This is the new Roewe 360, the successor of the Roewe 350, looking all the speedy in red with sporty five-spoke alloys. The Roewe 360 stands on a new platform and is the first all-new car for the Roewe brand in three years. It will be launched on the Chinese car market later this month.

Design is nice but not overly exciting, Roewe going for evolution instead of revolution. A careful choice but not necessarily the best one for an ailing brand that urgently needs some pepper in its ass.

A neat interior with leather seats and some wood detailing, but the beige parts of the dash still look a tad too cheap.

The infotainment system runs on the InkaNet 4.0 operating system, and comes with satellite navigation, radio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, internet, an inbuilt wifi hot spot, and television.

The instrument binnacle is a mix of analogue and old-fashioned digital elements. Blue lightning kinda cool.

Enough space in the back for three. White leather matches nicely with red body and black floor mats.

The Roewe 360 will be available with two engines: a 109hp 1.5 and a GM-sourced 1.4 turbo with an output of 150hp and 235nm. SAIC calls the engine ‘NetBlue’.

This engine is part of GM ‘Modular Ecotec‘ family of engines, it is also used in the China-made Chevrolet Cruze where it delivers 148hp and 235nm. The engine will be mated to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT, again as in the Chevrolet Cruze.

SAIC can use the GM engines and transmissions under a deal agreed in early 2014. SAIC and General Motors are close friends in China, they also have the mighty Shanghai-GM joint venture that makes zillions of Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac cars for the Chinese market.

Size of the 360: 4579/1804/1490, and wheelbase is 2660.

A shiny little grille with a large Roewe logo.

The GM 1.4 turbo.

Roewe logo much smaller here. Subtle chrome strip connects trendy taillights. Bumper nicely done with two exhaust pipes hiding on the right.