A Roewe 550D 1.8T is pictured after a test drive in Daliang, Liaoning province, on June 4, 2013.A fleet of 20 new Roewe 550D 1.8T cars, officially launched in May, were test driven by the media in Dalian on June 4 and 5. [Hao Yan/chinadaily.com.cn]

A fleet of 20 elegant new Roewe 550D 1.8T sedans, patrolling in an urban area in Dalian, Liaoning province on Wednesday, motivated the appreciation of pedestrians with comments such as "What a nice fleet. I'd like to have one like those."

The new Roewe 550D, sympathetically redesigned, boasts imposing LED daytime running lights and tail lights. The standard 17 inch alloy wheels and the shark fin antenna imbue the redefined Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp car with more style.

The painstakingly re-engineered 1.8-liter turbocharged engine also adds more sporty demeanor into the family targeted sedan. Power from the engine now leaps to 118 kw at 5,500 revs per minute, up 20 percent from its predecessor's 98 kw at 6,000 rpm.

Its peak torque has also jumped significantly -- up 26 percent from 170 Nm at 4,800 rpm to 215 Nm at a low 2,000 to 4,500 rpm. The increase in the torque, and earlier peak torque output have resulted in even swifter performance compared with the earlier Roewe 550 and 550S.

The new tuning of the turbocharged engine ensures responsive driving. It will definitely help when you get stuck in heavy traffic in big cities like Beijing or Shanghai, according to Zeng Congzhi, a reporter at Pcauto.com.cn.

A TST six-speed twin-clutch transmission gearbox is equipped to exploit the performance potential of the turbocharged powertrain.

This almost full-size car, with its 2.7 meter-long wheelbase, provides real space for family or friends in both the passenger and back seats.

Zhang Lu, a reporter at Autotime, said this Roewe 550D suits the needs of the younger generation. Some of them, in their 30s, need more room for a child seat in the back, while some in their 20s want their parents to enjoy spacious back seats.

The push-start, auto-lock, paddle shift, and electric parking brake brings the ease and comfort of higher level vehicles to this compact car at a price range of from 148,800 to 182,800 yuan, not to mention the touch-screen central console, four-window electronic controls, and moonroof.

To ensure a safe driving experience, the car is fully equipped, among other things, with electronic braking, brake assistance, a tire pressure monitoring system, and hill start assistance.

A Roewe 550D 1.8T is pictured after a test drive in Daliang, Liaoning province, on June 4, 2013. [Hao Yan/chinadaily.com.cn]