Brilliance Auto, BMW's partner in Brilliance already sells the larger BS6 sedan in Germany but the Chinese automaker received negative headlines in Europe last year when the BS6 failed miserably at ADAC’s crash tests gathering just one out of five stars. The Chinese automaker has said then that it would improve the car’s safety standards changing more than 60 components in order to achieve a better rating at ADAC’s crash tests.
The report added that the EV will be built on the platform of the current BMW 5-Series, a long-wheel base version of which is assembled at the German firm's plant in Shenyang, China, and that a pre-production concept study will make its world premiere at an auto show in China sometime this year. No other details were given about the electric model.
Source: Beijing Youth Daily via Autonews [Sub. Req]
_________________________BMW 5-SERIES LWB_________________________
What we have here is a faux-crossover version of Brilliance Motors' FRV hatchback that was unveiled along with a new sedan variant of the car at the Shanghai Auto Show. Just like any modern wannabe crossover, the FRV Cross' body shell has been bolstered with lashings of protective plastic add-ons and matt aluminum underbody skid trays along with a set of roof rails and newly designed alloy wheels, but that about sums it up.Chinese customers and quite possibly, Europeans in the very near future, will be able to choose from two four cylinder gasoline engines with a displacement of 1.3- and 1.6-liters that deliver an output of 85 and 100 horsepower respectively.
___________________________________________
Pics copyright: UP
One of the most interesting concept cars unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show was the all-electric Brilliance EV. BMW Group's Chinese partner said that the EV is equipped with two electric motors and a set of lithium-ion batteries. The first electric motor that produces the equivalent of 30HP allows the EV to travel a distance of 130km or 80 miles with a top speed of 40km/h or 25mph. When the second motor kicks in, the EV's output more than doubles while in this case, it can reach a top speed of 130m/h or 80mph.Most will have already noticed that the EV's design bears a 'few' similarities with the Volkswagen Space-Up! Concept that was revealed at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show. But unlike the VW's rear suicide doors, the EV features a set of fancy-pancy electric operated doors that slide outwards. Inside, Brilliance's designers adorned the four-seater EV with a futuristic dashboard and the usual high-tech gizmos.
BMW's Chinese partner, Brilliance Auto, has revealed the first photos of its new derivative of the subcompact FRV, the sedan version that will be making its world premiere at next week's 2009 Shanghai Auto Show. Brilliance, which made its first appearance on U.S. soil at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show this past January, will most likely offer the FRV sedan with the same powertrain options as the hatchback model that is available with two gasoline engines, an 85HP 1.3-liter and an 100HP 1.6-liter unit.The FRV Sedan is scheduled to go on sale in China this summer. There's a strong possibility that HSO Importers Europe, Brilliance's German-based distributor in Europe, may also bring the VW Jetta-sized four-door saloon as the BS2 to the Old Continent towards the end of the year or in early 2010.
The 2009 Detroit Auto Show marked the first official appearance of China's Brilliance on the U.S. automotive scene. BMW's Chinese partner introduced four of its most prominent models to the American public, including the Pininfarina designed M1 mid-sized sedan and the M2 compact saloon, as well as the M3 Coupe and FRV C-segment hatchback. Thanks to Mitsubishi's decision to pull out from this year's show, Brilliance was able to occupy (along with China's BYD) that space on the main floor of the Cobo Centre.
Brilliance has already began selling many of its vehicles to several European countries as well as emerging markets such as Russia and Egypt. The Chinese automaker has not made any announcements lately about if and when it will launch its line-up in North America, but we gather that with the current economic crunch and the effects it has on the American auto market, it won't be any time soon.
