The Roewe KV6 was awarded “best engine” by a panel of leading media representatives at the Shanghai auto show, the first time that this prize has been bestowed on a Chinese own-brand product

VAN BUREN TWP., Mich., May 9 /PRNewswire/ — The KV6 went into production in China in December 2006 following an intensive program of production engineering, localization of component supply and commissioning of SAIC’s brand new 15 million pound Baoshan engine manufacturing plant near Shanghai. Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd was actively engaged in this program, which included upgrading of the design for its new application.

The KV6 engine has already proved successful in its first application, the Roewe 750, which was itself unveiled at the Beijing auto show in November 2006. SAIC Motor’s first product under its new Roewe own-brand, the KV6 powered Roewe 750 received over 7000 orders in the two months following its launch.

“We congratulate SAIC Motor on the award of ‘best engine’ at the Auto Shanghai,” said Mark Garrett, Ricardo group engineering and products director. “This is a well deserved award for what is a truly premium product in the Chinese market. We wish SAIC Motor every success with its Roewe brand and products.”

Ricardo plc: With technical centers in the UK, USA, Germany and the Czech Republic, and offices in Shanghai and Tokyo, Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and strategic consultant to the world’s automotive industries. The company’s engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell powertrain technologies. Its customers include the world’s major vehicle, engine and transmission manufacturers, tier 1 suppliers and leading motorsport teams.

Ricardo is committed to excellence and industry leadership in people, technology and knowledge; approximately 70 percent of its employees are highly qualified multi-disciplined professional engineers and technicians. A public company, Ricardo plc posted sales of 173 million pounds in financial year 2006 and is a constituent of the FTSE techMark 100 index — a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is one of China’s leading automakers. In 2005 alone it produced over 318,000 mainly GM-brand and VW- badged cars in China to international quality standards through its manufacturing joint ventures with General Motors and Volkswagen AG respectively. As such, SAIC is already a significant automotive manufacturer on the international stage and is growing rapidly: 2005 production was up 34 percent on the previous year. Yet as a major element of its forward strategy the company aspires to acquire the capability to develop world-class automotive products under its own brand, both for distribution in China as well as for export to major international markets. In 2004 SAIC purchased the intellectual property rights of the Rover 75 and 25 products of former UK automaker MG Rover, as well as the K series gasoline and G series diesel engine families.

Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd was formed and is currently managed as an operating subsidiary of Ricardo plc to act as the overseas engineering center of SAIC motor. Through its links with the wider Ricardo group it has ready- made access to specialist technology, design, test and development facilities — assets which are invaluable for state-of-the-art automotive product development. On formation of Ricardo 2010, some of the most talented and highly skilled engineering staff of the former MG Rover organization were recruited and the UK engineering team rapidly grew to approximately 150 staff, representing some of the best talent available from the former MG Rover and other automotive organizations, assisted by fellow engineers and resources as necessary from other Ricardo divisions.

In addition to its role in developing the first new products for SAIC, Ricardo 2010 Consultants is assisting in the development of processes and systems for SAIC’s growing in-house engineering organization, the Shanghai Automotive Engineering Academy (SAEA). It is envisaged that Ricardo 2010 Consultants will ultimately form the European development center of SAEA, focusing on advanced research and development and product adaptation for European markets.

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