The L5 is made by Chinese company Youngman. Youngman also assembles the Proton Gen2 in a parnership with Malaysian Proton. The new L5 is co-developed by Youngman and Proton-owned Lotus. The Proton-based cars and the L5 are called ‘Lianhua’ in China, which means Lotus. It is the same name used for the British Lotussus, such as the Elise. The L5 sedan and hatchback debuted at the Beijing Auto Show and will be listed in October. Engine: 1.6 with 93kw and 149nm. Price will start from around 70.000 yuan.

An event held at the riverside in Shanghai’s Huangpu District marks the official international market debut of Lotus’ new L5 Sportback.

The L5 Sportback , powered by Lotus’ Campro 1.6 CPS intelligent engine and using an ultra lightweight chassis, seeks to combine the British marque’s sporting heritage with modern sensibility. The car is a collaboration between Lotus, Malaysian manufacturer Proton and Lotus’ Chinese partner Youngman.

Youngman Europestar launched a new car at Auto China 2010, engineered by Lotus for the Chinese company. The previously launched RCR (GEN2) and Jingyue (Persona) have been renamed the Lotus L3 5-door and 4-door respectively, while this new model has been christened the “Europestar Lotus L5?.

From the naming scheme I’m assuming that this is a car that’s larger than the Persona and GEN2. There’s not much information about the car online at the moment but a peek at the interior reveals that the dashboard is unique but does resemble the Exora’s a little especially in the upper half of the dashboard.

Is this a larger sedan developed from the Exora’s platform? I can’t find information on dimensions anywhere but Europestar’s website says this car marks Europestar’s jump from the A segment to the B segment (vehicle segmentation in China is named differently). The L5 is available in both 5-door hatch and 4-door sedan form and is powered by the Campro CPS engine.

Youngman also unveiled that an L6 and L7 is in the making. Future models will include more sedans as well as SUV and MPV models.

Youngman Lotus L5 Compact Sedan Goes on Sale for 99,800-121,800 Yuan

Developed through a cooperation with the Malaysian automaker Proton and its UK division, Lotus Cars, the L5 is larger and better equipped than the L3, the Chinese-built, rebadged Proton Gen 2 (Proton Gen2 was once assembled and marketed by Youngman in China as EuropeStar RCR). It has a 2670mm wheelbase, exceeding that of the L3 by 70mm. All versions come with cruise control, auto AC, heated power external mirrors, ABS/EBD, backup radar, remote key, and multi-control steering wheel.

Only one engine option is provided: a Campro CPS and VIM 1.6-liter that develops 90.5kW/6500rpm and 149Nm/4500rpm, matched with a 5MT or 4AT. It is more powerful and fuel-efficient than the 1.6-liter found on the L3 hatchback and sedan.

The L5 is built in Youngmans factory in Xiasha of Hangzhou, Zhejiang, while the L3 is made in Shandong.

Based on L5’s platform, Youngman has been developing a MPV and SUV, which will come to the market in 2012.