Geely plans to put the IG concept into production by 2012, and at price that will likely run under $2,250, possibly as low as $1,500.
Just how low can a carmaker go and still have something that can be called an automobile?
Just days ago, TheDetroitBureau.com revealed plans by Nissan, Renault and India’s Baja Auto to produce a minimalist model for just $2,500 – about 10% less than the current low-price champ, the Tata Nano. Now comes word that China’s aggressive little Geely wants to drive the numbers even lower.
Geely – which recently purchased Swedish carmaker Volvo from Ford Motor Co. – is putting a tentative price tag of just $2,250 on a production version of its pint-sized IG concept car. (Though several sources have quoted figures as low as $1,500.) And Geely officials insist their planned offering will be more than just a stripped down econobox.
Set to go on sale sometime in 2012, the IG is expected to feature a modest 70-horsepower, 1.0-liter I-3, which will use a CVT transmission to drive the front wheels.
A concept version, seen here, features an electric drivetrain that supposedly can handle more than 90 miles on a charge and actually bumps performance up a bit, with output of around 80 hp and 133 pound-feet of torque. It’s also slated for production by around 2014 or ’15.
Initial plans call for the gas-powered IG to go on sale in China and Russia and perhaps a few other emerging markets. The battery model – which would certainly nudge the price up by a far bit – could have broader applications, perhaps even in Europe and the U.S.
Taking a punch at its Indian rival, Geely officials notably stressed the goal of building in better quality than Tata’s Nano, which has been plagued by a variety of issues, including reports of fires. But don’t expect to see the IG concept’s gull-winged doors return on the production model, sources caution.