The Story Of The Roewe R95, A Mercedes-powered Korean-Chinese Limousine

Back in 2008 Roewe wanted to add a full-size sedan to their lineup, to be positioned above the Roewe 750. Happily, Roewe didn’t have to go far to find a suitable donor car.

Roewe is a brand owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The brand was established in 2006, and their first car, the Roewe 750, was based on the good old Rover 75.

SAIC purchased the rights to the Rover 75 from MG Rover in 2006. SAIC however failed to get the Rover brand name, so they went for Roewe instead.

Two years earlier, in 2004, SAIC became the largest shareholder in South Korea’s SsangYong Motor. SAIC owned 51% of the shares, but it was not a very happy deal. There was a lot of friction between the partners, and sales of SsangYong cars went down the drain.

In 2008 SAIC saw an opportunity to add a large sedan to the Roewe lineup, and to earn SsangYong some money at the same time: They would use the SsangYong Chairman as the base for their flagship Roewe R95 sedan.

Production of the SsangYong Chairman W had started in that same year; 2008. It was the first new Chairman since 1997, when the original Chairman H was launched.

The Chairman W was based on the platform of the W220 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (1999-2005), and used Mercedes engines and gearboxes. No wonder SAIC was interested…

The Chairman W came in two variants: standard short-wheelbase, and a long-wheelbase car called Limousine. SAIC took them both, including engines and ‘boxes.

This is the short-wheelbase variant. It was called the R95, and designated CSA7280AC. SAIC didn’t change much to turn the SsangYong Chairman into the Roewe R95: There was a new grille, a new front bumper, and new badges. The bonnet, fenders, interior, and even the wheels, were left completely unchanged.

This is the long-wheelbase variant. It was called the R95L and designated CSA7360AC.

The R95 was powered by a 3.2 liter six-inline Mercedes-Benz engine. Output was 222 hp and 296 Nm. The original Mercedes engine code was M104.99. At SsangYong the engine code was XGi320. At SAIC, the code changed once more, into 126 944.

The R95L had a 3.6 liter Mercedes-Benz engine under the bonnet, good for 247 hp and 343 Nm. Original code was M104.941. SsangYong code: XGi360. SAIC: 163 944.

Both engines were mated to a Mercedes-Benz 7G Tronic automatic transmission. The Chairman was also available with a 5.0 liter V8 (M113 E50 – XGi500), but SAIC didn’t use it for the R95.

Size R95: 5150/1895/1490, wheelbase 2970, and curb weight 1951 kilo.
Size R95L: 5450/1895/1500, wheelbase 3270, and curb weight 2087 kilo.

SAIC received an official production license for the R95 from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). But of course, not much was really ‘produced’ in China. It was more of an assembly-operation where SAIC made the various changes to near-finished vehicles shipped in from South Korea. The engines however were fully made by SsangYong, without any input from SAIC in China.

The R95 got a stylish Shanghai badge on the B-pillar.

SAIC had planned to debut the Roewe R95 on the April 2009 Shanghai Auto Show, and launch the car on the market sometime in spring. Sadly, it was not to happen. After ever lower sales, and big fights between SAIC and SsanYong, the South Korean carmaker declared bankruptcy in January 2009. SAIC refused to put any more money in and SsangYong in turn was unable to deliver any more Chairmans.

SAIC had no other choice than to abandon the entire project. But they didn’t give up on their big sedan idea. In 2012 they launched the Roewe 950, based on the Buick LaCrosse. Confusingly, the Roewe 950 was initially called the Roewe R95.

The cooperation with SsangYong didn’t totally end either. After the bankruptcy SsangYong went looking for a savior, which they eventually found in Mahindra&Mahindra. The Indian company bought SsangYong in 2010.

There was however a somewhat misty time between the bankruptcy and the takeover. In this period SAIC managed to create the Roewe W5, an SUV based on the SsangYong Kyron. SsangYong’s creditors accused SAIC of intellectual-property theft, but this wasnever proven.

Time now to go back to the R95:

The biggest question is how many were made. The exact number is unknown, but it seems SAIC assembled at least a dozen. This black R95L was seen on a truck.

It has a beautiful old-Shanghai style Shanghai badge on the grille.

There is an additional badge on the B-pillar. Behind the R95L stands an R95.

These photos are of the interior of a R95. Roewe ‘R’ badge in the steering wheel is the only change. Leather and wood looks very luxurious.

Note the SAIC floor mat cover.

The infotainment system, with the CD tray above the screen.

An interesting photo showing three R95’s in line. Note rusted brake and plant at the font wheel of the first car, as if they are abandoned test cars.

This R95L was seen on a parking lot. It doesn’t seem to be at a factory, but there is a Roewe 750 parked behind the R95.

Same car seen from the rear.

This one was seen in a Roewe facility, it has blue and red warning lights behind the grille, like on a government car. It doesn’t make sense to put those lights on a prototype. Perhaps SAIC delivered some cars to the local government..?