Modern distinctive design, ideal for an active city lifestyle, commanding driving position, excellent connectivity, high safety standards

New international car brand, Qoros, is revealing its third series production car, the new Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T, at the 2014 Guangzhou International Auto Show. The pinnacle of the range, the compact City SUV is designed and engineered to appeal to consumers with an appetite for living life to the full, and who are looking for a car to fit into their active, premium, city lifestyle. With its distinctive, modern design it has the flexibility to balance the requirements of the urban commute with the pursuit of weekend leisure activities in the countryside. The new compact urban SUV is scheduled to go on sale before the end of December 2014 with prices starting from RMB 140,000.

Sitting 67mm higher than the 3 Hatch, City SUV drivers benefit from a more commanding driving position that delivers a sense of control, safety and security. For day-to-day city driving the City SUV provides better visibility for the driver, while the increased ride height ensures easier entry and egress. For out-of-town leisure activities, the new model offers higher ground clearance, larger wheels and robust body protection. The higher ride height enhances driveability and manoeuvrability to give the driver more confidence on rough or uneven road surfaces.

Developed by an international team of experienced specialists and new, young automotive talent from China, the Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T exhibits the top quality engineering and excellent safety standards with which Qoros is making a powerful global impression.

The City SUV is being manufactured in the brand’s new highly-efficient and environmentally-sustainable assembly plant in Changshu, 80km north-west of Shanghai, on the same production line as the 3 Sedan and 3 Hatch.

Exterior design

The new Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T features a bold evolution of distinctive signature Qoros design cues, although aesthetic enhancements give the car a unique character and reflect the individualistic preferences of its target customers.

For the compact class, the Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T features a comparatively long wheelbase (2694mm), generous width (1854mm), and a short rear overhang (815mm). These elegan proportions suit perfectly the vehicle’s bold, high stance (1504mm), distinctive body cladding and detailed styling.

At the front, additional cladding and a front skid-plate give the face a more rugged, masculine look. The round fog lights are set into boldly-contoured recesses that wrap around the bumper, details that provide energy and poise.

The side profile features bold wheel arches – defined by protective body cladding which continues along the side sills and doors – along with larger wheels and tyres and the larger two-part, two-colour roof spoiler.

The deep rear bumper (part body colour, part graphite) features twin exhaust pipes which are set into a new silver rear skid-plate to provide added protection when traversing poor road conditions.

Reinforcing its increased ride height, the City SUV is offered with large alloy wheels. As standard, 17-inch alloys are fitted on Active, Style and Style Plus models and 18-inch designs on the range-topping Excite model.

The Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T will be available in a range of five exterior paint colours – all available without extra cost: Crystal White (solid), Starlight Black, Diamond Silver, Shimmer Grey and Sunrise Red (all metallic).

Interior

In common with all Qoros models, the City SUV’s cabin is dominated by a clean, horizontal design theme that emphasises the spacious interior. The hip-point of the front seats is raised by 10mm, so the driver’s eye-level is 67mm higher than in the 3 Hatch, giving a commanding view of the road.

When launched in China, the Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T will offer customers a choice of four trim specifications – Active, Style, Style Plus and Excite.

Standard features on all versions of the City SUV include the brand’s innovative Qoros MMH™ (Multi Media Hub) infotainment system, Bluetooth® for hands free calling and wireless music streaming, all-round electric windows, electric exterior mirrors that feature turn indicator repeaters, and dual exhaust pipes.

Interior feature highlights on the entry-level Active models include keyless start, 17-inch alloy wheels and manual air-conditioning.

The Style models will also benefit from the six-speed QorosTroniq™ 6DCT automatic transmission, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, cruise control and a rear parking camera, as well as advanced QorosQloud™ 3G connected services with enhanced navigation and networking.

Buyers of Style Plus models also receive leather seats with the front seats heated and electrically adjustable, plus automatic door mirror folding, a tyre pressure indicator and a powered tilt/slide sunroof.

Top-of-the-range Excite models add Xenon headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and keyless start, ‘dusk-sensing’ auto on/off headlights, a rear parking camera with dynamic guideline and distance sensors, and full cabin ambient lighting.

As befits a model designed to deliver optimal lifestyle practicality to active customers, the standard 60:40 split rear seatbacks fold individually to optimise cargo carrying flexibility. Folding both seatbacks down increases cargo capacity to 1,105 litres when loaded to the roof. Style Plus and Excite models incorporate a rear seat ski-hatch.

In addition to the 2.8-litre glovebox (air-conditioned on Excite models), there are numerous further storage compartments, including in the front centre console and front arm rest, as well as wide door pockets in all four doors and front seatback pockets.

Refinement in the interior is optimised thanks to extensive NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) and acoustics development, which was a high priority for Qoros’ vehicle development team. It succeeded in controlling and suppressing vibrations and noise from within the vehicle – engine, transmission and other components – as well as those triggered externally, such as tyre roar and wind noise.

QorosQloud™ connectivity and touchscreen infotainment

QorosQloud – the portal to an exclusive suite of connected services – will be included as standard on Style, Style Plus and Excite models in the Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T range. QorosQloud is part of Qoros’ strategic objective to be innovative and creative in meeting the lifestyle needs of the modern, metropolitan consumer.

Accessed in the City SUV via the advanced eight-inch Qoros MMH™ system (see next section), QorosQloud services can also be accessed from a dedicated website and apps for Apple iOS and Android. As a result, QorosQloud is integrated across customers’ connected devices and enhances the way they interact with and incorporate their car into their digital lives. This creates a closer connection than ever between the driver, the vehicle, the dealer and the digital world. It enables motorists to remain ‘always-connected’ to navigation and traffic information, their social networks, and the car’s condition, maintenance and service requirements.

From early 2015, a new incarnation of QorosQloud – QorosQloud 2.0 will be available. This further enhances the simplicity of the user experience for the driver, making it more intuitive and fun to use.

In the car, QorosQloud is accessed through the innovative Qoros MMH system that is fitted as standard to every Qoros. With an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen, it is one of the first touchscreen infotainment systems in the world to be specifically designed to maximise the opportunities and capabilities of multi-touch gestures.

Qoros MMH was designed and developed to safely manage information displays for minimal driver distraction and to optimise ease-of-use while on the move. The innovative user-interface is based on the finger ‘swipe’ concept of modern smartphones.

Those who enjoy high quality music to enhance their journey are well catered for across the entire Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T range, with a four-speaker 100-watt audio system fitted to the Essence models as standard, and a six-speaker 150-watt audio system for the rest of the line-up.

Powertrain

The new City SUV will be available with the brand’s powerful, efficient 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine as standard.

The European-developed turbocharged 1.6-litre 16-valve VVT (variable valve timing) engine suits the extra flexibility required for city and country driving. The engine produces 115 kW (156 bhp) power and 210 Nm torque over a broad rev range between 1,750 and 5,000 rpm.

As standard, this engine is paired with the six-speed manual transmission in the Active model, accelerating the City SUV from zero to 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds. Also with six speeds, the smooth shifting QorosTroniq™ 6DCT transmission is standard on Style, Style Plus and Excite models. With this gearbox, acceleration to 100 km/h is achieved in 10.8 seconds and top speed is 208 km/h.

Fuel economy is amongst the very best in the compact class, achieving 6.8 l/100km with the manual transmission and 6.9 l/100km with the DCT (NEDC cycle).

Vehicle dynamics

The vehicle dynamics of the new Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T have been developed to fully exploit the new car’s higher chassis, wider track (up by 9mm at the front and 2mm at the rear compared to the 3 Hatch) and longer wheelbase (up 5mm), while also being tailored to deliver driving characteristics to rival those of compact SUV’s developed by leading European brands.

Like the highly acclaimed 3 Hatch and 3 Sedan, the City SUV’s suspension features MacPherson struts at the front and an OMEGA-shaped twist beam at the rear to provide an ideal balance of responsive handling and a compliant ride.

Several chassis modifications ensure that the City SUV has similar ‘DNA’ characteristics to the 3 Hatch in terms of ride, handling and steering, despite its higher centre of gravity.

Stopping power is provided by 305mm ventilated disc brakes at the front and 285mm solid disc brakes at the rear. Anti-lock braking (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC) systems were developed in conjunction with TRW specifically for the Qoros 3 family of vehicles.

Safety

The City SUV embodies the same Qoros Crash Management System philosophy as the 3 Sedan and 3 Hatch, each of which carry a maximum five-star ranking from Euro NCAP.

In September 2013, the City SUV’s stablemate, the Qoros 3 Sedan, secured the accolade of being the first car developed in China to achieve the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests and was also ranked the ‘safest car’ of 2013.

ABS (anti-lock braking system), EBD (electronic brake distribution) and a driver-set speed limiting device are standard across the range, as are ISOFIX child seat mountings with top tethers on the right and left rear seats.

Additional standard safety equipment on all City SUV models, apart from the entry-level Active, will include: ESC (electronic stability control), ETC (electronic traction control), BA (brake assist), and CBC (cornering brake control), automatic brake disc cleaning, a seat belt reminder for the driver (and front passenger on Excite models).

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T

Body and chassis

Five-door, five-seater compact SUV with all-steel unitary construction bodyshell. Transversely-mounted four cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Independent, dynamic, success-oriented: the Qoros company

Qoros was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in China. Its international team of experienced automotive experts is leading the development of a range of vehicles that exhibit world-class standards of design, engineering and quality.

After debuting at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013, the brand’s first car, the Qoros 3 Sedan, became the first developed in China to be awarded the maximum five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests. Euro NCAP later announced it as ‘the best performer of any car subjected to Euro NCAP’s crash tests in 2013’ making it one of the safest tested in the organisation’s 16-year history.

The brand’s second production model, the Qoros 3 Hatch, debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014. It went on to win a prestigious Red Dot Award in recognition of the quality of its design, and several further awards at the Beijing Motor Show in April 2014.

Qoros’ all-new, highly-efficient and environmentally-sustainable assembly facility in Changshu is ramping up series production of the Qoros 3 Sedan, 3 Hatch and 3 City SUV model ranges.

QOROS IMPRESSES IN GUANGZHOU WITH NEW QOROS 3 CITY SUV 1.6T AND NEW CONNECTIVITY

Shanghai, 20^th November 2014 – New international car brand, Qoros, made a major impact today at the 12th Guangzhou Auto Show. It staged the world premiere of the new Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T and also showcased its new second generation connectivity technology.

Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T

The covers were pulled off Qoros’ third series production car to reveal a bold evolution of the distinctive Qoros signature design language. The modern design and flexibility of the City SUV is exemplified by its increased ground clearance, large wheels, and a more commanding driving position. It offers generous space and more control for an exciting driving experience.

Designed for a premium metropolitan lifestyle, the Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T is perfect for urban cruising and country driving. The new model is due for launch in China next month with prices starting from RMB 140,000.

QorosQloud 2.0

Also making its global debut was the second generation version of Qoros’ pioneering connected services platform, QorosQloud 2.0. With advanced connectivity at the heart of every Qoros, this latest upgrade makes QorosQloud easier and more fun to use, further enriching the user’s digital life and ensuring an experience that goes beyond the car.

Visitors to the Guangzhou Auto Show are able to experience QorosQloud 2.0 for themselves in a purpose-built show car, a dynamic interpretation of the production Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T. Through a completely open side and a transparent roof, visitors can see the Qoros trademark MMH screen and take a closer look at the upgrades to QorosQloud.

QorosQloud 2.0 will be available to all current Qoros owners as a free upgrade when it launches early in 2015.

QOROSQLOUD™ 2.0

The pioneering cloud-enhanced connected services platform benefits from major user experience upgrades. Simpler, more fun and easier to use, it is further optimised to enrich the Qoros ownership experience and digital lifestyle of its customers.

Less than a year after it was pioneered on its first production car, Qoros’ cloud-connected infotainment system has benefited from a major upgrade. The significantly enhanced portal to an exclusive suite of connected services – QorosQloud™ 2.0 – will be available as a free and automatic upgrade for all of the brand’s QorosQloud subscribers in early 2015.

QorosQloud provided more than 30 services at launch, including several from the major Chinese content providers and social media networks – many of which were industry firsts. The free-for-life subscription to the platform is included as standard on all but the base Essence trim levels of the 3 Sedan and 3 Hatch models.

The revisions made to the updated version means those services will be even easier to use and deliver a more involving and enjoyable experience. It’s an example of the brand’s commitment to deliver an experience beyond driving – one of the pillars that make up Qoros’ ‘New Drive’ philosophy.

Based on the Microsoft Windows Azure cloud platform, and delivered via China Unicom’s 3G network, QorosQloud services are accessed in the car via the advanced eight-inch Qoros MMH™ (Multi Media Hub) touchscreen, and from the user’s smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac via www.qorosqloud.com. An app is also available for Apple iOS and Android. Both the website and the app will be upgraded with the new 2.0 functionality and will be live from early 2015.

Since the beginning, Qoros has focused on ensuring QorosQloud is innovative and creative in meeting the lifestyle needs of the modern, metropolitan consumer. It incorporated the services required to enable motorists to remain ‘always-connected’ to navigation and traffic information, their social networks, and the car’s condition, maintenance and service requirements.

Qoros has continually updated its feature-rich, intuitive and versatile connected services platform to ensure that the customer enjoys an advanced cloud-enhanced experience across devices, as well as the ability to seamlessly move between functions. Underpinned by a philosophy to optimise the user experience, the improvements introduced in QorosQloud 2.0 make it even simpler, faster and more convenient to use.

This is the most significant upgrade yet for the platform, and further enriches the user’s digital lifestyle through more extensive social integration and gamification.

The app is now aligned with the latest customer demands in terms of modern-day performance; it’s fresher and fun to use. The website, which contains additional information, delivers the same functionality, but now the features are presented – and information is communicated – in a far more fluid and dynamic environment.

The user can now customise their dashboard on the web or in the app, by personalising the background with their own vehicle information and manage the position and order of widgets most relevant to them. From the dashboard, the user can access four other sections – Notifications; Car Status; Essential Info; and Default, which can also be tailored. So, for example, the user could choose to have Qoros News or National Geographic, alongside My Destinations, Eco Drive, Safe Drive and My Badges.

To access the five main services (My Qoros; Connected Navigation; My Driving; Qoros Store; Settings) as well as Live Chat, Roadside Help and Inbox, the user swipes right or can simply tap the menu icon to the upper left.

QorosQloud was the first infotainment system in China to give consumers the freedom to access their social media networks, and the updated system has seen further improvements to this part of it with a new feature, Pick me up. Pick Me Up allows the user to offer a ride to a WeChat friend from a given destination. The pedestrian friend can locate and track the car through QorosQloud and also access achievements and features in the driver’s profile.

While the majority of QorosQloud services are available free-of-charge for life, they can be enhanced with three Premium Services subscriptions: Dynamic Traffic Info, Dynamic Parking Info and Map Updates.

Stefano Villanti, Executive Director for Marketing and Sales, commented: “In order to meet the needs of the modern ‘always-connected’ metropolitan consumer, we wanted to offer something radically different with the first generation QorosQloud. And because we were already at the leading edge, we wanted to focus our further developments and upgrades on customer feedback. As we discovered that 75% of Qoros buyers actively use the majority of the core services in their car, and over 90% would recommend QorosQloud to friends and family, a fantastic start, our challenge is now how can we make this number 100%?

“But, while other car manufacturers are still very much in the early stages of connected services, struggling with legacy systems, we are in very strong position to develop more services and deliver them in accordance to the fast-moving expectations of today’s consumer. As a result, in QorosQloud 2.0 – our most significant update – we have introduced new functions, have made them easier to use and have improved look and feel of the smartphone apps and the website. The entire platform is now much more dynamic, modern and cool.”

Innovating with QorosQloud

The idea for a cloud-enhanced connected services platform was actually conceived in the company’s earliest years, after the brand interviewed several telematics experts and specialists and identified a pattern in consumer habits. In line with its ‘New Drive’ philosophy – relentless pursuit of quality, enduring elegance and an experience that goes beyond driving – Qoros set about developing an in-car portal that would give customers an enhanced car-ownership experience with permanent access to a range of connected services.

With that in mind, Qoros sought partners with a similar mind-set and who share its vision of introducing a high-quality cloud-based connectivity platform that could seamlessly sync with mobile devices and keep up-to-date with rapidly-changing dynamics in online customer behaviour.

Qoros selected Microsoft as the provider of the cloud-based core back end. Its approach to establishing a ground-up platform ideally suited to providing mobile telematics aligned with Qoros’ vision. In addition to saving development time and costs by using Microsoft Azure rather than setting up its own datacentre, there are a host of other reasons why its public cloud environment was the best solution for Qoros’ advanced vehicle telematics system.

Due to the modular and scalable nature of Microsoft’s high-performance, extensible platform it is perfectly suited to managing a diverse range of real-time services. Designed using layered software architecture and standardised interfaces that maximise code reuse, Azure enables Qoros to keep its infotainment system updated and compatible with the latest consumer devices and in-vehicle services both during its development and after its market roll-out. The flexibility of the Azure platform means Qoros can react quickly and stay one step ahead in this very dynamic marketplace.

The way in which the user accesses the QorosQloud services needed to similarly meet equally high standards. The multi-media hub, or Qoros MMH, is one of the first touchscreen infotainment systems in the world to be specifically designed to maximise the opportunities and capabilities of multi-touch gestures. The advanced user interface, software and graphics of the Qoros MMH were designed and developed in-house to safely manage information displays for minimal driver distraction and to optimise ease-of-use while on the move. Located in the centre of the dash within easy reach of both front occupants, it eliminates the profusion of switches and buttons that blight many modern car interiors.

In today’s automotive market, the gap between premium and mainstream manufacturers is all but disappearing when it comes to design flair, safety and competence in delivering the everyday driving experience. And with modern consumers seeking to synchronise more of their daily routines and experiences with their connected lives, motorists are more likely to notice how their car fits into and enhances their digital world. Car connectivity is an increasingly important battleground for brand differentiation and Qoros is leveraging the power of the cloud to stake a claim as a powerful pioneer, punching well above its weight.

The ‘customer-centric digital ecosystem’ was pioneered in Qoros’ first production car, launched in late 2013 and today 95% of the brand’s cars are sold with the connected services system fitted as standard.

Show Car

Qoros has also designed and engineered a show car to illustrate the changes made to QorosQloud. The car, a dynamic interpretation of the production Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T, features completely open sides and a transparent roof to enable visitors to see the QorosQloud system from outside the car.

Building on the positioning of the City SUV, the ideal car for urban living and suburban retreats, the car illustrates what a modern city car of the future could look like. Easy entry and exit to and from the vehicle works well for city life, and the transparent roof is ideal for weekend leisure pursuits. The 19″ wheels also exemplify the sportiness and dynamism of this show car.

The Qoros 3 City SUV concept was designed by the international design team at Qoros, based in Shanghai and Munich.

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