“Red” China seems to know what the ordinary people of the people need. The proletarian wants a car no worse than the imperialists'. The Russian consumer is not lagging behind in this regard. With the release of Lifan Solano, the domestic auto industry must sprinkle ashes on its head and irrevocably capitulate. While VAZ management is grandly announcing Kalina with a radio and trying to install GLONASS there, the Chinese are stuffing their creations “for business class” and can count on wild success among a certain segment of the population.
Chinese “dzhigit”, or Travel on Lifan Solano
LIFAN today
Lifan Industry Group Co. Ltd. The word “Lifan” is translated into Russian roughly as “Go with full sail.” The LIFAN Corporation was founded in 1992. Today, the LIFAN Industrial Group is on the list of 500 leading private enterprises in the PRC. The corporation specializes in the production of cars, buses, motorcycles, scooters and ATVs.
How we went to Dombay on Lifan Solano
The head of the Russian representative office of the Chinese automobile company Lifan, Mr. Sun Zejun, and correspondents from leading automotive publications visited the Derways automobile plant in Cherkessk, where the production of the new C-class sedan Lifan Solano began in March of this year.
Next to a concrete fence surrounded by barbed wire stands a small stele with the inscription “Derways”. The area is quite quiet, the only noise is from occasional cars passing by and the voices of security guards. You can’t really tell that there is a lot of activity behind the fence.
The first private automobile plant in post-Soviet Russia appeared in 2002. It was built in Karachay-Cherkessia. Many considered the project utopian, including because the new enterprise was going to produce SUVs of its own design. Nevertheless, the plant started operating, and the Cowboy, built on the chassis of the Romanian ARO, went on sale. True, only a few hundred of them were made - the demand for a car of a new, unknown brand was small. In addition, buyers did not trust the plastic body assembled on a space frame. And the price seemed too high to many...Soon a solution to the problem was found. At the end of 2007, assembly of the Chinese Lifan Breez sedan began at the plant. At the same time, the construction of new buildings, installation and commissioning of equipment was underway.
In the summer of 2009, welding production, as well as a cataphoresis and painting workshop, designed to produce up to 100,000 bodies per year, began operation.
Currently, the plant assembles cars under the Geely brand from Chinese vehicle kits, as well as the Lifan Breez and the Solano sedan, which debuted last year. By the way, his name comes from the name of an Indian tribe that once lived in the area where the border between the United States and Mexico runs today.
Lifan Solano outside
The wind blew again from the Caucasus mountains. And it's called "Solano". Such a romantic name (as the strong southwest wind is called in Spain) is given to a new product of the Karachay-Circassian and Chinese automobile industries. The tandem of "Derways" and Lifan produced another "windy" car. Their first-born - Breez - was simple and unpretentious. Designed for the mass, inexperienced car enthusiast, it quickly found its niche in the market. Manufacturers are positioning the Lifan Solano C-class sedan as a “premium” in the “economy” category. Of course! The new car was stuffed with amenities pleasant for the car owner. The only package so far includes ABS, two airbags, full power accessories, air conditioning, an audio system and an on-board computer, as well as optional but pleasant little things: LED “dimensions” in the front optics, alloy wheels and adjustable lumbar supports in the front seats.
Premium segment in economy class
The Lifan Solano sedan (formerly known as the Lifan 620) is a new C-class model from the Chinese car manufacturer Lifan Industry Group Co. Ltd. Sales of Lifan Solano cars on the Russian market began in March 2010. Lifan Solano has managed to establish itself in the Asian markets. Sales of Solano in China in the first quarter of 2009 alone, according to official statistics from the manufacturer, amounted to more than 15 thousand cars. Although this may not be the most successful indicator, given that daily car sales in China amount to 30 thousand units. The appearance of the Solano makes a solid impression. Its design echoes fashionable modern trends in the automotive industry. There is an opinion that the design of the Lifan 620 Solano model was borrowed from a German car, namely the BMW 3 Series. But due to the lack of any “zest” of its own, we can say that it is simultaneously similar to many modern, albeit mostly Asian, cars.
On this page we tried to collect test drives and reviews of the Lifan Solano car, which were published or published in any automobile magazines and other authoritative sources.
Lifan Solano: plebeian in the nobility
“Red” China seems to know what the ordinary people of the people need. The proletarian wants a car no worse than the imperialists'. The Russian consumer is not lagging behind in this regard. With the release of Lifan Solano, the domestic auto industry must sprinkle ashes on its head and irrevocably capitulate. While VAZ management is grandly announcing Kalina with a radio and trying to install GLONASS there, the Chinese are stuffing their creations “for business class” and can count on wild success among a certain segment of the population.
Smart people say, don’t give up. And they say it right! I swore, sometimes even out loud, that I would never drive a product from the Chinese auto industry. And here you go... I sat down. I drove it for almost 300 kilometers on not the best roads, and... And the new Lifan Solano made me think about the Chinese automobile industry, its past and present.
Lifan Group of Companies (Lifan Industry Group Co. Ltd). The word “Lifan” is translated into Russian roughly as “Go with full sail.” Lifan Corporation was founded in 1992. Today, LIFAN Industrial Group is on the list of 500 leading private enterprises in China. The corporation specializes in the production of cars, buses, motorcycles, scooters and ATVs.
The head of the Russian representative office of the Chinese automobile company Lifan, Mr. Sun Zejun, and correspondents from leading automotive publications visited the Derways automobile plant in Cherkessk, where the production of the new C-class sedan Lifan Solano began in March of this year.
Next to a concrete fence surrounded by barbed wire stands a small stele with the inscription “Derways”. The area is quite quiet, the only noise is from occasional cars passing by and the voices of security guards. You can’t really tell that there is a lot of activity behind the fence.
The first private automobile plant in post-Soviet Russia appeared in 2002. It was built in Karachay-Cherkessia. Many considered the project utopian, including because the new enterprise was going to produce SUVs of its own design. Nevertheless, the plant started operating, and the Cowboy, built on the Romanian ARO chassis, went on sale. True, only a few hundred of them were made - the demand for a car of a new, unknown brand was small. In addition, buyers did not trust the plastic body assembled on a space frame. And the price seemed too high to many... Soon a solution to the problem was found. At the end of 2007, assembly of the Chinese Lifan Breeze sedan began at the plant. At the same time, the construction of new buildings, installation and commissioning of equipment was underway.
In the summer of 2009, welding production, as well as a cataphoresis and painting workshop, designed to produce up to 100,000 bodies per year, began operation.
Currently, the plant assembles cars under the Geely brand from Chinese vehicle kits, as well as the Lifan Breeze and the Solano sedan, which debuted last year. By the way, his name comes from the name of an Indian tribe that once lived in the area where the border between the United States and Mexico runs today.
The wind blew again from the Caucasus mountains. And it's called "Solano". Such a romantic name (as a strong southwest wind is called in Spain) is a new product of the Karachay-Cherkess and Chinese automobile industries. The tandem of Derways and Lifan produced another “windy” car. Their firstborn - Breez - was simple and unpretentious. Designed for the mass, inexperienced car enthusiast, it quickly found its niche in the market. Manufacturers are positioning the C-class sedan Lifan Solano as a “premium” in the “economy” category. Of course! The new car was stuffed with amenities pleasant for the car owner. The only package so far includes ABS, two airbags, full power accessories, air conditioning, an audio system and an on-board computer, as well as optional but pleasant little things: LED “dimensions” in the front optics, alloy wheels and adjustable lumbar supports in the front seats.
Lifan Solano - premium segment in economy class
They promise that it will cost no more than Russian-made cars. With quite generous equipment: a 1.6-liter engine, a wide range of options, a spacious interior, quite an energy-intensive suspension... But it seems that the new golf-class sedan will also retain all the traditional problems of Chinese cars - an uncomfortable fit, poor-quality finishing materials, miscalculations in ergonomics, mediocre dynamic characteristics...
Sedan Lifan Solano (formerly known as Lifan 620)- a new C-class model from the Chinese car manufacturer Lifan Industry Group Co. Ltd. Sales of Lifan Solano cars on the Russian market began in March 2010. Lifan Solano has managed to establish itself in the Asian markets. Sales of Solano in China in the first quarter of 2009 alone, according to official statistics from the manufacturer, amounted to more than 15 thousand cars. Although this may not be the most successful indicator, given that daily car sales in China amount to 30 thousand units. The appearance of the Solano makes a solid impression. Its design echoes fashionable modern trends in the automotive industry. There is an opinion that the design of the Lifan 620 Solano model was borrowed from a German car, namely the BMW 3 Series. But due to the lack of any “zest” of its own, we can say that it is simultaneously similar to many modern, albeit mostly Asian, cars.
The Lifan brand has been the leader among Chinese automakers in Russia for several years now. At the end of last year, it showed 15 percent growth, against the backdrop of a general market decline. The main box office is made by the X50 and X60 crossovers, but the Solano sedan is not deprived of attention. The second generation car has recently launched, and this is perhaps the most budget-friendly golf-class sedan on our market. Is this the only thing that attracts Solano II and how has the new generation car changed?
The Chinese auto industry is evolving and developing, not to say by leaps and bounds, but quite quickly. Lifan, by the way, is far from being at the forefront of technological progress among Chinese brands. So why did she turn out to be our leader? Most likely, this is just a marketing strategy; Lifan was able to offer fairly unpretentious cars at the most attractive prices. Here is the result.
Solano II, in fact, is not a completely new car, but a deep modernization of its predecessor. Therefore, the suspension remained unchanged, and the power units (100-horsepower engine and 5-speed gearbox), and the basis of the supporting structure of the body - door, window openings, roof. In a word, everything that was copied from the Toyota Corolla sedan of the 2000 model year. And the only new ones are the design, developed in-house, the interior and equipment. Solano II has really become more attractive and modern, with nice lensed optics with LED running lights, and the rear lights with long LED turn signal strips are especially successful. The entire increase in length (70 mm) occurred only in the body overhangs and they are large. In terms of body length, this is a full-fledged C-class, but in terms of the length of the base and, accordingly, capacity, it is only a B. Against the background of such a large body with a high hood line and a large luggage compartment, the wheel arches look too small, and the wings above them are inflated and thick. In general, the silhouette of the car was not pleased with its proportions. But all this is a matter of taste and, in general, a subjective thing. As for the evenness of the gaps and the quality of fit of the panels, it may not be ideal, but there were no special questions.
It’s difficult to close the doors the first time; you try not to slam too hard, but as a result, they don’t close and you have to slam harder. And this is not just an unsuccessful hand movement, but some pathological property of the locks. Already sitting in the cabin, and intending to hit the road, you again hear a buzzer, signaling that the door is unlocked. You clap harder, no, failure. Even stronger. The third or fourth time it is usually possible to close it.
The interior of the new Solano is visually quite neat, laconic and modern, adjusted for the budget model. There are no Asian design problems, everything is quite organic and familiar in appearance. The interior is especially good in the test maximum Luxury configuration with a large display of the communication system and a nice air conditioning unit. A good multifunction steering wheel is not made of leather, but is made of rubberized plastic that is pleasant to the touch. But the door cards and seats are covered in eco-leather with red stitching. The plastic finishing is inexpensive, but everything is done quite neatly. It seems that everything looks wonderful and even cozy. But here we gradually approach the main problem of many Chinese cars. No, it’s not even quality or reliability; they may leave much to be desired, but they have reached some acceptable level. Ergonomics is the main scourge of Chinese cars at the present stage. The fact is that some cars from the Middle Kingdom are simply not designed for tall people, and Solano, unfortunately, is no exception.
The driver's seat and steering wheel have height adjustments, but they are clearly not enough. It is not enough to adjust the chair in the longitudinal direction. As a result, I am far from gigantic in height - 183 cm, I move the chair all the way back and put it in the lowest position, and the steering wheel in the highest. The pedals work fine, and the instrument dials under the steering wheel rim are almost visible, however, I want to raise the steering wheel even higher and bring it closer to myself so that it does not lie almost on my knees. But this is the limit. It turns out that if I could still fit comfortably behind the wheel, then a person taller than me would no longer be able to. The pillow is a little short, and the back profile is not the best, it is flat and lacks lumbar support adjustment, which would not hurt here. The round scales of the instruments are quite informative, but the curved glass covering them desperately glares, regardless of the position of the light source. So, the lower sector of the scales is constantly not visible, just like the fuel level and engine temperature indicators located below, and this is almost half of the instrument cluster.
The touch screen of the communication system does not shine with response speed and graphics. On a sunny day, it is also not visible in the best way, the radio sound is average, and the navigation was not loaded into our system. The picture from the rearview video camera is quite clear, but the “dynamic” lines are a sham, they don’t move. I liked the air conditioner remote control, everything is done clearly and logically, the round handles do not play. Below, under the cover, there is an ashtray and a cigarette lighter. On the central tunnel there are cup holders and buttons for heating the front seats. The rectangular armrest drawer is medium in size, it contains USB and Aux connectors, and the leather-trimmed lid is securely attached and does not play or dangle, as happened on most Chinese cars in the past. To the left of the steering wheel is a block with a remote control for adjusting the rear-view mirrors, a trunk opening button and a headlight range control wheel, under which there is a small compartment for small items. On the ceiling panel, in addition to the lighting, there is an eyeglass case.
By modern standards, the equipment is not very rich: in addition to the above, there are electric windows front and rear, heated rear-view mirrors, two front airbags, ABS and EBD. There is no stabilization system in any of the trim levels. I sat on the back seat with minimal legroom, but my head rested on the ceiling. So these places are designed for people no taller than average. The third passenger in the center will be completely uncomfortable, the central part of the sofa sticks out, and the tunnel gets in the way under your feet. There is a retractable armrest with cup holders, but again, it is unsuitable for my height, it is located low, so you have to lean towards it. Additional amenities are nothing remarkable, there are pockets in the doors, and the cut of the front seats is such that the pockets in the backs are so small that they can only hold a brochure or a pack of napkins.
But the trunk is really big, although I’m not sure if the rated 650 liters are real. There are no pockets, hooks or loops to secure cargo. The transformation of the rear sofa is standard - the back partly reclines horizontally. The floor panel, covered with fleecy fabric, is thin and too pliable. Underneath there is a “spare wheel” on a stamped disk and no organizers. In short, the trunk is simply decorated and lacks any additional amenities. There is not even a handle for closing on the inside of the lid.
The clutch is not informative, “wobbly”, and when starting, you involuntarily over-throttle so as not to stall. In this sense, a little adaptation is required. Acceleration at the initial stage is quite dynamic, even with slipping, but then it turns sour, and at high speeds there is not enough traction, as well as elasticity. To maintain a brisk driving pace, you have to downshift earlier than expected. Not surprisingly, nowhere in the technical specifications was I able to find data on acceleration to “hundreds”. Apparently, they are not impressive, and the Chinese simply did not bring them. But in general, if you drive at a measured pace, then the engine-transmission tandem is quite normal. There are no revelations, but you stay in the flow without any problems, the gearbox works quite clearly.
Visibility and braking performance – no complaints. Sound insulation is unique. As long as you are not driving fast, at city speeds, everything seems to be in order, it is not noisy, the engine is clearly audible only during intense acceleration. But then, at speeds of 80 and above, the cabin is filled with a roar, including aerodynamic noise and the clatter of studded tires on the asphalt. Everything merges into a single hum, which accompanies constantly. And what’s also interesting is that even with the heater fan turned off, there is a complete feeling that it is turned on fully, something is hissing loudly in the front panel. This is not to say that all this cacophony puts too much pressure on the ears, but on a long journey, when you drive for hours without a break, I think it will not be very comfortable.
But the suspension is surprisingly omnivorous and the smooth ride is pleasing; in this sense, the car is well suited for our operating conditions. This is, perhaps, one of the strongest points of Solano II. The energy consumption combined with sufficient ground clearance is also satisfactory. I measured the ground clearance with a tape measure, and yes, that’s approximately it – 165 mm, as the manufacturer claims. It is for regions with unimportant roads or even for rural primers that Solano is best suited.
But on highways, where handling is important, everything is different. The Solano may hold a straight line quite well, but it is not possible to control and correct this with the steering wheel in the best way, since in the near-zero zone it is completely devoid of information content and reactive effort. When maneuvering, you can turn the steering wheel 90 degrees, and it will remain in this position unless you force it back to zero by hand, although there is no clear zero either. Therefore, while driving there is no reliable connection with the car via the steering wheel. Only at speed does at least some information content appear. And the more you tilt the steering wheel to the side, the more information it becomes, paradoxically, but in sharp, energetic turns you feel more confident than on a straight line. Perhaps we have never seen a car with such a unique steering setup. In order to “vomit” in traffic jams and move slowly around the city, maybe nothing. Maneuverability, again, is good, the turning radius is small. But I think drivers with a driving streak will not like such controllability without clear feedback. It seems that Chinese engineers are still developing the chassis according to the principle of “whatever happens,” and adjusting the driving characteristics at random. Because it seems extremely unlikely to consciously come to such a result.
According to the price list at the time of the test, the basic Solano II cost 510 thousand rubles. But such a car doesn’t even have wheel covers, a decorative engine cover, interior lighting or an immobilizer. But there is air conditioning, electric windows, two airbags, ABS, and leather on the seats. True, as the dealer’s representative told me, they had never seen such cars themselves and had not tried to order them. The Circassian plant "Derways" does not seek to satisfy such orders. You will probably have to wait a very long time if you manage to order at all. So, in reality there are only Comfort versions available for 620 thousand and Luxury for 655 thousand. I would like to believe in a Chinese miracle, but for now, alas... For me, with the current set of consumer qualities, Solano, in order to become in demand, should cost less than the base 510 thousand, or, so that they would at least be in stock and easily accessible .
Technical characteristics of Lifan Solano II(Manufacturer's data)
- Body - 4-door, monocoque, steel
- Number of seats - 5
- Dimensions, mm
- Length - 4620
- Width - 1705
- Height - 1495
- Base - 2605
- Ground clearance – 165
- Curb weight, kg - 1270
- Total weight, kg - 1580
- Trunk volume, l - 650
- Engine – petrol
- Number and arrangement of cylinders - 4, in a row
- Volume, l - 1.5
- Power - 100 hp at 6000 rpm
- Torque - 129 Nm at 4000-5000 rpm
- Transmission - 5-speed manual
- Drive - front
- Front suspension - independent, spring, McPherson
- Rear suspension - semi-independent, spring
- Maximum speed, km/h - 180
- Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h, s - n.a.
- Fuel consumption per 100 km, l
- Urban cycle - n.d.
- Country cycle - 6.5
- Mixed cycle - n.a.
- Gasoline – AI-92-95
- Tires – 195/65 R15
Photos from the Lifan Solano II test drivein Kazan
The car for test drive was provided by the car dealership " "
The Russian car market has already crushed many Chinese automakers and models - how many of them flashed like meteors and went into oblivion... Lifan in general and Solano in particular are among the few survivors. The very fact of the existence of a Chinese car, which over the course of six years of sales in our country first underwent a light restyling, and then replaced the first generation with the second, already speaks of a certain recognition. So what has changed?
The body retained all dimensions except length: it increased by a symbolic centimeter, to 4620 mm. Width, height and wheelbase are the same: 1705 mm, 1495 mm and 2605 mm. However, all external body elements - doors, fenders and bumpers - have been redesigned and updated. The headlights, taillights, turn signals in the mirrors and daytime running lights received LED elements. The trunk volume has been significantly increased - from 386 to 620 liters.
The design and decoration of the interior have fundamentally changed - already in the basic version, seats and a rear sofa made of artificial leather appeared, even the simplest radio tape recorder supports USB, and the expanded version of the multimedia system - navigation and a rear view camera.
A new 100-horsepower 1.5-liter engine has replaced the old 106-horsepower 1.6-liter engine: the “one and a half” meets Euro-5 standards, and the average rated fuel consumption, compared to the previous generation car, has decreased by 1 liter and is now declared at 6.5 liters per 100 km. However, the maximum torque dropped from 149 Nm to 129 Nm.
At first, the car will be equipped with a manual 5-speed gearbox, but later a CVT will also appear. The cost of the basic configuration of Solano II, as already mentioned, starts from 500,000 rubles.
Look and design
Solano-2 is only 10 millimeters longer than the previous generation, but much more important is that it is 23 centimeters longer than the VW Polo Sedan, 25 centimeters longer than the Hyundai Solaris, and 27 centimeters longer than the Renault Logan! Basically, the increase in size comes from a powerful and solid hood and a 620-liter trunk, and although the interior is not spacious, the formula “more car for the same money” works, and works well!
The front and rear optics look solid and even somewhat noble.
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Atypically, moderately and appropriately, chrome is used in the exterior decoration, which is often abused by other Chinese manufacturers...
Salon
The architecture of the dashboard is very successful, everything is in place, everything is easily accessible. The finishing uses matte black plastic, glossy black with an imitation of some natural material (either wood, or stone, with long sparse veins), as well as silver, a la metal. On the front panel, two classic dial instruments (speedometer and tachometer) are adjacent to digital displays for temperature, fuel level and information about mileage and consumption. All in all, a classic. The only thing that might confuse you is the blue edging of the “dials” painted for some reason.
The air conditioner control is fully electrified: gear motors are responsible for adjusting heat/cold, and for distributing air flows, and for turning on recirculation.
The doors and dashboard are hard and booming plastic, which on the doors, however, is diluted with soft leatherette inserts with nice red stitching - as well as on the seats. The same VW would probably call these signs of a “special series” and would rip off a lot of money... The seats are made of nice and durable eco-leather, even in the basic configuration; None of the competitors will offer anything like this; all of them have only a “rag” in their minimum wage.
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All four windows are electric, plus the front ones also have a one-touch quick-down mode. The steering wheel has audio control keys. But adjustment of the steering wheel is allowed, alas, only in height...
Lifan Solano II
base cost
500,000 rubles
And, unfortunately, the volume of the interior is somewhat dissonant with the impressive external dimensions of the car... Tall drivers may not have enough adjustment of the longitudinal travel of the front seat, especially in winter clothes - it would be nice to make the travel range wider... However, this is partly compensated by adjusting the backrest, but If the driver and front passenger are large, those sitting in the back will have to twist around, adjusting their knees.
Multimedia
In a rich configuration, the car is equipped with a multimedia system with a 7-inch touch screen and control from the steering wheel keys. The screen, interestingly, is not capacitive, but resistive - that is, it responds not to touch, but to pressing. The technology is outdated, but the display is very responsive and responds to any object other than a finger - in winter, in a cold car, you can operate the device without taking off your gloves.
The multimedia head unit can play music from a phone via Bluetooth, from a memory card, a USB flash drive, as well as an external device via a 3.5 mm input (its socket along with the USB connector lives in the armrest). A separate microSD card is reserved for navigation - software from Navitel is responsible for it. And when you engage reverse gear, the screen displays an image from the rear view camera installed above the license plate!
The multimedia interface is a little slow, but it's logical and consistent. The main menu consists of a horizontal line of large icons, and the settings menu consists of a vertical list; Even a person far from sophisticated gadgets will not get confused in them.
The audio system plays, however, rather flatly and inexpressively - there is no highs or bass. Although, it would seem, there is a basis for good sound - there are large “ovals” in the rear parcel shelf, and the front speakers in the doors are supplemented with remote tweeters.
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Iron
Under the hood of the Solano-2 is a new one and a half liter 16-valve engine with hydraulic compensators (a rarity now!) and a phase regulator. The engine compartment is spacious, which lovers of self-service will appreciate - access to most components is easy.
The engine is covered with a decorative plate, which, together with the sound insulation of the engine shield and hood lid, perfectly muffles the sound of the engine in the cabin. By the way, after the rather severe tests to which we subjected the Solano, the metal valve cover was appropriately hot, but the ignition coils, individual for all four cylinders, were simply warm. Therefore, good thermal decoupling!
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The main brake cylinder is tiny, because all the brakes around are disc brakes, requiring a minimum stroke of the pistons and displaced fluid.
The generator is also “baby”, the size of a large grapefruit, but the specialists of the dealership center praise it very much - they say it does not fail.
There is a filler neck on the upper radiator tank. Fans of classic solutions will approve!
All seams of the internal cavities are treated with a Movil-like anticorrosive agent - its traces in the form of dried droplets are clearly visible, for example, on the lower edge of the trunk lid:
By the way, in the trunk of the Solano, in addition to the 620-liter usable volume, as well as the ordinary wheel wrench and jack, the owner will find a bag that contains a cable, cigarette wires, a first aid kit, an electric compressor and a warning triangle! And on the inside of the lid dangles, in the American style, an emergency opening handle.
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Movement
We rent a car from the Lifan dealership in Simferopol and head off to the Crimean mountains. I change gears at speeds that seem to correspond to most inexpensive sedans with 1.4-1.6 engines and power in the region of hundreds of horses - and I don’t understand what’s happening... The car frankly doesn’t move! There is virtually no overclocking; outside the city, having somehow reached a speed of about a hundred in fifth gear, the gas pedal completely “disappears” - you can take your foot off the pedal or, conversely, press it all the way to the floor - no difference...
Stifling Euro-5 standards coupled with the sluggishness of the electronic throttle? Damn, the engine characteristics completely slipped my mind! This engine produces a maximum torque of 129 Nm at five thousand rpm, which is noticeably higher than that of its classmates. The engine loves to be turned without hesitation, and the gearbox with incredibly stretched second and third plays along with it, like an experienced partner who understands perfectly.
We twist with all our hearts, and a miracle happens - the car gains dynamics and agility, adjusted for the low-power engine and the budget category, of course. At the same time, which is typical, maximum traction is achieved without annoying squealing!
Speed, however, noticeably sours in fifth after 120-130 - the manufacturer has shifted the operating range of the engine and transmission to the area of low and medium speeds - summer residents who need vigorous traction in an overloaded car will be happy, but lovers of long-distance intercity hauls - not so much.
Interestingly, the continuous supply of traction in second gear along the Crimean serpentines leading to the mountains, and racing in third gear along a mixture of dirt roads and broken asphalt roads of the Ai-Petrinsky mountain range did not lead to catastrophic consumption - the engine consumed a little more than 10 liters, which is for a hard annealing with constant acceleration and braking in low gears is simply ridiculous. And, in fact, the average consumption in the “city + highway” mode did not exceed seven liters - in the running-in mode, this is exactly the same 6.5 liters promised by the specification, which is one liter less than the previous generation Solano.
Dimensions (L/W/H), mm
4 620 / 1 705 / 1 495
The brakes are disc and impeccably grippy - neither take away nor add. The car’s suspension (MacPherson strut at the front, solid beam at the rear, Chinese Giti 15-diameter tires with a dimension of 195/60 as “shoes”) pleasantly amazed - it meekly swallowed the huge holes and cobblestones of the Crimean mountains, it was never possible to break through it! The suspension is incredibly energy-intensive, with it you can safely bludgeon in Russian “directions”.
The electric power steering mechanism, of course, does not have enough composure to meet the standard criteria - when quickly shifting the steering wheel, you feel a loose feeling (which may be reduced by installing tires from brands from the top ten instead of the standard ones) and the steering wheel needs to be damped more strongly at high speed, but serpentines are expensive on Ai-Petri Solano-2 proceeded quite confidently and at times even boldly. It must be admitted that in terms of suspension and steering, the car is perfectly “Russified”; it would be a sin to demand more from a “Chinese” for such modest money as they are asking for it.
