English: Place: Dacun, Changhua

The complete line-up of Luxgen, the local carmaker of Taiwan in two pictures! Well, that is apart from the Luxgen V7, a taxi version of the M7 with with high-roof. Luxgen started producing cars in 2009 with the introduction of the 7 MPV, renamed M7 after a 2014 redesign.

The large 7 SUV (renamed U7 after after a 2014 redesign) followed in 2010, the 5 Sedan was launched in 2012 and restyled and renamed to S5 in 2015, whereas the most and only truly successful U6 hit the market in 2013. Apart from Taiwan, the cars are also locally produced in mainland China by the Dongfeng Yulon joint venture.

Sales of the Luxgen models in Taiwan, July 2016: S3: 596 S5: 173 M7 / V7: 307 / 51 U6: 937 U7: 88

Recently a new small sedan was launched: the S3. My Taiwanese friend did a short test drive with me as his co-driver. I think it doesn't come close to the S5 in the looks department, but at least it looks rather distinctive with some interesting design cues. The interior is made of good materials, apart from the centre console, with cheap plastics surrounding the modern large screen. The CVT transmission gives you the option to switch 'gears' like a manual gearbox, which is quite interesting. Furthermore, the car offers plenty of space for a small sedan. However, my friend wasn't impressed by NVH levels (lack of refinement).