The vehicle, known as the Lifan X60, will be aimed at urban motorists, and it will sell for 80,000 to 100,000 yuan ($12,100 to $15,200).

The vehicle is 4,325 mm long, 1,790 mm wide and 1,690 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm, according to Lifan. It is fitted with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine developed by Lifan.

Further details about the vehicle haven't been released.

SUVs are one of China's hottest product segments.

Last year, industry sales of SUVs nearly doubled, according to J.D. Power. Consumers in China's Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are starting to buy them, and J.D. Power predicts automakers will introduce 20 new SUV models in 2011.

Lifan, located in the southwest China city of Chongqing, currently builds the Lifan 320, 520 and 620 sedans.

Last year, the private Chinese automaker sold 114,332 vehicles, up 37 percent, according to J.D. Power.