Chinese auto maker Roncheng Hawtai Motor Co. is angling for a seat at the table as a major player in its home market by getting out the good china. As in porcelain.

The Shandong Province-based automaker unveiled a high-concept version of its humdrum B11 midsize sedan at the Beijing auto show featuring a striking paint job and matching interior that invoked a late Ming dynasty vase.

The exterior features cobalt blue floral patterns and Chinese characters in black ink against a snowy white backdrop, meant to look like antique glazed pottery.

The so-called 'blue-and-white wares' design--which is repeated on the leather upholstery, center console and floor mats--took center stage at Hawtai's auto show booth.

Flanked by a Chinese model wearing a similarly colored mandarin gown, the car stopped many passersby in their tracks as they ogled the paint job and stylized cabin.

'We had an idea to use a traditionalporcelain motif to highlight the car's Chinese characteristics,' said Sky Lan, who works in the international department at Hawtai.

The B11 is one of dozens of Chinese models hoping to appeal to car buyers in the world's largest car market, which remains dominated by foreign brand-name vehicles.

Hawtai's car, which had its debut in 2010, is a 1.8-liter diesel engine-powered 'moderate high class sedan,' according to the company. It's sold in China, Southeast Asia and some republics of the former Soviet Union.

Hawtai also makes several other vehicles, including a crossover sedan and a pair of sports utility vehicles--but none of those got an Antiques Road Show-type makeover.

While there are no plans to export B11 models with the porcelain-like paint job, Mr. Sky said that domestic buyers might be able to purchase such a car--if the price is right.

'Should a customeractually request it, we could probably do it on a limitededition basis,' he said.

Chester Dawson

• player [´pleiə]   n.游戏的人；选手   (初中英语单词)
• striking [´straikiŋ]   a.显著的，明显的   (初中英语单词)
• interior [in´tiəriə]   n.&a.内部地(的)   (初中英语单词)
• international [,intə´næʃənəl]   a.国际的，世界的   (初中英语单词)
• soviet [´səuviit]   a.苏联的 n.苏维埃   (初中英语单词)
• export [ik´spɔ:t]   vt.&n.输出，出口   (初中英语单词)
• domestic [də´mestik]   a.家庭的；本国的   (初中英语单词)
• customer [´kʌstəmə]   n.顾客，买主，主顾   (初中英语单词)
• actually [´æktʃuəli]   ad.事实上；实际上   (初中英语单词)
• so-called [´sou ´kɔ:ld]   a.所谓的，号称的   (高中英语单词)
• repeated [ri´pi:tid]   a.反复的；重复的   (高中英语单词)
• appeal [ə´pi:l]   vi.&n.请求；呼吁；上诉   (高中英语单词)
• limited [´limitid]   a.有限(制)的   (高中英语单词)
• edition [i´diʃən]   n.版本；很相似的   (高中英语单词)
• version [´və:ʃən, ´və:rʒən]   n.翻译；说明；译本   (英语四级单词)
• dynasty [´dinəsti]   n.王朝；朝代   (英语四级单词)
• exterior [ik´stiəriə]   n.&a.外表(的)   (英语四级单词)
• antique [æn´ti:k]   a.古代的 n.古物(董)   (英语四级单词)
• console [kən´səul]   vt.安慰；慰问   (英语四级单词)
• similarly [´similəli]   ad.类似地，同样地   (英语四级单词)
• traditional [trə´diʃənəl]   a.传统的，习惯的   (英语四级单词)
• porcelain [´pɔ:slin]   n.瓷 a.瓷的；精美的   (英语四级单词)
• southeast [,sauθ´i:st]   n.&a.东南(方)   (英语四级单词)
• utility [ju:´tiliti]   n.有用 a.有各种用途的   (英语四级单词)