was told to elongate the S80 and to produce a large flagship vehicle to compete with S-class and 7-series.