![]() ![]() In the early 2000’s this kind of infotainment system was surprisingly common in affordable Chinese cars.Ĭhinese automakers are always quick to update their cars. It could play DVD-R, VC-D, CD-R, and MP3 music and video. The instrument panel had white dials, including a rev counter.īut the biggest eye catcher was the factory standard Meirenbao-branded infotainment system. The central armrest was notably high, and there was a huge storage space below it. The gear lever knob and parking brake handle were finished in metal. It had red-black faux-leather seats, red door trim, and red trim around the gear lever and on the parking brake. ![]() The interior of the Meirenbao was flashy. (Eight is associated with prosperity and nine with longevity). Again, as we saw with the Hyundai Elantra’s, there are lots of eights and nines in the pricing, as both are lucky numbers in Chinese culture. It was marginally faster, getting the 2,200 pound car ot a top speed of 175 km/h and to 100 km/h in 12 secondsīase price in 2004 for the 1.3 was 99.900 yuan (roughly $12,000) - this later dropped for 2005 the 1.5 started at 118.800 yuan (just over 14 grand). ![]() The 1.5 liter engine (1498 mL) had an output of 94 hp and 128 Nm. Top speed was 170 km/h and 0-100 (about 0 to 62 mph) took a relaxing 12.8 seconds. Power went to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. Output of the 1.3 (1342 mL) was 86 hp and 110 Nm. (Many Chinese automakers buy their engines off the shelf, and they usually give them new designations and names). The original Toyota designation of the 1.3 was “8A-FE.” At Geely, the engine got a new designation: MR479Q. The 1.3 under the bonnet of the Meirenbao. Production of descendants of the A Series in China continues to this day. The engines thus ended up in all sorts of cars, ranging from vans to small trucks, from hatchbacks to sedans to Geely’s little Meirenbao. Tianjin FAW Toyota Engine also sold them to other Chinese automakers. Later, they also sat under the bonnet of cars made by Tianjin FAW Toyota, technically a different joint venture that made various Toyotas for the Chinese market. They were used to power cars made by Tianjin FAW Xiali, which produced a licensed version of the Daihatsu Charade. The engines were manufactured in China by Tianjin FAW Toyota Engine, a joint venture between Tianjin FAW and Toyota. These were originally Toyota engines, part of Toyota’s A Series. Power came from a 1.3 and 1.5 liter four-cylinder petrol engine. The Meirenbao launched on the Chinese car market in 2004, a year after it was unveiled. The wing, five-spoke wheels, and dual exhaust pipe added even more racy vibes. ![]() It had a long and low bonnet, a compact cabin, a sloping rear window, and a tall rear deck that abruptly ended. It was original too, probably a bit inspired by the Hyundai Coupe and Toyota Celica and MR2, but certainly not a copy. The design was nice, especially given that this was Geely’s very first sporty car. Creating a two-door sports car was thus a big and daring step for Geely, although the company had done some strange two-door stuff before. The Meirenbao was developed as a halo-car for the Geely brand, which, at the time, only made a bunch of tiny super cheap econoboxes. Steering was super direct and it felt fast enough. I once drove one at a wedding, of all occasions, and liked it a lot. Even serious publications like ChinaDaily wrote about Geely’s Meirenbao. I lived in China in 2003 and remember the media frenzy very well. This was not entirely correct, but it sure was China’s first mass produced sports car and that was super cool at the time. Unveiled in 2003, it was actually hailed as “China’s first sports car”. Staying with this beauty-theme, the Meirenbao - like Jason Torchinsky’s Changli - had English-language “Fashion” badges on the doors. The Geely Meirenbao (Meirenbao (美人豹) means “Beauty Leopard”) is probably the best known Chinese sports car. ![]()
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