First Impressions: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI
The Chinese government has invited about twenty foreign automakers to introduce an experimental family car at an in Beijing in November 1994 conference held periodic reports indicate government officials have promised the best project will be selected and allowed to start production under a joint -venture with state-owned manufacturer First Automotive Works FAW at the turn of the century.
At the time, the booming local market was dominated by foreign manufacturers such as Audi, Volkswagen, Peugeot-Citroen and Jeep who were building cars through joint ventures with local companies formed the joint ventures have assured a fair share of the profits generated by the automotive industry remained in China, but they did nothing to change the fact that local companies were entirely dependent on their European partners for technology and know-how.
Chinese officials have sought to change this by developing in two distinct stages of the country's auto industry to begin in 1996, the first stage was designed to spawn 2-3 major automakers and parts suppliers scattered 7-8 across the country China openly admitted that he would support his fledgling industry by banning additional foreign automakers to build cars locally, by instating restrictions on imported vehicles and giving new buyers of attractive tax incentives cars.
The second stage was scheduled to kick off anywhere between 2005 and 2010 depending on the speed with which the market grew It aimed for the Chinese auto industry to become fully independent and to start exporting cars to countries worldwide, the government also predicted the number of suppliers reduced to three or four at a time when the industry growth plan has entered the second stage.
The Chinese beetle Porsche Engineering Services announced it would participate in the conference and he managed to build a prototype in just four short months was baptized C88 C is likely for China, while the number 88 signifies good luck and fortune in Chinese culture.
Porsche drew several parallels between the C88 and the Volkswagen original Beetle Both cars were designed to put an entire country on wheels and therefore had to be simple, affordable, robust, spacious, easy to build, comfortable even on the roads badly paved and cheap to run.
Porsche has spoken to business owners and journalists in China to have a clear idea of what the pilots were trying to better take the specific market preferences into account, an engineer and a technician from China were brought into the process design and construction of the C88.
In a speech in Mandarin, former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking said the project was designed to be divided into three separate cars that cover a large part of the market.
The first car was no-frills three-door hatchback can accommodate up to four passengers It was powered by a 1 to 1 liter four-cylinder that sent 47 horsepower to the front wheels via a transmission four-speed automatic car took about 20 seconds to reach 62 mph 100 km h to a stop and was designed to sell for 45,000 RMB.
The second car was a model called Porsche mid-range could easily reproduce three and sedan hatchback, a wagon and even a compact pickup truck was powered by the same 47-horsepower engine as the hatchback with two doors, but the extra weight has increased its 0-62 time to leisurely 22 seconds the car was supposed to cost between 60,000 and 65,000 RMB in the style of controlled body.
The final model was significantly more upscale four-door sedan that stretched 159 inches long, 64 inches wide and 56 inches tall 405 centimeters long, 163 cm wide and 143 cm high These dimensions have made the slightly smaller car than a first generation Volkswagen Fox sedan.
The third car was powered by a version 67 horsepower engine 1 1 liter spun the front wheels via a manual transmission with five speeds He was able to reach 62 mph from a standstill in a 16 respectable seconds before moving on to a top speed of about 100 mph 165 km h.
If launched, the list of options would include airbags for front passengers, ABS brakes and automatic transmission four-speed Porsche also plans to offer the car with a diesel engine 1 of 6 liter naturally aspirated valued at 67 horses.
The third model is the only one designed for export markets so it was in full compliance with safety standards and European emission The other two cars were able to pass European crash test, but their engines are not designed to comply with the European emission standards.
Only the third model made before the drawing he received a sweet design and discreet Porsche believed would not look the same if it went into production in the early 2000s, and his vocation to low cost was characterized by bullet -chocs black plastic and 15- inch steel wheels.
The Spartan theme was continued inside with an array of rounded edge, a tapestry of colorful furnishings, a steering wheel with two branches and a dashboard with four Analog Gauges The C88 was not designed to be sold as Porsche and there was not a single Porsche crest be found everywhere on the car.
Production Porsche Plans originally planned on building a new plant in China capable of churning around between 300,000 and 500,000 cars derived C88-year, although production could easily ramp if required Furthermore, the manufacturer automobile has offered to train Chinese engineers in Germany up to a year to ensure that the C88 would be built to the highest standards in the world.
Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Opel and Porsche have all participated in the project with prototypes A winner has not been selected and the Chinese government quickly shelved the idea of a car people locally built most participants automakers naturally felt like they had lost a tremendous amount of time and money on a stillborn project.
The Chinese government said thank you very much and took the ideas for free, and if you look Chinese cars now you can see many details of our C88 in them, said Dieter Landenberger, director of Porsche archives, October 1, 2012 interview with Top Gear Magazine.
Today, the C88 prototype that was presented in Beijing is on display in the Porsche Museum.
A look at the experimental C88 sedan Porsche Ran When Parked, look, experimental, porsche, sedan.