Guangzhou Automobile Says New Fiat Joint Venture will Build Alfa Romeo Cars in China

The already crowded Chinese car market will soon welcome a new and ambitious competitor as local manufacturer Guangzhou Automobile Group has completed plans to set up a new joint venture with the Fiat Group named Guangqi Fiat.

Speaking with reporters on the sidelines of this week's Guangzhou Auto Show, the Chinese company's president, Zeng Qinghong, said that Guangqi Fiat will start production as early as July of 2012.

More interestingly, Qinghong revealed that the joint venture would also build Alfa Romeo cars for the domestic market.

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Daimler and BYD to Preview Upcoming Dedicated EV with a New Concept Model

[BYD e6 EV pictured above]

Joint venture partners Daimler AG and BYD Auto revealed plans today to preview their upcoming dedicated electric-car for China with a new design concept at the next Beijing Auto Show in April of 2012.

Last year, the two companies formed a 50-50 joint R&D venture called "Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd" or "BDNT" for short, to create a new brand that will focus on the development of pure electric vehicles for China.

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Lexus Reveals New Entry Level GS 250 with 209HP 2.5-liter V6 Engine

The new generation of the Lexus GS premium saloon will soon become more attainable –at least in certain markets around the world- as the Japanese carmaker revealed the new entry-level GS 250 today at the China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, which will be open to the public from November 22 through 28.

The GS 250 is the third model in the new GS lineup, after the previously revealed GS 350, which is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 306-ponies and the GS 450h top-end model that links a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 to the Lexus Hybrid Drive for a combined system output of 338-horsespower.

At the heart of the new GS 250 lies Lexus' 2.5-litre V6 gasoline engine with D-4S direct port injection and Dual VVT-i intelligent valve timing.

It produces a maximum output of 209HP (154 kW/206bhp) at 6,400rpm and 253Nm (187 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,800rpm, accelerating the GS 250 from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 8.6 seconds en route to a top speed of 230km/h (143mph).

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