Qoros

Qoros Auto Co., Ltd. is a Chinese automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Shanghai, China. Its principal activity is the design, development, production and sale of passenger cars sold under the Qoros marque.

It was founded as a joint venture between Chery and Israel Corporation in December 2007 under the name Chery Quantum Automotive Corporation (CQAC); the name was changed to Qoros Auto Co., Ltd. in November 2011. The current partners are Chery and Singapore-based Kenon Holdings, which controls Israel Corp's investment.

The partners are investing an initial US$1.5 billion in the venture. The first Qoros production model, the Qoros 3, made its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013 and went on sale in China in November 2013.

Name

Qoros is an invented word. The Q is intended to represent quality, and the whole name to echo the Greek chorus, a collective voice in plays and music, reflecting the multinational nature of the company.

History

Chery Quantum Automotive Corporation was registered as a company in Wuhu, Anhui Province, China in December 2007. The establishment of the company took place during a peak time in the development of China's automotive industry, following the country's joining the World Trade Organization and amid a phase of rapid growth in vehicle production and sales. CQAC opened an office in Shanghai in September 2008.

Qoros 3

The Qoros 3 is the first automobile from the Chinese manufacturer Qoros Auto, jointly (50%–50%) owned by Kenon Holdings and China's Chery Automobile Company. The four-door sedan was formally announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013. The Qoros 3 commenced sales in China and Slovakia towards the end of 2013, and deliveries started in China in January 2014. A hatchback version made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014. A third derivative, the 3 City SUV, was launched in November 2014.

The 3 was designed by ex-Mini designer Gert Hildebrand, and was developed for left-hand-drive markets.

Specification

The 3 is scheduled to be launched with a four-cylinder 1.6-litre (1598 cc) petrol engine in two states of tune; a naturally-aspirated unit producing 126 bhp (94 kW; 128 PS) and 155 N·m (114 lb·ft) torque, and a turbocharged version with 156 bhp (116 kW; 158 PS) and 210 N·m (155 lb·ft) torque. Both versions are mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard, with a six-speed dual clutch transmission optional.