Brilliance are one of the better Chinese car companies in terms of their design styling and range, however they have failed to gain mass volume sales in the red hot Chinese market, their line up is quite compact with three sedans (now 4) 1 hatchback, a coupe and a wagon, they also have an SUV in the works which should be shown at the Beijing Auto Show in 2012.

Brilliance have finally revealed the official A3 SUV renderings ahead of the A3′s launch at the Shanghai Auto Show. The SUV itself highly resembles the BMW X1, who of course are Brilliance’s partner. It’s not entirely clear as to what level of cooperation the two companies have, or if BMW are working with Brilliance on the cars design to some stage, although it is not the first time that Brilliance’s models have been inspired by their partner.

Fully aware that its self-made vehicles are still far below the European Union (EU) emissions standards, Brilliance Auto may have to shelve plans to export vehicles to the European market, according to a source inside the company. To preserve air quality, cars must meet certain standards for exhaust emissions before they can be approved for sale in the European Union, which is said will apply the Euro V emissions standards from 1 January 2011 for the registration and sale of new types of cars.

HSO Motors Europe company, the general importer of Chinese Brilliance in Europe, filed for insolvency. In an interview for German Autohaus company’s CEO Hans-Ulrich Sachs explains that the main reason of financial problems was wrong producer’s price policy, which despite crisis hadn’t made any moves to rise competitive its products.

Brilliance has presented the newest edition of being produced for over five years top sedan BS6 (in China it is known as Grandeur). Refreshed limousine offers the more attractive body design, modern interior and rebuilt list of optional equipment. The producer, sure of the quality of its product, offers warranty for 10 years, limited by 200,000 km.

Chairman of China's Brilliance Auto said at a press conference last Friday that the company plans to mass produce 60,000 yuan ($8,800) to 70,000 yuan taxis next year. Qi Yumin told reporters that he is impressed with Geely Automobile's black taxi cabs, which look quite different from the traditional appearance of four-door sedans. But he said that Brilliance's taxi products would sell at 60,000 yuan-plus, much cheaper than Geely taxi cabs. Meanwhile Brilliance Auto's taxis will be based on its A-Class platform, where Junjie FRV (BS2) and FSV sedan are being built.

Brilliance Crossover, based on a compact hatchback FRV has already appeared in Chinese saloons. The car is a producer’s answer for more and more popular passenger cars similar in design to off road vehicles. According to nowadays trends, the car has bigger by 20 mm clearance and additional side visors. The car’s look is getting more attractive because of 16” alloy wheels. In comparison to basic version, it has also richer standard equipment.

FAW Group and Brilliance Auto are in talks for merger and restructuring, and FAW is expected to buy controlling stake in Brilliance, the 21st Century Business Herald reported today, citing sources familiar with the matter. "This matter has not taken shape yet," a planning executive of FAW Group said to reporters, not denying the merger talks news. Actually, Brilliance Auto, BMW's partner in China, was approached in August 2008 about a possible takeover by larger rival FAW Group, though they later denied having any discussions about a merger.

The Shanghai Show is set to be a show stopping event this year, with many automakers finally 'coming of age' and displaying cars that are capable of entering the international stage and taking on their more international counterparts. Brilliance, despite their recent ADAC ‘failure’ of not getting a single star in the ‘crash test’ that ADAC ‘performed’ are still going for gold with a host of automotive launches at the Shanghai Auto Show next week.

It is the third time, when the crash test of Chinese vehicle was conducted. The first one in November 2005 was off-road Landwind, and in June 2007 – middle class limousine – Brilliance BS6. In both cases, results were the worst in the history of German association and stopped expansion of these brands in Europe practically. This time the compact sedan Brilliance BS4 was tested.