Meet Qoros' Geneva Motor Show Debut, the 3 Hatch [w/Video]

It looks like Qoros’ teaser photos released late last year didn’t preview a crossover model as we hypothesized, nor the estate model of the 3 Sedan. Instead, Qoros’ Geneva Motor Show premiere will be the 3 Hatch, also based on the 3 Sedan.

The carmaker has released the first photos of its new model, which borrows heavily from the sedan’s styling, except at the rear end where it features a hatchback design with smaller, rectangular taillights. Qoros says the 3 Hatch will appeal to younger customers who need “a little extra versatility provided by the hatchback body style”.

The company also says the new model features a sportier design, with subtle visual changes at the front including an extended lower front grille, redesigned front bumper and new round fog lights. On the inside, the 3 Hatch is identical with its sedan counterpart, except for the addition of new upholstery color combinations and materials.

The Qoros 3 Hatch will be fitted as standard with the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system Qoros MMH (multimedia hub), which is operated via smartphone-type multi-gesture finger swipe inputs. Most models will also feature QorosQloud, which consists of a series of free-for-life services with 3G connectivity, including vehicle monitoring, social networking and enhanced navigation.

Based on the same modular platform as the sedan, the Qoros 3 Hatch has the same wheelbase, width and height, but the rear overhang and overall length are reduced by 177mm (6.97in). The 4438mm- (174.7-in) long compact hatchback promises “unusually generous interior space” for its segment, according to Qoros.

The 3 Hatch also shares with the sedan the two 1.6-liter naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines (125hp and 154hp, respectively), as well as the 6-speed manual and dual-clutch automatic transmissions. The new model will be built alongside the 3 Sedan in Qoros’ Changshu plant in China.

By Dan Mihalascu

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China's Qoros 3 Sedan Designated 2013’s Safest Car by Euro NCAP [w/Videos]

In September last year, the Qoros 3 Sedan became the first car made in China to get five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests. That was an impressive feat, but what’s even more impressive is that Euro NCAP has designated the Qoros 3 Sedan as the safest car it has tested last year (in that time frame, not in general), regardless of category.

The Qoros 3 Sedan scored the best result for Adult Occupant Protection in Euro NCAP’s 2013 program, while its safety passenger cell proved to be “extremely robust” in front-end, side impact and pole impact collisions. Obviously, the Chinese car was the safest of its category (Small Family), with six other cars being designated the safest in their class.

These cars are the Renault Zoe (Supermini), Lexus IS 300h (Large Family), Kia Carens/Ford Tourneo Connect (Small MPV), Jeep Cherokee (Small Off-Road 4x4) and Maserati Ghibli (Executive).

The Renault Zoe and Lexus IS 300h were at the same time the all-round performers of the electric/hybrid cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2013.

Euro NCAP updated its assessment of child occupant protection in 2013, giving credit to manufacturers that allow for easy installation of most popular types of child seats, which comply with the most recent revised child safety standards. Furthermore, the organization has started to test voluntary-set intelligent speed assistant systems as part of the rating.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Production Qoros 3 Estate Looks Unsurprisingly Familiar

Not long ago, Chinese-Israeli carmaker Qoros Auto released two teaser renderings of its second production model, which we assumed to be the crossover previewed by the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid concept revealed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Meanwhile, leaked photos of the Qoros 3 Estate in production guise have surfaced on a Chinese website. Wearing German plates, the car looks identical to the pre-production prototype that debuted in Geneva last year.

There’s no information regarding a launch date, so we don’t know which production model will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. One thing is certain, though: it will be the 3 Estate or the 3 Cross Hybrid. The estate model is said to feature a wide range of storage compartments and attachment fittings, as well as a rear seat bench that folds plat, to optimize functionality.

Based on the same platform as the 3 Sedan, the estate should be available at launch with the same pair of 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engines: a naturally aspirated version producing 125hp (126PS) and 155Nm (114 lb-ft) of torque, and a turbocharged variant with 154hp (156PS) and 210Nm (155 lb-ft) of torque.

By Dan Mihalascu

Story References: PCauto via AutoblogNL

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Qoros Delivers First Car to Young Interior Designer

Since Qoros' press release regarding the delivery of their first ever vehicle, a 3 sedan in Elegance trim and finished in Macadamia Brown mentions that buyer number one is a 28 year-old interior designer from Shanghai, called Yu Min, we thought it was worthwhile you should know too.

Being a new manufacturer, they’d naturally want to start off on the right foot, and it would not have looked good if they had sold their first car to a retired Triad member downsizing from his blacked out Mercedes “work car.” However, since Mr. Min is the exact opposite of that, it’s clear that Qoros wants a piece of Volvo, the easiest to reach of the established premium manufacturers.

Will it succeed? Well, based on styling alone, I think not, but if it’s backed up by good, honest engineering and durability, it can make a name for the brand, and make the sale of future models easier.

By Andrei Nedelea

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