The Changfeng Kylin was a compact five-seat MPV built by the Chinese manufacturer Changfeng Motor from 2008 to 2014. It was one of the first Chinese passenger cars to appear at a motor show in North America, yet it was sold only at home and never became a volume model.
Changfeng Kylin at a glance
| Maker | Changfeng Motor, China |
|---|---|
| Production | August 2008 – 2014 |
| Class | compact MPV, C segment |
| Seats | five |
| Design basis | first-generation Renault Scénic |
| Engine | 1.6-litre Mitsubishi 4G18S four-cylinder petrol, 16 valves |
| Power | 100 hp |
| Torque | 134 Nm at 4,500 rpm |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual |
| Drive | front-wheel drive |
| Suspension | MacPherson front, multilink rear with anti-roll bar |
| Market | China only |
The English Wikipedia covers the Kylin in a paragraph inside its article on Changfeng Motor; the details of the car come from the Italian and French articles on the model.
History of the Changfeng Kylin
A prototype from Detroit
The Kylin was the production version of the Changfeng M1A prototype. It was presented at the Detroit motor show in January 2008 and was one of the first Chinese cars to be exhibited at a North American event. The model grew out of a short-lived, three-year joint venture between Changfeng and Bird Technology, a Chinese mobile phone maker, and its name came from the qilin, a mythical beast of Chinese tradition. Despite the American debut, the car went on sale only in China, where production began in August 2008 and continued until 2014.
Scénic lines, Mitsubishi heart
The Kylin was a compact MPV of the C segment with a five-seat cabin. Its body was strongly inspired by the first-generation Renault Scénic, especially along the flanks and in the interior, while the tailgate and the shape of the lights recalled the Nissan Almera Tino. Under the bonnet sat a 1.6-litre Mitsubishi 4G18S four-cylinder petrol engine with sixteen valves, variable valve timing and multipoint injection, rated at 100 hp and 134 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. It drove through a five-speed manual gearbox to the front wheels.
Engineering and equipment
The chassis was a mixed monocoque combining high-strength steels with steels of programmed deformation, with independent MacPherson suspension at the front and an independent multilink rear axle with an anti-roll bar. Two front airbags, ABS and EBD were fitted as standard, while stability control and traction control were optional. Even so, sales were extremely low, and the Kylin remained a rare sight outside the Chinese market.
Design and features
- Scénic-inspired package: a compact five-seat MPV with bodywork and interior modelled on the first Renault Scénic.
- Mitsubishi engine: the 1.6-litre 4G18S, a sixteen-valve unit with variable valve timing and multipoint injection, produced 100 hp.
- Independent rear suspension: a multilink rear axle with an anti-roll bar, unusual in the class.
- Safety equipment: twin front airbags, ABS and EBD as standard, with ESP and traction control on the options list.
Changfeng Kylin versions
- M1A prototype (2008): the show car that previewed the production model at Detroit.
- Kylin (2008–2014): the standard five-seat MPV with the 1.6-litre engine and five-speed manual gearbox.
- Later cars: examples ordered with the optional stability and traction control.
The Kylin was the passenger-car side of Changfeng’s range; the company’s off-roaders and SUVs are described in the article on the Changfeng Liebao. More cars from the maker are in the Changfeng collection.
Video: Liebro CS7 & Kylin, Changfeng, Detroit Auto Show 2008.
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Changfeng Motor, English Wikipedia: joint venture with Bird Technology, Detroit debut, name
- Changfeng Kylin, Italian Wikipedia: production years, design, engine, chassis, equipment
- Changfeng Kylin, French Wikipedia: design basis, low sales
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