The first official images and details of the Qoros GQ3 have been released ahead of the Euro-inspired Chinese small sedan’s unveiling at the 2013 Geneva motor show in March.
The first model from the independent Chinese manufacturer will go on sale in its domestic market in the second half of 2013 before heading to Europe to take on more established small cars later this year.
Penned by former BMW/Mini design chief Gert Volker Hilderbrand, the GQ3 gives us our first look at the brand’s signature styling elements that will be applied to across the upcoming family of Qoros vehicles.
Horizontal headlights integrated into the grille and a long lower front intake emphasise the GQ3’s width, while LED-infused tail-lights (reminiscent of the Volkswagen Golf’s), tight panel lines, short overhangs and a long wheelbase combine to create a clean, well-proportioned compact sedan package.
The horizontal theme continues to the cabin where leather, brushed metal and other materials come together in a simple but elegant layout.
The centrepiece is the eight-inch touchscreen, which offers smartphone-style swipe technology to allow drivers to control the car’s media, navigation and cloud connectivity functions. The infotainment system features integrated social networking as well as a program to book in service appointments and automatically alert emergency services following a crash.
Qoros says the GQ3 has been engineered to achieve the maximum rating in European and Chinese crash tests, promising an advanced structural architecture along with front, side and curtain airbags.
The Qoros GQ3 will head to the Shanghai motor show in April following its Geneva debut on March 7.
