The Beijing Automotive Industry Corp, better known as BAIC, has debuted a new model for South Africa. Embracing its origins, the Beijing X55 SUV will set the foundation for the manufacturer going into the future.
A flurry of Chinese automakers have capitalised on our feverish and insatiable appetite for SUVs, but now is the turn of BAIC who have been milling on the sidelines in our market for some time now.
The latest Beijing X55 is a completely original design, unlike some other models in the Chinese automaker’s lineup which share commonalities with offerings from other brands. BAIC tout the newcomer as a compact SUV with avant-garde styling which employs the latest generation of the BAIC Group’s BMFA (Beijing modular functional architecture) platform chassis, which will underpin future vehicle models and plug-in hybrid vehicle models.
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Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BAIC South Africa, Mr Hugo HU says that the company has invested in developing intelligent cars under a new brand. Harnessing a strategic partnership with Daimler, the Chinese automaker also proudly mentioned that future models will include technology from the storied German brand.
Under the bonnet of the Beijing X55 SUV will be a 1,5-litre turbo engine with a dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Statistics are claimed at 130 kW 305 N.m while the model can hit 100 km/h from a standstill in 7,8 seconds. The BMFA generation 2.0 architecture chassis on which it is based also offers multiple driving modes: eco, comfort, sports and smart. For those concerned with fuel economy, BAIC claims combined usage to be 7,2L/100km.
Pricing and specification on the model are still scarce at the moment but based on how other Chinese brands have fared, we can possibly expect a raft of technology offered at an affordable price with the Beijing X55 SUV.
