Chinese automaker Chery, which currently sells only crossovers in the Russian market, plans to expand its model range in the country with sedans, the company told socialbites.ca.
“We are conducting market research on the Arrizo sedan range. Yes, we want to introduce a sedan in Russia”,
– said “socialbites.ca” in the press service of the Russian office of Chery.
Potential candidates to enter the Russian market include the flagship model Chery Arrizo 8, which will go on sale in China in the fall, was written in a Chinese Automobiles publication earlier on Thursday.
According to him, as part of Chery’s marketing research, Kia Cerato, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Camry are considered Arrizo 8 competitors in the Russian market, and the price range that the model can perform varies greatly – from 2.6 to 4.4 million rubles.
The Chinese car, which will also challenge the iconic Japanese model, will go on sale in China in September. Order reception for this opens at the end of August. At home, Arrizo 8 is tentatively estimated at 106-129 thousand yuan (1-1.2 million rubles).
In terms of overall dimensions, the Chery Arrizo 8 lags behind the Camry – its length (4780 mm) is 10.5 cm less than the Japanese sedan. However, these cars have a close wheelbase, on which the space in the cabin largely depends. The Chinese sedan has a base only 35mm shorter than the current generation Camry.
Liquid crystal displays are provided for the instrument cluster and media system display. Arrizo 8 is equipped with ten airbags and a panoramic roof, as well as a projection screen and a system responsible for controlling driver fatigue and facial recognition.
Arrizo 8 is expected to be in its base version. will receive 1.5-liter gasoline turbo engine with 156 horsepower. A more powerful modification is based on a 1.6-liter turbo engine with 197 horsepower. The vehicle is equipped with a 7-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.
What other sedans does Chery have?
Among the sedans included in the Arrizo model lineup, the Chinese brand has a more compact Arrizo 6 model for export deliveries, which is sold domestically under the GX index and costs between 86 and 130,000 yuan (768,000 to 1.2 million). ruble). ).
It is equipped with a 147-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo engine and CVT. The manufacturer states that experts from Germany are working on the chassis settings of this model, it is equipped with a Bosch stabilization system, an 8-inch touchscreen media system and a 7-inch display built into the instrument cluster. Other modifications of this car, similar in design, are also presented on the Chinese market – Arrizo 5 Plus and Arrizo 5 Pro with a compressed gas engine.
The possibility of bringing the Arrizo 6 to the Russian market was reconsidered in 2020. Experts say that in the current conditions in Russia there is a place for Chery Arrizo 8 and more compact models from China – due to the lack of alternatives.
“At the moment there is practically nothing on the market between the conditional Lada Granta and crossovers, the gap is huge.
I think Chinese companies will soon bring hatchbacks and C-class sedans as well, Vesti FM radio columnist Igor Morzharetto tells socialbites.ca.
From Arrizo 8 competitors you can now buy the outgoing Skoda Octavia and other rather expensive cars left by dealers for 3 million rubles. Morzharetto believes that, given these conditions, this model will be in demand in Russia at a price of 2 million rubles. Any innovation of this kind is interesting, he adds, as the sedan and hatchback segment is almost free.
“Definitely Chery should bring at least one test batch of Arrizo 8 to Russia and evaluate the initial reaction of buyers.”
– Sergey Burgazliev, an independent consultant in the automotive industry, notes in an interview with socialbites.ca. “I think in Russia this car can be in the range of 2.5-2.8 million rubles.”
The optimal price for the younger model Chery Arrizo 6 on the Russian market is 1.7-2 million rubles, then this model will definitely find its buyer, Burgazliev is sure.