The Chery A3 is a compact car that Chery built between 2008 and 2015 as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Styled by the Italian studio Pininfarina, it was exported under a long list of names, including Chery M11 in Russia and Ukraine, Cielo in Brazil, Tengo in Serbia, Skin in Chile and J3 in Australia.
Chery A3 at a glance
| Maker | Chery Automobile, Wuhu, China |
|---|---|
| Production | 2008–2015 |
| Design | Pininfarina |
| Show car | Beijing Motor Show, 2006 |
| Bodies | four-door sedan (M11), five-door hatchback (M12) |
| High-strength steel | 40 per cent of the body structure |
| China-NCAP | five stars, December 2008 |
| Equipment | two airbags, ABS, EBD; side and curtain airbags optional |
| Tyres | 205/55 R16 on alloy rims |
| Russia and Ukraine | Chery M11 |
| Brazil | Chery Cielo |
| Chile | Chery Skin and Skin Sport |
The French Wikipedia article is a short note on the same car and is used only for the sales figures and the Serbian and Brazilian names.
History of the Chery A3
Pininfarina design
The A3 was shown first as a concept at the 2006 Beijing Motor Show, and the production car went on sale in September 2008 as a sedan and a hatchback. It was designed by Pininfarina and was regarded as a turning point for the Chinese industry because of its understated but original shape, at a time when most Chinese cars borrowed heavily from foreign designs. In 2009 and 2010 the A3 found close to 60,000 buyers a year in China.
Safety
Standard equipment included driver and front passenger airbags, ABS and EBD, with side and curtain airbags and traction control on the option list; the body was 40 per cent high-strength steel. In December 2008 the A3 became the first indigenous Chinese car to win five stars in the China-NCAP programme, scoring 11.22 points in the 100 per cent frontal test, 15.03 in the 40 per cent offset test and 16 in the side impact test.
Export names
Outside China the car was sold as the Chery M11 in Russia and Ukraine, the Chery Tengo in Serbia and neighbouring countries, the Chery Chance or Niche in Turkey, the Chery Cielo in Brazil, the Chery Skin and Skin Sport in Chile, the Chery Orinoco in Venezuela, the Chery Cruise in Indonesia and the Chery J3 in Australia and New Zealand. In March 2011 the Belgrade municipal police took delivery of fifteen A3s and two Tiggos, becoming the first law-enforcement body in Europe to use Chinese vehicles. A Chery Flying Star Rally Team also raced A3s in the Chinese Rally Championship and, from 2011, in the Chinese Touring Car Championship.
Design and features
- Pininfarina styling: an original shape that marked a step away from copied designs.
- Five China-NCAP stars: the first Chinese car to reach the top score, in 2008.
- Two body styles: sedan (M11) and five-door hatchback (M12).
- Many market names: M11, Tengo, Cielo, Skin, Orinoco, Cruise, J3 and Chance.
Chery A3 versions
- Sedan (M11): the four-door car sold in Russia and Ukraine as the M11.
- Hatchback (M12): the five-door version.
- Chery Cielo: the Brazilian name.
- Chery Skin and Skin Sport: the Chilean versions.
- Chery J3: the Australian and New Zealand name.
The A3 sat above the smaller Chery A1 in the range, and its SUV stablemate was the Chery Tiggo. More models are in the Chery collection.
Video: Чери М11
Video by Дмитрий Д on YouTube.
Sources
- Chery A3, English Wikipedia: design, production, safety, equipment, export names
- Chery A3, French Wikipedia: Chinese sales figures, Tengo and Cielo names
