Landwind Fashion
Bewrite: Huo Mai Photography: Luo Jiandong Extract: Car Expo 2006.07.04
It is a simple car attracting you to have a seat in it, and then you will find that 7 seats are arranged in the ample space, and you can take your whole family to enjoy the happiness. What you would pay is just a simple price. LandWind Fashion has made ready to do something for the Chinese families:
Happiness is just so simple.
LandWind could remind people of the go-anywhere vehicle with its high through-put capacity. Especially, the 2.8L pressurized diesel oil model had an excellent behavior in the domestic cross-country race. I am one of the cross-country fans who are fond of the domestic brand, LandWind. So I don’t want to describe how many foreign techniques this modes possesses. I would rather think that LandWind want to make Fashion better. But the issue of a multifunctional passenger car by a cross-country brand may arouse many doubts, and then it is necessary to make some explanations for you.
LandWind is a brand under the Jiangxi JMC. But JMC is a joint venture invested by Changan and JMC. Such a background gives the probability for LandWind to enter the passenger car domain. So I view LandWind as a deliberate manufacture, which has chosen the neglected domain in the competitive passenger car market as their start point, and they have lowered the threshold of multifunctional MPV to the level of economical household car at one stroke.
Fashion, which just came into the market in May, is the first passenger car that LandWind created in three years. The origin of the design combined the foreign auto-making resources of Germany, England, and Italy and so on. LandWind wishes it to be viewed as a household passenger, but its outlook is an out and out MPV seen from every direction. In fact, there are no shortcomings if it is viewed as MPV, for the word multifunctional can be added in front of the passenger car. Multifunction means that there is larger space and changeable distribution of the seats, which is possessed by Fashion.
Many people are not familiar with LandWind’s new sign, but they are easily attracted by the modeling of the head. The bright spots centralized here, and it is full of pulling force. Tightly shrink at the start point, then radiate through the A pillar and waist line, forming a dashing sight feeling. Seen from the front, the car is not large, but it is another case in any other direction. Over 4.4m length and nearly 1.8 m width will show you its real dimension. The space feeling of over 2.7m wheel base and over 1.6 m height will remind you of its differences from the other passenger car. Only the position of the seats is much taller. Except that the A pillar is too spacious, the sight of this car is perfect. The lovely rear-view mirror, well-lit sight, and the broad space are the reasons for the good moods. But I will choose an additional clerestory window.
The two little seats hiding in the floor of the baggage compartment are most ingenious. Although the unfolding process is a little troublesome, it is not crowded with 7 passengers on board after the completion of the process. Even two adults can be seated in the third row. But because of the straight modeling from the top to the tip, there is enough space in the front. At ordinary times, it can be arranged as a 5 seats car with ample luggage space, or fold the second row seats to form a van. The test car has chosen the cream-colored real leather material. Although the color is common, and the tactility is thin and weak, but its work is careful and with comforts.
The inner decoration is light-colored, and due to the cost most of the materials are plastic, weak but not coarse. Some materials of the steering wheel and instrument desk are non-isochromous, but the chinks are in good order and the crafts are all right. Except the ample space, each function in the car is simple and practical, and the operation is convenient. All the four windows could be lowered down to the bottom by one key, which can give indicating light in the night. The screen of the single disc CD is not singly colored, and the keys are neatly arrayed. The air conditioner is fast and effective, and the knob is clear and handy. The information of the meters is abundant, and the reminding function for the loose of the safety belt and the tight of the doors is definite and practical. When it rains, the rain strip is obedient or dutiful. While moving back the light and voice warnings are just at the back. This car provides you with thoughtful arrangements, nor the high-grade services.
At present, there are only two petrol engines for choice, one is 1.6L 4 jars engine from Changan, and the other one is the newly developed 2.0 L engine. For the speed box there is only a manual one with 5 grades. The power of the 2.0 L engine in the test car is 51 kw. Its maximal power reaches 14C horsepower, and the moment of torque is ample at 4,000 rpm. So if you want to experience the accelerating effects, you should use high rotational speed rapidly. The noise of the engine is magnified at the same time, but it is not the boring kind. But if in the daily use and cruising the noise can be heard clearly, it is necessary to take some measures to improve the suppression of the noise. It is gratified that the steering wheel and the seats do not transmit the additional vibration.
The holding of the steering wheel is actual, and its behavior during high speed is reliable. The reliability of this car is satisfactory. The handle is just beside the leg, convenient for operation. The 5 grade and the backing grade need a little more force, but there is no problem when you have adapted to the circumstances. The accelerator and the clutch pedal is not easy to control, so it may be a little difficult for the new hand to drive this car steadily. The best performance belongs to the braking pedal, the distance is reasonable, the force is soft, and the braking effects are obvious, the process is clear. Added with four disk brakes, double emergency air bag, and safety belts for all seats, Fashion is thoughtful in safety.
Since it wants to enter the domain of passenger car, there are more works for the driving comforts. Except the fluent performance of the engine and the quiet inner environment, the suspension system is a key point for the comfortableness of a car. The soft suspension system deployment appears good in the road, and the shock attenuation makes the road conditions comfortable and forms a pleasant journey. But the lack of the lateral strut is apt to induce the list of the body, and when the short spring encounters with the crude cobbled road and damaged road in the short journey, the shock is transmitted into the car. Luckily, the comforts of the seats are very good, so there is no ill feeling. LandWind should try its best in this aspect.
The 95,800 to 109,800 price should not be neglected. At this price, LandWind is a multifunctional car with excellent outlook and flexible space. Most of the ordinary people with a large family could pay not so much money to possess the happiness of the relationships of the family. Is it perfect? Given time, LandWind will do better. Giving another message to you, one of the colors in the body of Fashion is named “Milk Gold”, not so pleasing to the ear, but the sight effect is terrific. It would be so cool if you would like to choose this color!
LandWind Fashion 2.0
Body
1995 kg
Five doors seven seats multifunctional passenger car,4,410mm length, 1,768mm width, 1,640 height, wheel base 2,710mm, the whole quality 1,995 kg
Engine
Straight 4, DOHC, 4 air valves for one jar, output volume 1,998 cm*3，
The maximal power 102 kW (139 PS)/6,000 rpm
The maximal moment of torque 186 Nm/4,500 rpm
Transmission system
Front-mounted engine, front-wheel drive, 5 grades manual gear box
Chassis
Macphersan independent suspension，helical spring
Back tension beam with non-independent suspension, helical spring
Front and back disc brakes
Size of tyre 195/65 R15
Rideability
0～100 km/h acceleration －s
Max speed per hour 195 km/h
90 km/h constant speed oil consumption 7.0 L/100km
Referencing price
1.6 L 5 seats 95,800
1.6 L 7 seats 97,800
2.0 L 5 seats 107,800
2.0 L 7 seats 109,800