Borgward has announced at the Shanghai Motor Show that it is going to start selling its cars in Russia. This is primarily about, which is produced at a factory in the suburbs of Beijing and has been sold in China since July last year. However, this spring, Borgward also introduced a more compact one (in the title photo), which is about to enter the Chinese market - and which, in the future, should also get to Russia.
According to Autoreview, the company has already begun the process of car certification in our country, however, during an interview in Shanghai, CEO Ulrich Volker only confirmed that the Russian market is being studied and a promotion strategy is being formed. According to Volker, Borgward considers itself to be in the "affordable premium" segment, and sees Volkswagen first of all as competitors on a global level. True, the head of the company refused to outline the price segment. In Russia, Borgward initially plans to sell only imported cars, but if sales grow steadily, the company will begin work on localization.
Borgward BXi7 with electric motor
Recall that Borgward is a German brand that was founded in 1919, but in 1961 the company went bankrupt and was revived only in May 2015. The Chinese company Foton, which is part of the BAIC concern and produces commercial vehicles, is behind the rebirth project, but in 2010 it began developing passenger cars by inviting managers, engineers and designers from Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.
However, it was not until 2013 that Foton entered into an agreement to buy the brand with Christian Borgward, who owned the rights to the Borgward name and had been looking for opportunities to revive the family brand for almost a decade. Two years later, the company was registered in Stuttgart as a German company and made its debut on.
Since 2016 Anders Warming, former Mini stylist, has been the head designer, but the BX7 and BX5 models were of course finished before his arrival, with the participation of Einar Hereide, former Saab chief designer and author of the second-generation Saab 900 and Saab 9-5 cars. In developing the platform, Borgward collaborated with global contractors: FEV helped create a two-liter turbo four, BorgWarner made a preselective “robot” and all-wheel drive, and Aisin made an electromechanical variator for hybrid versions.
The hierarchy of models is simple: the BX7 acts as an analog of the Audi Q5, is almost identical in size and is equipped with a 2.0 turbo engine (221 hp). Since July last year, China has managed to sell 30 thousand of these cars - not the most outstanding result. But Borgward is pinning its hopes on a more compact BX5 with a 1.8 turbo engine (190 hp) - a classmate of such golf crossovers as the Volkswagen Tiguan or Hyundai Tucson. In addition, a coupe-like crossover has also been created based on the BX5 (it has not yet reached the assembly line), and two more platforms are in development - for a shortened crossover and for an electric car, which will be presented in a year.
The modest result in the domestic market encourages Borgward to be active on the export front: according to Ulrich Walker, at the moment the process of car certification has been launched in almost 30 countries. Russia is not at the top of the list of priorities: Volker explained that now the company is focused on launching sales in the Middle East and has already signed a contract with an importer in Qatar. The next priority market is South America, and in 2018 Borgward will begin construction of a plant in Germany. Thus, the appearance in Russia should be expected no earlier than next year.
It is completely incomprehensible where the German car manufacturer Karl-Friedrich-Wilhelm Borgward dug up this name for his new mid-range model. His mother was Sophia, his wife was Elizabeth, his daughter was Monica, not a single Isabella was seen among the older and younger sisters either ...
Any romantic childhood friend? Hardly: Karl-Friedrich-Wilhelm was born in 1890, there was little room for romance in Germany during his childhood. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the manufacturer, who himself received all three of his names in honor of the German emperors, starting with Charlemagne, simply named his novelty in honor of some historical person. Say, Isabella of Castile, whose union with Philip of Aragon marked the beginning of the modern Spanish state. But there is no reliable data on this subject.
It is only known for sure that it was he, Karl-Friedrich-Wilhelm Borgward, who gave this name to the car, which in the course of development bore a completely different official designation - Erlkoenig. And one more documented fact: it was Elizabeth Borgward who received the very first copy of the elegant coupe as a gift, and two years before this model went into production. A loving husband presented her with an exclusive car in 1955, on her birthday and on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of family life together. The car was painted in a catchy orange-red ("tomato") color and had an automatic transmission; Frau Borgward drove it for the rest of her life - the car still remains the property of the Borgward family, only the color changed to a more modest dark blue.
The production of cars under the Isabella brand began back in 1954 - this model replaced the Hansa 1500/1800 car on the assembly line, which Borgvard was rightfully proud of as the first truly post-war West German model. All other automakers in the country were still driving their pre-war models to the market - and in Bremen they had already launched the serial production of a modern smooth-board car with a "pontoon" (that is, three-volume) body! Even Mercedes-Benz came up with its "pontoon" only by 1953 - by the time this model appeared, Bremen's Hansa had been in production for more than three years and had as many as seven modifications, including three diesel ones. Models with two doors and four, open and cargo-passenger were offered. As it turned out, such a variety of German buyers in the first half of the fifties seemed to be useless - the release of a four-door modification during the transition to the Isabella type range was abandoned, as well as diesel traction, leaving only a four-cylinder petrol engine for 1493 cubic meters. see working volume.
The convertible, however, had to be left - this type of body continued to be in great demand among the Germans, no matter what - and the cargo-and-passenger modification too; another thing is that this version went on sale only from May 1955, while the first two-door sedan solemnly rolled off the main assembly line on June 10, 1954. (The open model was produced by the Cologne coachbuilder Karl Deutsch, cutting off the metal top from a standard sedan.) From September 1955, deliveries of Borgward Isabella cars began in the TS (Touring Sport) version, with a 75-horsepower engine instead of the standard 60-horsepower, and in In 1957, the line of models was replenished with a two-door coupe, modeled after the personal car of the wife of the owner of the company.
The chassis of the novelty was no different from the original versions - the same independent suspension front and rear, the same four-speed transmission, the same steering mechanism based on a pair of “worm and roller”, the same drum brakes with hydraulics; even the wheelbase remained the same, 2600 mm. However, due to the shortened interior - the car belonged to the 2 + 2 class, and it was not supposed to have a full-size rear sofa - the length of the trunk increased sharply, as a result of which the proportions of the body changed dramatically, and the intense plastic of the sides "stretched" the car even more horizontally, dividing its volume below the glazed "attic" with sweeping and bold strokes of light lines. The new silhouette was very well complemented by the contour of the top - the car turned out to be stylish and elegant, while maintaining a "family resemblance" with the rest of the Isabellas thanks to the same frontal processing.
In the second half of the fifties, German car styling was generally on the rise, at that time the BMW 503, and the BMW 507, and the Mercedes 300 SL, and the Mercedes 190 SL, and the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia were born; even the miserable socialist Wartburg with its three cylinders - and it looked smart and dapper even in its serial four-door version, not to mention experimental or small-scale two-doors ... And still, in 1957 there was no more effective and beautiful car either in East Germany or in Western than the Borgward Isabella Coupe. Against the background of this car, not only all the other Isabellas were lost, but also the Ford Taunus, and Opel Olympia Rekord with their newfangled "American" styling, not to mention any small things like DKW or NSU. Moreover, less than 11 thousand marks were asked for all this beauty, while the “one hundred and ninetieth” Mercedes (W 121) cost at least sixteen and a half, and the “three hundredth” with lifting doors (W 1981) generally cost under thirty. By the way, today a well-restored Isabella Coupe can cost about 18 thousand, but not marks, but the euro: “feel the difference” ...
The only “facelift” of the car, purely cosmetic, came in August 1958: all Borgward Isabella cars had their front cladding changed, slightly reducing the branded “diamond” - now it was inscribed in the cutout of the false radiator, and not superimposed on top of it. Since May 1960, on all models of this type range, they began to offer a four-band “automatic” instead of the standard transmission - this box bore the proud name of Hansamatic, but in fact it was not the company’s own development, but was purchased by import from the English company Hobbs. This pleasure was quite expensive, 980 marks in excess of the full cost of the car, and therefore was not in great demand. Another option turned out to be much more popular - the Saxomat automatic clutch: a centrifugal clutch and a vacuum chamber, acting together, “squeezed out” the clutch as soon as the driver took the transmission lever, and turned it back on with the first press on the accelerator pedal.
It was generally a fairly common device in those days - European cars of various brands were equipped with it: BMW, Opel, NSU, Glas, Volkswagen Beetle, and even SAAB. The Cologne wizards from the firm of Karl Deutsch tried to make a convertible, a two-seater, out of the Isabella coupe, using the same method of “amputation of the roof,” but the public greeted this venture with coolness: the view of the car in the open version was not so hot, and it cost it is already 15,600 marks, while their regular (that is, made from a sedan) convertible car that seats five was sold for only 12,535 marks in the most expensive version of the TS. So Karl Deutsch managed to build and sell only a dozen of these "coupe-cabrio", plus another such car built to order by Georg Autenrieth in Darmstadt. Now such machines come across quite often, but all of these are completely remakes: you can see with the naked eye.
The production of Isabella machines continued until the complete cessation of production by Borgward as a result of a hostile takeover. It was this car that last left the factory assembly line in the fall of 1961, crowned with a poignantly bitter poster: “Goodbye, Isabella, you were too good for this world ...” However, that farewell copy still had a sedan body, not a coupe.
The revived German automaker Borgward with Chinese registration can now confidently be called “Chinese premium”: the company, which previously announced German cooperation, is switching to a more familiar option with local specialists. The price tag, however, remains quite European.
The first crossover of the revived brand is, the world premiere of the pre-production version of which took place at the Frankfurt autumn auto show, and the serial execution of which was promised to be brought to. The company is positioning the new crossover as a premium product, while the announced price is also not the most democratic: from 30 thousand euros in basic equipment.
At the same time, it is impossible to call the new Chinese crossover fundamentally new: it is based (and the vast majority of other components) on the already familiar one. Changes to the premium crossover logically touched on the exterior, the interior is decorated using sufficiently high-quality materials - this became the defining point “this is ordinary, and this is premium”.
It is equipped with a turbocharged 2-liter gasoline engine with 224 hp, docked with a 7-speed “robot”, and a hybrid modification based on the same 224-horsepower engine and electric motor will be presented a little later, producing a total of 401 hp.
As in the case of the Borgward BX7, the brand’s future crossovers will not be their own development: they are all based on the same “Chinese”: the BX5 is based on, and in the future the BX3 is the Beijing Senova X35.
Curious fact: despite the continuity of the platform from the Chinese comrades, the Beijing Senova crossover platform also cannot be called its own development at all. Historically, the picture is as follows: in 2007, the BAIC concern bought the rights to the obsolete Matrix trolley from the American concern GM. And even earlier, this platform was bought from SAAB: there it was used in models 9-3 and 9-5.
The premium Chinese crossover Borgward BX7 will first of all conquer the market of the new Motherland, and it will go to Europe by 2017, where the base price of 30 thousand euros indicated above was announced.
Serial Borgward BX7 2016-2017 model year - photos and videos, price and specifications, specifications of the new crossover from China. The official premiere of the serial version of the Chinese crossover Borgward BX7 is scheduled for the Beijing Auto Show 2016 (auto show in Beijing). Motorists met the pre-production version of the novelty - Borgward BX7 Concept in the fall of 2015 in Germany at. The Borgward BX7 will start selling in China in the summer of 2016, according to preliminary data, the price will be from 35 thousand dollars.
A small digression into history. The German automobile company Carl F. W. Borgward, founded in 1929 by Karl Borgward, was engaged in the production of buses, cars and trucks. But in 1961, the company ceased to exist due to bankruptcy. In 2008, the founder's grandson, Christian Borgward, re-established the company under the new name of Borgward AG with the financial support of the Chinese company Foton, which in turn is a subsidiary of the BAIC concern. So the Borgward BX7 is a purely Chinese product, and in fact we have before us a turned, refined and improved BAIC Senova X65 crossover (pictured below).
The exterior design of the body of the new Borgvard BH7 was carried out by the former chief designer of Saab, Norwegian Einar Hareide.
Interestingly, the brothers of other BAIC crossover models from Borgward have already been prepared for production: the Senova X55 was converted into, and the Senova X35 was turned into a Borgward BX3.
The efforts of the designer who created a stylish image of the new Chinese crossover, aiming at the premium class, are worthy of praise. The new SUV from China really looks modern, stylish, sporty and European. In a word, soundly and solidly, without unnecessary tinsel and coarseness. Most of all, attention is drawn to the original false radiator grille with vertical bars, stylish headlights with optics lenses and LED beams of daytime running lights and direction indicators, smooth and harmonious body lines, attractive design of light alloy wheels, harmonious crossover feed with neat marker lights.
- The external dimensions of the body of the new Chinese crossover Borgward BX7 are 4715 mm long, 1910 mm wide, 1690 mm high, with a 2760 mm wheelbase and 190 mm ground clearance.
- Depending on the equipment level, the novelty is offered with light-alloy 17-18 inch wheels with tires 235/65 R17 or 235/60 R18.
With its external body dimensions, the Borgvard BX7 is comparable to such crossovers as,,. So in the cabin you can install three rows of seats.
The new Borgward BX7 is offered in a large number of configurations and versions that differ from each other not only in terms of options, but also in the ability to order a 5, 6 and 7-seater cabin configuration. The luggage compartment is able to take from a modest 126 liters of cargo volume behind the backs of the third row and an acceptable 545 liters behind the backs of the second row, the maximum luggage capacity is 1377 liters in the five-seater version of the SUV and 1277 liters in the seven-seater version.
The interior design of the new crossover from the Celestial model BX7 from the revived Borgward company is perhaps one of the best among cars made in China. Modern and stylish architecture of the front panel and center console, high-quality finishing materials and neat assembly, excellent ergonomics and a lot of advanced equipment. As standard, there is a steering column adjustment in height and depth, a color screen of the on-board computer on the instrument panel, 6 airbags, central locking with remote control and a factory anti-theft system, ABS, EBD, EBA, BAS, ASR, ESP, Hill- start Assist, electric parking brake with compact button, R17 alloy wheels, multifunction steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, artificial leather seat upholstery, driver's seat lift, 12.3-inch color touch screen multimedia system (music, Bluetooth, USB + AUX ), an audio system with 7 speakers, air conditioning, electric side windows and heated rear-view mirrors.
Expensive configurations will additionally delight with genuine leather upholstery, 9 airbags, a keyless entry system with an engine start button, a panoramic roof with a sunroof equipped with an electric drive, R18 wheels, xenon adaptive headlights, fog lights, an electric tailgate opening, cruise control, dual-zone climate control -control, rear view camera, electric adjustment of the first row seats, the second row of seats able to move along the cabin with a split backrest that changes the angle of inclination, heating and ventilation of the first and second row seats, navigation system and Internet access, night vision system, panoramic cameras .
Specifications Borgward BX7 crossover: from the start of sales, they plan to equip the novelty with a gasoline four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in two versions (201 hp 300 Nm and 224 hp 300 Nm) paired exclusively with 6 automatic transmissions.
Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option.
Suspension is fully independent with MacPherson struts in front and multi-link rear, disc brakes in a circle.
In the very near future, a more powerful gasoline V6 will be prescribed under the hood of the crossover, and a hybrid version with a 400-horsepower power plant will also appear.
Borgward BX7 2016-2017 video test
The Chinese brand Borgward AG introduced a stylish urban crossover BX5 in November this year. This is the final version of the car, which will be put into production. The SUV is an almost complete copy of the BX5 Concept, the model presented a few months earlier.
The SUV was the second development of the revived Borgward brand, which ceased to exist back in 1963. It is a subsidiary of the Chinese company Foton Motor, headquartered in Stuttgart.
European Design Chinese Borgward VH5
Appearance testifies to the powerful influence of European design trends. These are rounded, inflated shapes, smooth lines that form an elegant sporty style. It is expressed in a massive front end, which tapers towards the stern of the car. Sports features are also visible in the massive grille, narrow headlights, stylish body kit.
The solidity of the crossover is added by the expressive contours of the wheel arches, which are in harmony with the volume stamping of the side doors. The car is shod in 18-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tires in size 225/60.
Behind the SUV looks elegant. This is facilitated by rounded shapes, neat, stylish lights, a bumper made in a sporty concept. There is nothing superfluous here, all elements are harmoniously combined.
Interior BX5 2017-2018 - conceptual, functional features
We must pay tribute to Chinese car brands, they create comfort in the cabin, skillfully combining finishing materials and technical equipment. The BX5 was no exception. The crossover received leather trim with excellent ergonomics and multifunctional content.
Traditionally for the luxury class, the interior of the SUV is focused on the convenience of driving and the comfort of passengers.
The latter is created due to the ergonomics of high-level seats, full power accessories. The driver gains control over the off-road systems due to the well-thought-out arrangement of controls, some of which are displayed on the steering wheel. Here the company does not lag behind advanced automotive brands.
Dimensions of the novelty
In terms of dimensions, the Chinese is a full-fledged representative of the class of full-size urban SUVs:
- length - 4490 mm;
- width - 1877 mm;
- height - 1675 mm.
- wheelbase - 2685 mm;
- ground clearance of almost 20 cm in combination with wide 18-inch wheels gives good cross-country ability.
Specifications
Following the trend, Borgward AG has equipped the new SUV with a hybrid powertrain. It consists of a turbocharged gasoline unit with a capacity of 140 hp, a displacement of 1.4 liters and an electric drive with a capacity of 115 horses. In total, the installation produces 255 hp. Together with it comes a robotic 7-mode transmission with two clutches.
The crossover will be equipped with another 190 hp petrol turbocharged engine. and a volume of 1.9 liters. A 6-mode automatic transmission is installed with the engine.
The suspension is inherited from the first model released by Borgward AG, the BX7 crossover. It's a fully independent multi-link at the rear and a subframe-supported MacPherson strut at the front. This concept makes the car quite maneuverable and easy to control.
It is expected that front-wheel drive versions will go on sale, and the ability to connect 4×4 mode will be optional. Some sources claim that already the basic equipment will be able to use the advantages of 4x4 on rough terrain.
BX5 package, price
Accurate information regarding configuration options is not yet available. Details will appear when the crossover enters the automotive market, which is expected in early spring 2017. Only a general list of technical and technological options is known:
- Steering wheel with heating function;
- Heated all seats;
- Electric drive of front seats;
- Cruise control;
- Climate control;
- Parktronic, all-round visibility function without dead zones;
- Active safety consisting of 9 airbags;
- Multifunctional system with 10-inch display;
- Digital instrument panel;
- Electronic parking brake;
- Keyless start function.
All this is offered by the BX5 in the top configuration. Cheaper versions will not contain as many options, but this will not greatly affect the comfort of driving a crossover.
Regarding the cost of a Chinese, according to preliminary information, this is from 120,000 to 180,000 CNY (yuan) or 1,100,000–1,600,000 rubles, which is significantly less than the cost of a Chinese’s European classmates.
Video test Borgward BH5 2017-2018:
