Dongfeng to launch own-brand Joyear SUV in '10

Shanghai, July 2 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Co. (DFPV), a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor, plans to launch its own-brand Joyear SUV early next year, an all-new model complete with a 1.8 Turbo-assisted engine, Beijing Times reported recently.

The Dongfeng SUV, with some Cross features, will be built on the Dongfeng Fengshen passenger car platform. It will be equipped with the 1.8T engine from the SAIC range, aka the Rover K-series (Kavachi-Series) engine and Japanese Aisin's 5-speed transmission (manual and automatic).

DFPV has had some success with its Fengshen sedan launched earlier this year, and also the Joyear MPV, so its latest SUV, will follow the pack. Dongfeng aims to build up its own brands of Dongfeng, Fengshen and Joyear for the compact, medium-size sedan and urban MPV and SUV segments.

In early May 2008, SAIC signed an agreement with Dongfeng to supply Rover designed 1.8T K-Series engines to Dongfeng for use in own-brand automobiles, and soon the Joyear MPV cast out the Mitsubishi unit for installing the mighty fine 1.8Turbo Rover K-series.

The 1.8T Joyear MPV, also named Joyear TT, was launched in November last year to rival the likes of the VW Touran in the mini turbo MPV market.