Roewe 750 hybrid to be launched by SAIC

The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) has been focused on designing fuel alternative vehicles for a long time now. The company is now planning to launch its Roewe 750, a version of UK’s Rover 750, by 2010.

After being associated with Tongji University’s engineering faculty in 2005, the company has now invested around $300 million to design and develop alternative propulsion systems.

The Chinese car makers had purchased the brand from BMW several year ago excluding the brand name ‘Rover’, which meant that SAIC would manufacter the Rover, under the name ‘Roewe’. The Roewe 750 is based on the erstwhile Rover 75.

The Roewe 750 will feature a hybrid engine system which is capable of assisting the internal combustion engine even when under acceleration, but cannot propel the car by itself. The Roewe 750 is said to save 20 per cent of fuel. Such vehicles are called mild hybrid vehicles. They are unlike the Toyota Prius, which is a full hybrid that can run purely on the electric motor for some distance.

BYD, another car manufacturer from China, has already launched a plug-in hybrid.

The Roewe 750 will have a lithium-ion battery pack sourced from US auto supplier Johnson Controls. British engineering consultancy Ricardo will develop the powertrain.

Shanghai Autos (SAIC) has said in a statement, “This hybrid Roewe 750 is fully independently developed by Shanghai Automotive Group, its core technique and components are developed independently by Shanghai Automotive Group according to leading V processes. This car is capable of saving 20% fuel compensation under integrated loop and meets European IV standard emission standards. At the same time, it plans to implement mass production before the world expo in 2010 and become great motivation for further development of automobile industry.”

There is no info on whether the new Roewe 750 will make it to North American shores, or whether the company would stick to its home market.

This project was completed as a joint venture in conjunction with GM to build hybrid cars in the country.

According to reports, SAIC plans to re-establish an engineering centre in Longbridge, in the West Midlands and will relocate its staff from Leamington Spa.

After the launch of the Roewe 750, SAIC plans to manufacture an all-electric version in the near future.