Great Wall may launch Coolbear sedan in Feb

Shanghai, January 23 (Gasgoo.com) Following the launch of its family sedans GWPeri and Florid in 2008, Great Wall Motor, a major pickup and SUV producer in China, is set to roll out its Coolbear sedan next month, said xinhuanet.com today.

First displayed as a concept model at the 2006 Beijing auto show, the Great Wall Coolbear is the company's third compact sedan model after the Great Wall Peri (GWperi) and Florid. Great Wall Motor has recently announced that it will 13 new models of sedans, pickups and SUVs in 2009, and the Coolbear to be launched in February is the first one for release this year.

Great Wall Motor's first two family sedan models, GWperi and Florid, came to the market last year. After its launch in March 2008, the GWperi was entangled in a lawsuit with Italian carmaker Fiat who claimed that this car was a copy of its Panda model. The 1.3L Florid sedan was launched in early November, priced between 53,900 yuan ($7,903) and 57,900 yuan.

Looking like a compact MPV, the Coolbear sedan measures 3,951mm x 1,695mm x 1,634mm, with a 2,499mm wheelbase and will be equipped with the 1.2L 1.3L, 1.5L diesel engines for choice. The price of the Coolbear is likely to range between 60,000 yuan and 80,000 yuan.

Soon after the launch of the Coolbear, Great Wall Motor will release another new model, the Great Wall Mini SUV. It has been touted as the first 1.3L four-wheel-drive SUV made in China and will be priced 50,000-70,000 yuan.

As China's largest maker and exporter of pickups and SUVs, Great Wall Motor has made its foray into the small-car segment. The Coolbear and Mini SUV are expected to be the most 'cool' and 'sporty' of the Great Wall Motor lineup.