Auto Car | Shanghai Clone Wars: Lifan 320 aka the Chinese MINI Cooper | Take a close look at the sign behind the Lifan 320, it reads “Innovation Lifan, Quality Lifan”. Now gaze upon the 320; what an innovative and poorly executed, ripoff of the MINI! The 320 is one of the many China-made clones that filled the booths of various automakers at the Shanghai Show. Lifan’s minicar that pays an undesirable tribute to the new MINI’s design has been on sale in China since 2008.
It is offered exclusively with a 1.3-liter gasoline engine producing a puny 80-horsepower and 110Nm of torque that launches (…) the British flared five-door hatch to 100km/h from standstill in 14.5 sec. The car’s top speed is electronically limited -just kidding- to 155km/h or 96mph.
It seems that most small Chinese super minis have been branded as being ‘knock offs’ or ‘clones’ of existing designs, and the Lifan 320 wasnt any different. The 320 is Lifans latest mini car that plans to hit the market running later this year. The 320 has since been labelled the Chinese MINI for its MINI-like looks, other people say it looks like an ancient Daihatsu model. Who knows?Chinese motoring magazines are predicting the mini motor will be on sale by August 2008 for less than 50,000rmb with a 1.1l motor with the usual additions of power steering, ABS, EBD, etc.
The car measures 3745mm long and 1620mm wide with a height of 1430mm. The Chinese press believe the car will appeal most to younger Chinese who want to get themselves their first set of wheels, and will want something a little ‘sporty’ but will have good economy and at a decent price. The Lifan 320′s 1.1l motor will satisfy the economy requirement – the 320 requires 4.8l of petrol per 100km, and is upto Chinese 5 emissions standard (equivalent to a Euro 5 emissions spec)
(www.chinacartimes.com)
It is offered exclusively with a 1.3-liter gasoline engine producing a puny 80-horsepower and 110Nm of torque that launches (…) the British flared five-door hatch to 100km/h from standstill in 14.5 sec. The car’s top speed is electronically limited -just kidding- to 155km/h or 96mph.
It seems that most small Chinese super minis have been branded as being ‘knock offs’ or ‘clones’ of existing designs, and the Lifan 320 wasnt any different. The 320 is Lifans latest mini car that plans to hit the market running later this year. The 320 has since been labelled the Chinese MINI for its MINI-like looks, other people say it looks like an ancient Daihatsu model. Who knows?Chinese motoring magazines are predicting the mini motor will be on sale by August 2008 for less than 50,000rmb with a 1.1l motor with the usual additions of power steering, ABS, EBD, etc.
The car measures 3745mm long and 1620mm wide with a height of 1430mm. The Chinese press believe the car will appeal most to younger Chinese who want to get themselves their first set of wheels, and will want something a little ‘sporty’ but will have good economy and at a decent price. The Lifan 320′s 1.1l motor will satisfy the economy requirement – the 320 requires 4.8l of petrol per 100km, and is upto Chinese 5 emissions standard (equivalent to a Euro 5 emissions spec)
(www.chinacartimes.com)
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