Effa M100: the Changhe Ideal that came to Brazil

The Effa M100 is the Brazilian version of the Changhe Ideal, a small city car designed by Bertone and built in Jiangxi, China. Effa Motors began importing it in 2008, and the same car was sold in Uruguay as the Effa Ideal and in Italy as the Martin Motors Ideal 1000. Its reputation in Brazil never recovered from the quality of the early cars, and imports ended in 2015.

Effa M100 at a glance

The English article describes the car under its Chinese name, Changhe Ideal, and gives the Brazilian, Uruguayan and Italian names; the engine range and the Brazilian story come from the Portuguese article on the Effa M100.

History of the Effa M100

A Changhe design from a Suzuki joint venture

The Ideal was developed by Jiangxi Changhe Suzuki Automobile Company, the joint venture between the Chinese maker Changhe and Suzuki. It went on sale in 2003, and for a car of its size it was unusually well equipped: the first cars came with a 1.1-litre gasoline engine and offered anti-lock brakes and airbags. The body was styled by Bertone. In 2006 the Ideal was facelifted, receiving new lights, a new grille and an updated interior. Changhe built the car until 2016.

From Ideal to M100

Effa Motors, a Brazilian importer, brought the car to South America from 2008. The intention was to sell it in Brazil as the Effa Ideal, but Fiat — whose Idea competes in the same small-car class — objected to the name, so the car was renamed M100, after its internal project number. The same vehicle was marketed as the Effa Ideal in Uruguay and as the Martin Motors Ideal 1000 in Italy.

Suzuki standards and the end of imports

From 2010 the Ideal was built to Suzuki’s own standards, which brought important structural changes and a clear improvement in quality and safety. The Suzuki-built cars, however, never reached Brazil, and the M100’s reputation had already been damaged by the earlier ones. The magazine Quatro Rodas began a long-term test in 2015 but had to publish its verdict early because of safety concerns — the only car in the series that was destroyed after being taken apart. Imports to Brazil ended in 2015, while Changhe carried on with the Ideal until 2016. The car was also sold in Colombia, mainly as a taxi in 2009 and 2010; most of those vehicles are no longer in service.

An electric version that never came

In 2008 the British NICE Car Company presented an electric version of the Ideal called the NICE Ze-O at the British International Motor Show. A production version was not forthcoming: NICE went into administration shortly afterwards and was acquired by Aixam-Mega.

Design and features

• Bertone styling: the body of the Ideal was designed by the Italian studio Bertone.
• Equipment for its class: anti-lock brakes and airbags were offered from the start, unusual for a Chinese city car of 2003.
• 2006 facelift: new lights, a new grille and a revised interior.
• Suzuki-built cars from 2010: stricter production standards brought structural changes and better quality.
• Several market names: Effa M100, Effa Ideal and Martin Motors Ideal 1000 for the same car.

Effa M100 versions

• 1.0 (970 cc): DA465Q-2/D1, eight valves, 45 hp (33.5 kW), Euro II.
• 1.1 (1,075 cc): DA468Q, sixteen valves, 64 hp (48 kW), Euro II.
• 1.3 (1,302 cc): CH7111, 78 hp (58 kW), Euro II.
• 1.4 (1,372 cc): CH7111A, four cylinders and sixteen valves, 90 hp (67 kW), Euro II.
• Effa Ideal and Martin Motors Ideal 1000: the same car under its Uruguayan and Italian names.
• NICE Ze-O (2008): an electric prototype shown in London, never produced.

The M100 is the only model Effa brought to South America in volume; more cars of the marque are in the Effa collection.

Sources

• Changhe Ideal, English Wikipedia: joint venture, production years, Bertone design, facelift, market names, Colombia, NICE Ze-O
• Effa M100, Portuguese Wikipedia: Brazilian import, name change, Suzuki standards, engines, end of sales