View source for Nanjing Yuejin Soyat

{{Infobox automobile
|image=Nanjing Nanya Encore NJ6400 China 2012-04-22.jpg
|caption=Soyat Encore (2003-2007)
|name=Nanjing Yuejin Soyat
|manufacturer=[[Nanjing Automobile]]
|production=1999–2008
|aka=Nanjing NJ6400 Encore/Nanjing NJ7150 Soyat (hatchback)<br>Nanjing NJ1020 Unique (van)
|class=[[Subcompact car]] ([[B-segment|B]])
|body_style=5-door [[hatchback]]<br>4-door van
|engine=1.2 L [[Inline-four engine|I4]]<br>1.3 L ''[[Toyota NZ engine#2NZ-FE|RN413EF3]]'' I4<br>1.5 L ''NJG415E2'' I4<br>2.2 L ''[[Toyota Y engine#4Y|JM491Q-ME]]'' I4<ref>{{cite web|url=https://db.auto.sohu.com/nanqi-2210/2040/trim_year2005.html|title=2005 Nanjing Soyat}}</ref>
|transmission=5 speed [[Manual transmission|manual]]
|wheelbase    = {{Convert|2443|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|length       = {{Convert|3990|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|width        = {{Convert|1610|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|height       = {{Convert|1394|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
|related=[[SEAT Ibiza]] Mk1
}}
The '''Soyat''' is a subcompact hatchback built by the Wuxi Soyat (南汽新雅途) branch of [[Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation]]. The car is based on the original 1984 ('System Porsche') version of the [[SEAT Ibiza#Mk1|SEAT Ibiza Mark&nbsp;I]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Seat Ibiza estate for 2010|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/seat-ibiza-estate-2010|work=Autocar|accessdate=19 April 2013}}</ref>  (1984-1993).
==History==
After the first generation Ibiza was replaced, the technology and production line were bought by a joint venture between Nanjing Yuejin and the Malaysian [[Lion Group]] in 1997. Production did not begin, however, until Fiat took over the Lion Group's share in [[Nanjing Fiat Automobile|Jiangsu Nanya Auto]], as the company was called.<ref name=WOC2007>{{cite book | title = World of Cars 2006·2007 | publisher = Media Connection Sp. z o.o. | location = Warsaw, Poland | page = 236 | year = 2006 }}</ref>
In 1999 the [[SEAT]] design was modified for the Chinese market and then rebranded as the Zhongguo Nanjing NJ6400, later as the modernized and fuel injected GHR '''Encore'''. This model continued until October 2003 when the Ibiza license expired and the design had to be updated.
In March 2004 a Chinese mobile phone manufacturer called [[Ningbo Bird]] decided that it too wanted to get into the process of car manufacture. With [[Ningbo Bird]] joining the original partners in a 50/50 relationship, the new design was renamed the '''Soyat'''.<ref name=WOC2007/> Ningbo Bird then left the company in 2005.
In addition to the five-door Soyat hatchback, a four-door tall estate (two on the right-hand side) called the Soyat Unique NJ1020 is also available, using a wider and taller rear end borrowed from the more modern [[SEAT Inca]].
Although the car's design dates back to 1984, it proved reasonably popular. Production numbers have dropped considerably (from 4,261 in 2004<ref name=WOC2007/> to 705 in the first eleven months of 2007,<ref>{{Cite newsgroup
| author = Eric van Ingen Schenau
| title = Nanjing Soyat
| date = January 2, 2008
| newsgroup = http://www.chinacarforums.com
| url = http://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=21338&postcount=20
| accessdate = June 29, 2010 }} <br> Respected Chinese car specialist Erik van Ingen Schenau of the [http://www.chinesecars.net China Motor Vehicle Documentation Centre] quotes production figures according to the CAAM (Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers) as follows: "Jan-Nov. 2007: 382 units for the hatchback and 323 units for the Unique (Van)."
</ref>) as Nanjing's focus switched to more modern and competitive Fiats and then [[MG (car)#Nanjing and SAIC|MGs]]. Engines available were originally the "System Porsche" 1.2 and 1.5-litre (70 and 86&nbsp;hp), the smaller engine has since been replaced with a 1,342&nbsp;cc version of [[Toyota]] origins. All engines were paired to a 5 speed manual gearbox as standard.
<gallery widths="200" heights="120">
File:Nanjing Soyat Encore 1.5i front.jpg|Nanjing Soyat Encore
File:Nanjing Soyat Encore 1.5i.jpg|Nanjing Soyat Encore rear
File:Nanjing Soyat Unique NJ6400 China 2012-05-21.jpg|Nanjing Soyat Unique (NJ1020)
</gallery>
A facelifted model called NJ7150 was launched in 2004 and this was further modified in 2006 for the NJ7150B model with a new front design,<ref>{{cite web |title=Spotted in China: Nanjing NJ6400 Encore & NJ7150 Soyat |url=https://carnewschina.com/2015/11/27/spotted-in-china-nanjing-nj6400-encore-nj7150-soyat/ |website=Car News China |accessdate=20 April 2020 |date=27 November 2015}}</ref> but it was all for nothing and by 2008 Soyat production had ended and Nanjing's new owners [[SAIC Group|SAIC]] closed down the Wuxi factory.<ref>{{cite web | title = LDV back from the dead in China | url = http://www.chinacartimes.com/2010/08/10/ldv-back-from-the-dead-in-china/ | date = 2010-08-10 | author = Ash | publisher = China Car Times }}</ref> The car was also noted to be reliable, cheap to maintain and cheap to buy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://carnewschina.com/2015/11/27/spotted-in-china-nanjing-nj6400-encore-nj7150-soyat/|title=Spotted in China: Nanjing NJ6400 Encore & NJ7150 Soyat|date=27 November 2015}}</ref> Pricing for the Yuejin Soyat ranged from 44,900 yuan to 48,300 yuan (6,280 to 6,760 USD).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://db.auto.sohu.com/nanqi-2210/2040/trim.html|title=Nanjing Yuejin Soyat specs}}</ref>
<gallery widths="200" heights="120">
File:Nanjing Yuejin NJ7150B Soyat front.jpg|A 2007 Nanjing NJ7150B Soyat in Xi'an
File:Nanjing Yuejin NJ7150B Soyat rear view.jpg|2007 Nanjing NJ7150B Soyat rear
</gallery>
{{clear_left}}
==Models==
* Nanjing Yuejin NJ6400 / Encore  (英格尔/优尼柯, 1999 - 2003)
* Nanjing Yuejin NJ7150 Soyat (英格尔/新雅途, 2004 - 2006)
* Nanjing Yuejin NJ7150B Soyat (英格尔/新雅途, 2006 - 2008)
* Nanjing Yuejin NJ1020 Unique (优尼柯, four-door tall estate)
These models were mainly sold inside mainland China.
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Cars of China]]
[[Category:1999 in Nanjing]]
{{Modern-auto-stub}}