FAW Bentung A 501 Spied

Certainly Chinese auto makers have a long way to go in terms of original design and engineering if they are going to succeed abroad. However, there are signs of improvement with capable attempts at contemporary designs that are more competitive at an international level.

For example, seen in these first spy photos, the Bentung A 501 is the latest vehicle to roll out from China's first auto manufacturer, First Automobile Works (FAW) under the Bentung name. The A 501 was designed by famous Italian design house, ItalDesign, and is slated as a ’sporty’ model. Under a joint venture with Mazda, it is speculated that the A 501 is built on the Ford CD3 midsize platform used in the Mazda6 and powered by either an in-house developed 1.6-liter engine or the 2.0-litre engine also from the Mazda 6 according to ChinaCarTimes.com. The car is expected to launch at this year’s Beijing Auto Show.