Southeast Motor rolls out new cars one by one

Shanghai, May 23 (Gasgoo.com) Although Southeast Motor (SEM) only sold 60,000 vehicles last year and about 80,000 units up to now this year, Ling Yuzhang, director of SEM, has still shown his confidence that SEM could enter China's top 10 passenger carmakers, which are expected to sell at least 300,000 units.

SEM has regained sales growth since last year and has constructed four platforms for SouthEast, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. It is enough for every platform to produce 20,000 units. He also said that the latest-generation Mitsubishi Galant would be introduced to China next year. New Mitsubishi Lancer will be introduced for local production next year; V3 and Mitsubishi Zinger will be delivered this year.

New Galant

The all-new Galant is available in two engines, a V6 3.8L MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system) engine which generates 258hp and is outfitted with five-speed Sportronic AMT (automated manual transmission) and a 2.4L MIVEC four-cylinder in-line engine which develops 160hp and is mounted with four-speed Sportronic AT (automatic transmission). The latter is mainly used in Mitsubishi Galant ES and Mitsubishi Galant sports cars.

Besides Galant, the new Lancer of the Mitsubishi brand will be launched next year. Powered by a 2.0L MIVEC engine which generates 152hp and a six-speed SportronicR CVT, the all-new Lancer is expected to be more expensive than the current Lancer.

Southeast V3

Southeast V3, a self-developed product by SEM, will go on sale in the second half of this year, to be priced at 60,000 yuan ($8,600).

VS (as code-named by the company) of Mitsubishi Zinger will also be launched in the fourth quarter of this year. Mitsubishi Zinger is a crossover model between SUV and MPV.