A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME Pictured is the A3 hatchback, the car looks good and will hopefully boost Chery's sales and brand image here

FUTURE ADDITION TO CHERY'S LOCAL LINEUP The Fulwing II will offer Chery customers more options

By Justin Lee

LOCAL CHERY DISTRIBUTOR Vertex Automobile will have an A3 sedan for a three month showcase at its showroom as part of the company’s second anniversary celebration.

The display unit is a left-hand drive model meant for China’s domestic market. It is equipped with Chery’s own 2.0-litre 16-valve ACTECO engine and has a five-speed manual gearbox. Shown in the picture is the hatchback version of the A3 but this was not brought in for the preview.

The A3 debuted as a concept car in 2006. The manufacturing of this model commenced recently after the production version was shown at the 2008 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in April.

Designed by Pininfarina, the car has a stylish and cohesive exterior design made up of soft contours and neat detailing.

Inside, the cabin has a predominantly grey colour scheme. The dashboard is neatly styled and is highlighted with silver accents.

The A3 is slated for introduction next year along with a compact sedan model called the Fulwing II.

Exact specifications for both models have yet to be confirmed though Vertex Automobile general manager Paul Ng said that the A3 will most possibly come with a choice of either a 1.6 or 1.8 litre engine and automatic transmission as standard. He added that the Fulwing II will very likely be equipped with a 1.5-litre engine and this unit will be mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox.

Mr Ng also revealed that the A3 will be priced slightly higher than the A5 mid-size sedan.

He said that the preview of the A3 acts as a precursor to the exciting lineup of products that will be launched here in the coming year.

“This showcase is part of Vertex Automobile’s brand building efforts for Chery as we would like to gain more exposure and show what this Chinese car maker is capable of. We also want to show our company’s and Chery’s commitment to the local car market. The A3 and Fulwing will be very good additions to our current lineup of cars and give potential customers a wider range to choose from,” he said.