Lotus engineered Europestar Persona launches at Guangzhou Auto Show

Europestar Persona

Rebadged Proton GEN-2 sedan

By Brian Potter
November 18, 2008 3:35 PM
Filed Under: Asian, European, Lotus, Proton

Making its debut this week at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China is the new Europestar Persona ("Jingyue" in Chinese). The new Europestar nameplate was created out of the Youngman Lotus joint venture between Zhejiang Jinhua-based Youngman Auto and Lotus Engineering. The purpose of the partnership was to sell Lotus engineered Proton models in China.

The first brand launching model in January 2008 was the Europestar Lotus RCR ("Jingsu" in Chinese) which was essentially a re-badged Proton GEN-2 hatchback.

Following this badge engineering scheme the new Europestar Persona is also a Proton GEN-2 model in sedan form. The Persona benefits from the Lotus engineered 1.6-liter petrol engine with an option of 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual.

No official pricing has been released yet, but Youngman Lotus dealers are taking orders with minimum deposits of 2,000 yuan ($293).

 

Source: Youngman Lotus via lotusenthusiast.blogspot.com

Comments

politz
November 18, 2008 8:38 PM
come on... EUROPESTAR? do they even know what marketing or branding is?

PLEASE!

they probably just pick a couple of names from the dictionary and stick them together on the trunklid of a new car. don't they all sound like native american cartoon characters? i mean, beauty leopard? come on!

anyway, the car in the pictures looks okay, maybe even a bit sporty, despite not being actually new. just a shame it doesn't carry a more chinese name too...

guess 'europestar crouching tiger hidden dragon' would do better!

xLumino
November 19, 2008 8:56 PM
front looks like a Rover 200 and the back like Dodge Neon and Stratus/Sebring. But overall not bad for a small sedan.

The name isn't good for it. Why EUROPE and why Star?!

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