The Qoros 3 Sedan received the Award for the Most Eagerly Anticipated Domestic Car of 2013 at the Most Beautiful Automobile China Awards ceremony.

The Qoros 3 Sedan was styled by the brand’s Executive Director of Design, Gert Hildebrand, who leads the Qoros design teams in Munich and Shanghai.  The car exemplifies two core design concepts advocated by Hildebrand: perfect proportion and ‘less is more’.

The Qoros 3 Sedan is described by the new company as dynamic yet elegant, generously proportioned, and as having a spacious interior and a larger footprint than other compact (C-segment) cars.

This sedan introduces several Qoros signature design themes that will feature on future models.

“It is a great pleasure for Qoros to be honoured with such a prestigious award for our first car,” said Hildebrand.  “The Qoros 3 Sedan defines the unique characteristics of future Qoros models through its elegant, modern and dynamic design features.”

The Qoros 3 Sedan was designed specifically for young, aspirational metropolitan motorists.  The company said that in addition to its looks, it will feature European engineering, quality and safety standards and a generous level of equipment as standard, including an industry-leading eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The Most Beautiful Automobile China Awards program honors the most beautiful cars on display at the Shanghai and Beijing Auto Shows.  The prestigious awards were introduced in 2007 by Car & Driver China magazine.

“That the Qoros 3 Sedan should receive the trophy for the Most Eagerly Anticipated Domestic Car of 2013 in these highly respected awards demonstrates the impact that the judges believe this forthcoming model will have in the coming years, not only within the Chinese auto industry, but on a global scale,” concludes Hildebrand.

Showcased alongside the sedan, the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept presented the application of signature styling themes introduced on the Qoros 3 Sedan to possible future compact hatchback and crossover models, while hinting to future hybrid powertrains.

The company said that enhanced traction properties and an advanced hybrid drive demonstrate that engineering innovations is a core strategic activity for Qoros.  Intelligent control software ensures seamless transition among different drive modes.

Qoros Auto Co. Ltd. was founded in 2007, within the context of a partnership of equals between Chery Automobile and Israel Corporation, a globally acting industry holding company.

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The China debut for Qoros comes a few weeks after its global premiere at the 83^rd Geneva International Motor Show.

The company said it received widespread acclaim from European counterparts, the public and major international media thanks to its unique business model, international management team and European standards of design, quality and engineering.

The Shanghai Auto Show will see the Qoros 3 Sedan presented to the Chinese public for the first time. The Qoros 3 Sedan is due to go on sale in China in the second half of 2013 with first sales in Europe following later in the year.

“I am delighted that Qoros received such positive reviews from European media and industry counterparts at the Geneva Motor Show and indeed that Qoros was one of the primary global stories from the event,” said Qoros CEO, Guo Qian. “However, the praise at the Geneva Auto Show was just a first step on our path to success.  I look forward to our presentation at the Shanghai Auto Show even more, because this will be Qoros’ first appearance on the Chinese stage.  We are committed to creating a distinctive auto brand, with quality as our foundation. We will bring top-level products and services to customers in China and worldwide.”

Qoros vehicles are to be produced in a new assembly plant in Changshu, China.

According to the company, modular vehicle platform technology allows Qoros to create new vehicle concepts quickly and efficiently. Subsequently, additional models are planned in intervals of six-to-twelve month.

To be showcased alongside the sedan, the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept presents the application of signature styling themes introduced on the Qoros 3 Sedan to possible future compact hatchback and crossover models, while hinting to future hybrid powertrains.

The company said that enhanced traction properties and an advanced hybrid drive demonstrate that engineering innovations is a core strategic activity for Qoros.  Intelligent control software ensures seamless transition among different drive modes.

Qoros Auto Co. Ltd. was founded in 2007, within the context of a partnership of equals between Chery Automobile and Israel Corporation, a globally acting industry holding company.

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The Qoros 3 Sedan, which is entering a pre-production development phase after two summers and two winters of testing, is due to be launched in China in the second half of 2013, with first European sales following later in the year.

The launch of further Qoros models is then planned at intervals of approximately six months. The crossover hybrid concept gives hints as to the direction of said future models.

To be produced in a new assembly plant in Changshu, China, the range of Qoros models is being designed and engineered, according to Qoros, by an international team of experienced specialists and new, young automotive talent, and has been developed with the support of internationally-renowned suppliers such as Magna Steyr, TRW, Continental, Bosch, Getrag, Benteler, Lear, Microsoft, Harman, Neusoft-Alpine and Iconmobile.

Qoros said its models will feature an infotainment system which the company considers unique in the automotive field.  Featuring an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen, the system was developed in-house by Qoros with displays designed for minimal driver distraction, replacing the array of switches and buttons that blight many modern car interiors.  The system features advanced navigation, social networking connectivity and the ability for drivers to monitor their car’s health and, for example, to book dealer service appointments.

Alongside the first production model from Qoros, the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show also sees the unveiling of the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept. This crossover model is said to feature a compact hatchback body and an advanced hybrid drivetrain.

It presents the application of signature styling themes introduced on the Qoros 3 Sedan to possible future compact hatchback and crossover models.

The Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept features a hybrid drive system developed in partnership with electric drive systems specialist American Axle.

A three-cylinder 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine with producing 97 kilowatts (130 horsepower) is installed transversely at the front driving the front wheels.

A 50-kilowatt electric motor is located in the back, between the luggage compartment floor and the rear axle. The electric motor is powered by a LG Chem lithium-ion battery with a maximum capacity of 1.9 kilowatt-hours.

A second electric motor – the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) – is mounted between the petrol engine and the transmission.  Its role, as well as to start the gas engine more discreetly than a traditional starter motor, is to charge the rear electric motor’s dedicated battery so that the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept can operate continuously in all-wheel drive mode.

During the most demanding driving, the ISG delivers additional power to the front axle.

Intelligent control software ensures seamless transition between petrol-engine front-wheel drive, electric motor rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive, depending on the most efficient mode to respond to the driver’s inputs and the prevailing road conditions.

In theory, the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept can be driven in pure-electric mode at a speed of up to 120 km/h (75 mph), and for a maximum range of approximately 2.5 miles (Qoros’ provisional target, not yet verified).

Qoros 3 Sedan

Two four-cylinder 1.6-liter gasoline engines will be available at the launch of the Qoros 3 Sedan in China, both of which feature VVT (variable valve timing).  The naturally-aspirated unit delivers an output of 93 kilowatt (126 horsepower) and 155 Nm maximum torque.  The turbocharged version offers 115 kilowatt (156 horsepower) and 210 Nm maximum torque.  Both engines are linked to a six-speed manual transmission as standard, with an optional six-speed dual clutch transmission available for both.

A stop-start system will be available from launch.

“With the support of AVL, Qoros is also developing a new three-cylinder 1.2-liter turbocharged engine and an all-new four-cylinder 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, both with GDI (gasoline direct injection).  These engines will deliver highly competitive performance and efficiency,” comments Klaus Schmidt, Executive Director of Vehicle Engineering, who was formerly a senior manager at BMW M-Power.

Founded in 2007, Qoros describes itself as an equal joint venture partnership between Chery Automobile, China’s biggest independent automotive manufacturer, and Israel Corporation, a global industrial holding company.

Qoros is headquartered in Changshu, a region of great importance to China’s rapidly expanding automotive industry, where construction of its all-new, highly-efficient and environmentally-sustainable production facility is nearing completion.

“The factory has an initial annual production capacity of 150,000 units, with potential for expansion to 450,000 units,” explains Alexander Wortberg, Qoros’ Director of Production (also a former BMW employee).

Qoros operates an engineering centre in Shanghai, which is also the company’s base for many commercial and purchasing functions. Further operations are located in Munich (Germany) and Graz (Austria).

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