2008 Beijing Auto Show: Chery Higgo 2 and Higgo 3

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BEIJING — Chrysler is still waiting to realize the first fruits of its small-car alliance with Chinese partner Chery Automobile. In the meantime, state-owned Chery is steaming ahead with its own expansion plans, including a major move into the truck and SUV segments. That's visible here at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show in the form of a its new Higgo 2 pickup and Higgo 3 utility vehicle.

The Higgo siblings — introduced as part of a new "Brave Warrior" series — are described by the company as "North American style" trucks. In fact, they appear to share more, stylistically, with Nissan's Armada and Titan and are nearly the size of the Dodge Durango and Ram. That's not a good omen for either Chrysler or Nissan, which recently announced a truck tie-up of their own.

The Chery trucks share a ladder-type frame with leaf-spring rear suspension and are fitted with front and side airbags, antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability program, tire-pressure monitor and reverse sensing system.

The surprisingly broad engine range announced for the two vehicles includes turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter direct-injection V6 gasoline units, as well as common-rail turbodiesels in 1.9-, 2.2- and 3.0-liter displacements. Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered.

Chery says the Higgo is designed for "global pickup markets," especially North America, and is intended as a "sturdy and practical tool."

What this means to you: A capitalist tool, no doubt. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent