PERFORMANCE-CAR NEWS 01.13.2006
Visionary Vehicles Switches Plan From Low-Cost to Luxury Cars

Chinese auto brand Visionary Vehicles has recently changed its upcoming U.S. marketing strategy from one of offering ultra-low-cost cars, to instead selling budget alternatives to popular luxury vehicles.

According to internet automotive-news website Leftlane News, Visionary plans its entry-level car to be a sedan (shown above) that will rival the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C230, but will sell for $19,000 -- about 25-percent less. Leftlane says the Visionary Vehicles sedan will sell alongside a range of aggressively-priced luxury vehicles, including a two-door coupe, a crossover SUV, and a retractable-hardtop convertible.

Created by controversial American businessman Malcolm Bricklin, Visionary Vehicles is the U.S. branch of Chinese automaker Chery. Bricklin's initial plan was to import Chery cars that would go head-to-head against such low-price brands as Kia and Suzuki.