Geely owns Volvo, Volvo helps Geely improve its cars – in this case, its SUVs. The Chinese automaker has released three teaser photos of an all-new SUV destined for the local market.
We lightened up the images and we found that a pretty good-looking vehicle was hiding in the dark. We don’t know its name yet, but the Chinese automaker says it has been designed by an international team headed by Peter Horbury.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s the same guy who ran the design department for Ford’s now defunct Premier Automotive Group, meaning he headed the styling of Aston Martin, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover. Under the supervision of the British designer, the SUV was styled at Geely studios around the world, including California, Barcelona, Shanghai, and Sweden. Predictably, the end result is a combination of Chinese and Western design influences.
Geely says the new SUV will build on the success of the GC9 sedan – also penned by Horbury. Released last year, the Geely GC9 saw better sales last month in China than competitors including Kia K5/Optima and Buick LaCrosse, becoming the best-selling model in its segment.
The new SUV should arrive in Chinese dealerships later this year and is likely to use the same architecture as the GC9 sedan. If that’s the case, the engine lineup should include three gasoline engines: a 160PS 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a 180PS 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 270PS 3.5-liter V6.
Story references: Geely via Autoblog
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