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Qoros - A Star From The East?

Topics: Qoros

Qoros - A Star From The East?

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
September 25, 2013

The Chinese manufacturer Qoros seems likely to be planning a European campaign at some point. The first car in the range will launch in September. No sign of a RHD version and no diesel as yet but it seems the car has sailed through European NCAP tests. Maybe we’ll see it in the UK around 2015.

In a ground-breaking result (their words), the compact (C-segment) Qoros 3 Saloon, has been awarded the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests. Qoros is the first international brand headquartered in China to produce a car awarded five stars. The 3 scored highly in all four areas of the tests and has the best overall performance of all vehicles assessed so far in 2013, placing it amongst the very best ever tested by Euro NCAP.

Volker Steinwascher, Vice Chairman of Qoros, said: “The safety of our vehicles was one of our key development goals from the start. It’s a crucial demonstration that our customers are the most important consideration and it also says a great deal about the engineering integrity of the car as a whole. So, while we expected a very good result in the Euro NCAP test, we are naturally very happy with how the car performed. The Qoros engineering team invested an incredible amount of time and commitment in developing one of the safest vehicles ever assessed by Euro NCAP.”

The comprehensive suite of standard passive safety equipment provides the driver and passengers, irrespective of their size and seating position, with maximum protection against injury. These include front and side airbags, side head curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, three-point automatic seat belts on all seats and dual belt tensioners for front passengers. In the event of a rear-end collision, the front seat headrests are designed to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries. Child safety is also a major consideration, with ISOFIX child seat anchorages in the rear, with top tether hooks, and a passenger airbag disconnect switch for the front passenger seat position.

The Qoros 3 also scored maximum points for child restraint in the front and side crash tests. A new addition to this year’s Euro NCAP procedure assesses the vehicle’s compatibility with a wide range of child seats. The car excelled apparently, proving to be compatible with the full range of the Euro NCAP top pick child seats. Qoros’ first production car also achieved an impressive result in the pedestrian protection test. The saloon is equipped as standard with ABS (Antilock Braking System), ESP (Dynamic Stability Control / Electronic Stability Program), EBA (Electronic Brake Assist) and Braking Control System plus seat belt reminders for all occupants and a driver-set speed limiting device to help motorists observe speed limits.

It’s clear that a lot of long term planning has gone into this car and it is also another example of the globalisation of the automotive business. The only thing at first look that disappoints is the car itself. Safe and well made it might be but it is not terribly exciting is it?