Dongfeng develops engine for its own-brand cars
Dongfeng Motor Group has developed a gasoline engine that the company will start offering in its own-brand cars.
Dongfeng displayed the 1.6-liter engine at the Shanghai auto show in late April. The engine has variable valve timing and generates 119 hp and 111 pounds-feet of torque.
Dongfeng will start building the engine in October with an initial annual output of 60,000 units. The engine will be available in Dongfeng's Aeolus-brand cars before year end, a company spokesman said.
The state-owned automaker's Aeolus vehicles include the three-box S30 compact sedan and the S30's hatchback and crossover versions.
The S30 is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline engine from Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen. The car sells for 75,800 to 99,800 yuan ($11,100-$14,600), according to a statement issued during the car's launch last week in Beijing.
The car is fitted with a five-speed manual transmission supplied by Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co., a joint venture between Dongfeng and French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen.
Dongfeng, a leading producer of commercial vehicles, launched its Aeolus brand in 2009. Sales of the Aeolus S60 totaled 27,684 units in 2010, according to J.D. Power.
The state-owned company also maintains joint ventures with Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co. and Taiwanese automaker Yulon Motor Co. to produce passenger vehicles.
