Updated: SAIC’s Roewe 750E caught testing

Posted Fri Oct 13 2006 6:59 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

We reported on Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp’s Roewe brand yesterday, and wake up today to find new spy shots of this car in testing. SAIC has big plans for the brand, including possible export to the US. Apparently, this model is much larger than the outgoing Rover 75 upon which it’s based and will come with two engines of 1.8L and 2.5L capacity, both from the original Rover, with the 1.8L model being turbocharged.

The Roewe 750E models are expected to be quite highly equipped. It's expected the high-spec version of the 1.8L model will come with electric sun roof, 8-ways electric driver seats, and electric rear mirrors as standard. The 2.5L model goes even further with DVD, Xenon lamps, Bluetooth phone system, and reverse parking sensors. Not bad at all.

Roewe will also adopt a new logo to signify the change in brand. You can look at a comparison between the Rover and Roewe logos after the jump, as well as many more photos of this car.

One of our readers has dug up another photo, this time showing the rear of the car. Clearly visible is a badge with 2.5L V8. Check the comments for details.

Reader Comments

Fri Oct 13 2006 9:49 AM
Oliver Twist says

Boy, this looks nasty.
Fri Oct 13 2006 12:27 PM
Gunnar Heinrich says

Looks like a Chinese-British take on a luxury marketed Daewoo. Bad News Bears.
Fri Oct 13 2006 1:04 PM
Robot Food says

Headlight reminds me of Chryslers from a few years ago, the grill shape current Audis...URGH!
Fri Oct 13 2006 1:27 PM
Mike says

Wow, that is one FUGLY steering-wheel!!!!
Fri Oct 13 2006 6:30 PM
Julius Haslow says

I wouldn't say it's that much worse than some of the cars GM builds. Besides, the car is almost identical to the Rover 75 designed completely by Rover with influences by then owner, BMW.
Fri Oct 13 2006 11:24 PM
admin says

I think for a Chinese car they've managed to do a fairly decent job. It's not immediately going to be as classy or refined as the Euro or US cars, but that's expected. Also, the equipment level is pretty good, and the price will be low. They could have done a lot worse.
Sun Oct 15 2006 4:31 AM
hu says

http://www.shchery.com/UploadFile/2006-9/200692915233572224.jpg

There is another photo.Look like the sedan run with 2.5 v8.

2.5L V8???
Tue Oct 17 2006 9:00 PM
slapnut says

well with all the VW influence this 75 is quite AUDIfied with its grille. way to go SAIC!
Wed Oct 18 2006 8:47 AM
Craig says

Almost identical to the very last Rover 75 V8 models made prior to the company going bankrupt - only the rear lights and the radio/aircon unit built into teh centre console seem to have changed. It was rumoured in the UK press that it would be a slightly longer wheelbase variant as well but not sure from the pics available (see here as well http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/news.php?sid=229&page=1)
Tue Oct 24 2006 7:08 PM
Vince says

hu: The old 75 had a 2.5 V6 option, the V8 option in the 75 '260+' was a 4.6 litre sourced from the Mustang. Although that photo does look like 'V8' I think that is in fact the 2.5 V6, as shown at the website.
Wed Apr 25 2007 8:34 AM
Brett says

It's really about time that another auto company comes out with an decent priced lux. car. I want one !!!!!

MotorAuthority