Shenyang Songliao and Polarsun. Part 2: Polarsun.

Polarsun (Zhongshun) started with just a name change, continuing the production of the new Roger-designed minibus. This vehicle is based on the fourth generation of the Toyota HiAce. Polarsun is still using the SLQ  denomination, the minibus is called Polarsun Century SLQ6503.

Polarsun Century SLQ5023 at the Shanghai Salon 2005. There were several different front ends.

Like Songliao with its contacts with Nanjing Yuejin, FAW, Changchun and Tianjin Research and Development Institute and the Century Auto Company, the American designers under the inspiring mr. Roger; like Songliao also Zhongshun (Polarsun) likes to play big. They started Research & Development Centers in the USA (Los Angeles 2002; Detroit 2003) and China (Shenyang, Shanghai). Export to South America, Africa, Arab countries, even to North Korea.

Polarsun early protoype, strangely named SZS4503E.

At the Shanghai Show 2005 an MPV and a SUV were shown. No nomenclature.

Polarsun SUV, Shanghai Show 2005. Photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.
Polarsun SUV, Shanghai Show 2005. Photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.
Polarsun MPV, a six-seater, introduced at the Shanghai Show 2005. Photo PC-auto.

In the same year plans were revealed to work together with Magna Steyr.

Two pickups were shown, named Torque, designation SZS1020FD and FS with C498QA2 2464cc engine or SZS1020S and D with a XG491Q-ME 2237cc engine.

Polarsun Torque SZS1020 single cab pickup.
Polarsun Torque SZS1020 crew cab pickup.

In 2006 Polarsun showed three new vehicles, at the Beijing Auto Show. In stead of the SLQ denomination, the new SZS was in use.

Polarsun MPV SZS6430, Beijing Auto Show 2006, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau. Note the unique ‘revolutionary’ logo.
Polarsun MPV SZS6430, Beijing Auto Show 2006, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

The MPV SZS6430 has a 1834cc 4G93 Mitsubishi engine and had a length of 4342mm.

Polarsun SUV-B SZS6480, Beijing Auto Show 2006, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

A virgin white 4800mm long SUV-B SZS6480 equipped with a 2237cc XG491Q-ME engine.

The other SUV, seen a year before, has got a new grille and is now named the SZS6450.

Polarsun SUV SZS6450, Beijing Auto Show 2006, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

Two new updates of the pickup were shown.

Polarsun Single Cab Pickup SZS1020FS, Beijing Auto Show 2006, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.
Polarsun Crew Cab Pickup SZS1020FD, Beijing Auto Show 2006, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

The design studio of mr. Roger is super active.

Proposals for new Polarsun cars.

The car project is promising. A 1:1 model was made.

Polarsun is clearly playing with the idea.

Car project: discussions. Seen on a video.
The car project, 1:1 model in the studio.

The car idea was abandoned.

At the Shanghai Show 2007, again a new range of vehicles. Polarsun must have spent capitals, year after year!

Polarsun Family MPV-B SZS6400, Shanghai Show 2007, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

A new, a five-seat MPV, called ‘Family MPV-B’. 1342cc DH413 or 1425cc CA4GB1 engine, length 3980mm.

Polarsun Family MPV-B SZS6400, Shanghai Show 2007, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.
Polarsun Family MPV-B SZS6400, Shanghai Show 2007, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

The SZS6430, introduced  year before, was refreshed and got the name ‘Leisure MPV-A’.

Polarsun Leisure MPV-A SZS6430, Shanghai Show 2007, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.
Polarsun Business MPV SZS6510, introduced at the Shanghai Show 2007.
Polarsun Business MPV SZS6510, at the Shanghai Show 2007, photo Auto Sohu.
Polarsun Business MPV SZS6510, at the Shanghai Show 2007, photo Auto Sohu.

The ‘Business MPV’ was equipped with a 2464cc CA498QA2 engine. The length of the bus was 5080mm. It was a twin of the FAW Free Wind.

Very American was the stretched Limo. Length 8000mm, engine CA498QA2, 2464cc.

Polarsun Stretched Limousine, Shanghai Show 2007, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.
Inside the Polarsun Limo, photo Autohome.

At the Beijing 2008 Show there was a concept of an updated minibus.

Polarsun Minibus updated, Beijing Show 2008, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

And over the years, till 2010, the ordinary minibus was made.

Polarsun Century Bus, many versions.

And now the truth. You can design cars whatever you want, but you also have to produce them and to sell them. Polarsun made between 2006 and 2009: 26 MPV’s and 8 SUV’s!~Desastrous figures.

High roof version of the Minibus:

Polarsun Century SZS6503.

The reason why the company survived during this years was the production of the minibuses:
2003: 216, 2004: 1473, 2005: 4885, 2006: 10170, 2007: 18024, 2008: 11287, 2009: 2540, 2010: 0.

2010: Zero. That was the end. Broke.

Polarsun Minibus in North Korea. Still in use.

In 2018 the electric car (NEV) manufacturer WM Motors (Weltmeister) bought the stocks of Polarsun Motors including the SZS license that gives the right to produce automobiles.

 

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Paul

I wondered what had become of Polarsun.

Thanks Erik

somil

The facelifted pickups have the same front as the Shuguang Conqueror.

JFK

I have found a CGI picture of what seems like Polarsun Business from 2005:

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Erik van Ingen Schenau

Yes, practically in each brochure at the motor shows in Beijing and Shanghai, Polarsun showed pictures of new models. These models were never realized.

G Smith

The Detroit based research center was called Summitech, I worked for them for about a year during which time they proposed a large portfolio of products (all copies) that they thought they could build on the same production line. Not surprised they closed the doors shortly after

derek c.

the mpv is a literal faw freewind with a funny nose and the 2006 polarsun looks like the changfeng kylin mpv. And why is the proposal picture literally full of japanese cars with redesigned front ends?

JFK

Today i have learned that the Polarsun van was also sold in Ukraine as Groz Polarsun. They sold a couple of different chinese cars around the late 00s, of note is the BAW Qishi.

derek c.

was it sold with the funny badge?

derek c.

it’s scary. almost every smal car brand at the time copied of each other and took ideas from faw, baic, saic and plenty more. :0

derek c.

plus, if imported cars weren’t in china, everyone would be driving a yanjing minivan or a shanghai sh760.

derek c.

sad im a kid cause l never saw any old cars during my visit to china
🙁

derek c.

the 1:1 scale model is litterally just a toyota camry. and what the hell did they put in the proposal pictures?! they are just japanese cars but with just a few changes. oh, and the polarsun mpv copied of the faw freewind mpv which copied Off the Guangzhou baolong mpv.
🫠

Renfei

I saw a Polarsun centry bus in Tianjin in 2017 and took a photo for it. Unfortunately, I can’t find the photo now.