Rolling a Reliant Robin - Top Gear - BBC
I do not think that the Chinese have grasped the concept of a press release, the item that we have been given to the Geneva Motor Show is a novel Certainly there is much to brag about the Chinese automaker Brilliance JinBei The company is trying to effectively make history by launching a product offensive on the European market, starting with the BS6 and BS4 sedans unveiled in Geneva.
The cars look better than anything we have seen out of China and there is a good reason threaded Brilliance Italian designer Giugiaro to pen the two models with the sorted sheet, the Chinese manufacturer has worked closely with various German and Japanese partners to produce a competent car around.
Center Porsche optimized the chassis development, while the engines were developed by Mitsubishi Motors, and cars are built on a production line designed by Schenck AG under advisement a BMW Production specialist using just production methods Toyota learned in time.
The design and technical collaboration resulted in two saloons The BS6 sedan measures of front wheel drive along 4880mm and will be the first offer of Brilliance, powered by either 2 or 2 liter petrol engines 4 liters Unit 2 liter creates 122bhp and torque, while the unit 2 to 4 liters puts out 130bhp and twisting two motors with the technology valves 16 and a mode five-speed transmission - the result of cooperation between Brightness and Mitsubishi.
With the BS4 salon, the Chinese manufacturer seeks to rival the Vauxhall Vectra, Ford Focus and Audi A3 in the already crowded C-segment; a noble goal indeed shorter than the BS6 by 230mm, the car will be offered with two engine options four-cylinder normally aspirated 1 8 liters, and a version of the turbocharged 136bhp Creating the standard form, the turbocharged 8- 1 liter unit will produce 170bhp and torque coupling to an independent four-speed automatic developed by Brilliance instead of a manual transmission with five speeds Mitsubishi source.
Two complete trim levels will be offered both the BS6 and BS4 models comfort and luxury The BS6 2 liters and 8 liters BS4 1 will be equipped with all comforts including air conditioning, front seats electrically adjustable, parking assist, power windows electrical, and alloy wheels the 2 BS6 4 liter turbo BS4 will be available with a luxury trim fitting, by adding an automatic temperature control, leather seats, a leather steering wheel, 6 CD, and a power sunroof.
Partner, Hans-Ulrich Sachs, head of the automotive distribution company HSO Motors Europe and was responsible for launching both Hyundai and Volkswagen brands abroad is convinced that the Chinese manufacturer will benefit from the criticism of Japanese and Korean manufacturers experienced in Her past the ambitious goals could see Brilliance models find a foothold in Europe in the next five years - half the time it took the Korean manufacturers to set up a quarter of the time it took manufacturers Japanese.
established automobile distributors are currently selected by HSO to sell 15,000 vehicles in Europe this year, Brilliance plans to sell 75,000 vehicles on the continent by 2010.
The introduction of the Brilliance BS6 - with a starting price of about 20 000 - will debut in Germany, Austria, Poland and Switzerland, with the middle of BS4 sedan range following later in the year diesel powerplants join the service offerings in both cars by the end of 2007. No word yet on when we'll see them in the UK, but you can be sure they will.
We spent five minutes sniffing around the BS6 and BS4 in Geneva and they're not bad at all it is true that the internal environment is not a patch on the likes of the Ford Mondeo, but it is acceptable and certainly better than the Japanese and Korean manufacturers first attempts to break Europe no doubt we will be more FAMILIARIZATION at some point in the not too distant.
Chinese Brilliance Brilliance New Car Enthusiast, Chinese shine.