car collection: Geely Cars

Showing posts with label Geely Cars. Show all posts

Beijing Auto Show 2008: Geely CE concept makes its debut

Ok, the Geely car parade at Beijing is officially in full swing. One of the good-looking renderings we posted during the runup to the show was of the CE concept, a small hatchback that looked like it could just as easily be an Acura that’s slumming in the entry-level class. In the metal, it looks pretty much exactly like the rendering — a well-styled little5-door hatch. Only that’s the Geely badge on that shield-shaped grille.

It It is better-looking than any of Geely’s current market offerings, and that’s about all there is to say, because we have neither interior shots nor technical details to flesh things out any further. As such, we’ll treat it as a styling exercise that’s likely got Honda/Acura designers grumbling under their breath, and Chinese showgoers and (potential car-buyers) nodding approvingly.

Geely MK 1.5 (M): Budget Drive

MERCEDES started making cars over 100 years ago. Toyota started 70 years ago. Hyundai rolled out its very own first car just over 30 years ago. China's Geely MK started nine years ago. In the scheme of things, that's almost like yesterday. It would be an understatement to say that Geely MK are creditable for cars produced by a nine-year-old manufacturer. Especially the new Geely MK, which was launched yesterday.

But Geely - and other Chinese cars - do not exist in a world unto themselves (although you could argue that 1.3 billion people might qualify as a world). And no buyer will give a carmaker brownie points for being new in the game.
Placed alongside a Toyota, Nissan or even a Hyundai, the Geely MK will invariably appear rough around the edges. At least, for someone who has driven a few Toyotas and Nissans. So, to review the Geely MK, it is only fair that I transport myself back in time - to an age of automotive innocence, when all things on four wheels fascinated.

I close my eyes and imagine myself as a something biker once again, yet to be burdened by the trappings of real adulthood. I am next to a shiny Geely MK, in almost the exact hue as an off-peak car number plate. The car has chrome door handles, winkers on the wing mirrors and a remote-controlled central locking system.

Cool.

The Geely MK has an inoffensive design. It is compact, but appears roomy inside. Its seats are manually adjustable, but the wing mirrors are electrically controlled (although the right one seems a tad sticky to operate).
The cockpit is surprisingly ergonomical (and unsurprisingly like a Toyota Yaris? or Vios?), with the centrally-sited instrument binnacle angled towards the driver.
Upholstery is a high-quality vinyl, sourced from Germany but stitched locally. Its maroon stripes give the greyish cabin a lift. The seats are a little small though.

On the go, the Geely MK is surprisingly smooth and hardy. My notes back to the future (which is now) tell me that it is a huge improvement over the CK that was launched late last year. In terms of refinement, I see the next generation Geely MK matching the Koreans. The present car, however, can do with better insulation in the engine compartment (engine drone intrudes from 2,000rpm). The air-con is inefficient and the boot lid creaks open (to reveal a sizeable stowage). The car comes with a driver's airbag, a feature which became standard issue in Japanese cars only recently.

Its steering is fairly sharp, but you get a bit of body movement - even in mild corners. The brake pedal is soft and spongy. But when you slam on it at 70kmh, the ABS kicks in to bring the car to a halt without any veering tendency. Ride comfort is decent, with minimal road noise. The engine pulls stoically to 5,000rpm before sounding a little harsh. Its five-speed gearbox is not the slickest in town, but it gets the job done with no glitches. The Geely MK is not a quick car, but at least it is frugal.

It is not a car you want, but a car you probably need if you have a tight budget. On that front, a couple of Koreans can give the Geely MK a run for its money.

Or is it the other way around?

GEELY MK 1.5 (M)
Price: $46,999 with COE
Engine: 1,498cc 16-valve inline-4
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Power: 94bhp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 128Nm at 3,400rpm
0-100kmh: 18 seconds
Top speed: 165kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.3 litres/100km (city-highway)
Agent: Sport Auto

GEELY MK 1.5 (M)
Geely MK 1.5 (M): Budget drive

GEELY MK 1.5 (M)
Geely MK 1.5 (M): Budget drive

Car News, Car Review, Future, Auto, New Cars, Car Quote, Price

Road Test - Geely MK 1.5

These were questions running at high RPM in my head. Even so, a man has got to do what a man’s boss tells him to. Upon arrival, the test car, draped in red no less, was not as bad as I thought it was. The design is inline with current trends. Wing mirror indicators, projector lamps set in a neat cluster, a uni-colour rear lighting cluster casing, privacy windows and a gradient that slopes down from the rear to the front nose, not bad, not bad. It left me wanting to check out the interior.

A holler and a half later, I was handed the keys to the car. Remote locking device present – Not bad. The car was opened with a press of a button. So far, the car has been somewhat better than expected.

The interior, quite quickly, got me back to my expectations. Although some designing thought went into it, the materials used were far from luxurious. The steering wheel felt toy-like and the plastic used felt rough, brittle and inexpensive. The fabric for the seats reminded me of the 80’s. But from the start, I was reminded that this is a car made to be affordable for everybody and for that to occur, there had to be some sacrifices. I went on to start the engine.

The engine started with little hesitation and engaging first gear was easy. The clutch was light and though it was a little sticky, the accelerator did its job and off I went. Since this is a car made for the people, I brought it to where the people were. The heartlands of Singapore.

The 1.5 litre engine mated to a five speed manual gearbox proved to be quite something though a turbocharged boxster engine it is not. There was enough torque to get me out of sticky situations and if pressed hard enough, the car seemed somewhat fun off the traffic lights; briefly though. Shifting through the gears didn’t seem too difficult either, although, I would be lying if I were to say I did not put in considerable effort to get the gear stick to the right slot; particularly the second gear slot. The soundtrack of the engine is rough at the low end but it gets smoother as I shifted up.

All this while, I was surprised at how quickly I got over the shortcomings of this car. The seats, which did not come with height adjustment and barely supported me, suddenly, did not matter. The once sticky accelerator now seems fine and the heavy steering feel of the car was all, good. But, how about the highway performance of this car?

I flipped the rather flimsy signal lever to filter into the TPE. Just as I was about to veer right, I felt something was amiss. The all too familiar “click clock click clock” sound of the signal was absent. I flicked the lever again to check and glanced at the instrument cluster.

The light was flashing but the sound was no where to be heard. Maybe it was an electronic malfunction I thought so I moved on and the car was now on the highway. Bringing it up to speed was no problem and soon the car was gliding on par with the other more expensive cars on the road. Engine note at this moment was surprisingly rather muted. The car felt smooth on the high end and road noise was barely noticeable. Since the ride was enjoyable, I decided to push along the highway for a bit more. I must also mention at this point that the brakes, under normal circumstances, felt sure and steady. When “E-brake” was applied, the car stopped just as it should without any unwanted skidding.

So far, the car has been less than disappointing. It looks fresh and the drive was slightly above acceptable. The car was lively and when it comes to tackling bends and turns, it was decent. A check with the Geely people revealed that the missing signal sound was not a malfunction. It really is not included. Thankfully, the batteries were. The instrument cluster, which is placed in the middle of the dashboard facing the driver, lacked info like average fuel consumption and trip meter. The look is also a wee bit dated. It would fit in nicely on a Lancer GLXI or a Honda Accord circa 1994 but maybe not a car in this era. But again, that would increase production costs and at the same time increase the selling price of the car.

The Geely MK 1.5 is truly a car for the budget conscious. At that price, you are getting for yourself a car that will transport you, your family and your golf bags (thanks to the large boot space) to your destination quite comfortably and quickly. At the same time, you get a fair share of safety equipment like SRS airbag, ABS and front disc brakes. Privacy glass and a factory sound system with CD player (it would not appease the discerning audiophile though) also come in standard with the car. Even with all its flaws the Geely is a car that is easy to drive and maneuver but will it last? That remains to be seen.

Geely MK 1.5