Sighted on a trailer yesterday, the Borgward BX7 and BX5 have made their ASEAN debut, the duo making their first public appearance in the country at the Malaysia Autoshow 2018, which kicked off today.
The two SUVs are being previewed – in left-hand drive form – ahead of an official announcement that will be made on April 29. No details have been offered, but it is very likely to centre around the appointment of the brand’s distribution network for the ASEAN region.
The two offerings from the German brand, which is owned by Chinese automaker Beiqi Foton Motor, a subsidiary of BAIC Group, are set to be locally assembled.
In an earlier report, Malaysia Automotive Institute CEO Datuk Madani Sahari was cited as saying that the brand – which is being handled locally by Go Bremen Motors – was set to decide on the location of its assembly plant soon, with the newly-created automotive hub in Bagan Datoh, Perak being mentioned as a potential site. The Gurun plant, which currently assembles Haval vehicles under sister company Go Auto, could also be a possibility.
Although pricing hasn’t been revealed, we’ve been told that the CKD programme for the vehicles will begin sometime in the third quarter of the year. Presumably, more details will be offered with the official announcement this weekend.
Borgward, which was formed in 1919 before going bankrupt in 1961, was resurrected in 2015, the BX7’s introduction in Frankfurt that year officially heralding the brand’s return.
Positioned by its maker as a “German branded, wide-bodied intelligent SUV” in the Chinese market, the BX7, available with five, six or seven seats, measures in at 4,715 mm long, 1,911 mm wide and 1,690 mm tall, with a 2,780 mm-long wheelbase.
It’s powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-pot offering 224 PS at 5,500 rpm and 300 Nm from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm. The mill is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission (there’s also a seven-speed dual-clutch on offer, but we aren’t likely to see that in the region), with power being applied to all corners via a permanent all-wheel drive system.
The BX5 made its debut a year later in Geneva, and the Asian market version of the five-seater is a little more compact, stretching the tape at 4,490 mm long, 1,877 mm wide and 1,675 mm tall, with a 2,685 mm-long wheelbase.
Motive power is provided by a 1.8 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine offering 190 PS at 5,500 rpm and 280 Nm from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm. The unit is mated to a six-speed auto transmission, with all-wheel drive again on call. There’s also a downsized 1.4 litre turbo four-pot with 150 PS and 250 Nm, available in China. Local specs have yet to be revealed.
GALLERY: Borgward BX5
GALLERY: Borgward BX7
GALLERY: Borgward BX7 TS
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Proton still wondering where to stick the logo
Where? Even my shirt got a Proton logo
autohub in Bagan Datoh? #maslanbingung.gif
This car will wipe out Boyue. Because it has German DNA.
Boyue has pure China DNA. I rather buy this car. It is like Volvo. Owned by China but still Swedish DNA
This car is tough German quality.
Habis la Boyue. DOA
So what? Not like it’s made of Vibranium
Both using same china made parts. Go for cheaper one?
German DNA? Hahahaha The only thing German about it is the brand name. Beiqi Foton Motors paid €5 Million for the rights to this brand name in 2014. This SUV is pure 100% Chinese developed, manufactured & quality.
As for sales, BX5 & BX7 not selling well in China (first 9 months of 2017, only sold total 30,000 units of BX5 and BX7) & rumoured Foton is looking to sell Borgward as it’s overstretched financially. As a comparison, Geely Boyue sold 286,900 units in 2017. Be interesting if it can sell more than Boyue here.
Good or not we don’t know but what about the price, it must be attractive also.
Good or not we don’t know but what about the price, it must be attractive also.
Ya maybe you’ll get the pure german DNA if you buy it in Germany. They’ll come CKD bro.
Double take of my Levante.
There is nothing wrong about the SUV bcos M’sian loved SUV. It’s ALL about the PRICE. Price it under RM100k, sure thousands can afford one bcos can pay loans up to 9 years ma plus 5 years factory warrants & services to boot.
Well say that to Haval then , i’ve see more ferrari than Haval line up.
But FerLari is not RM100k bro.
Proton X7 (like)
Borgward BX5 (dislike)
The front reminds me of Maserati Levante
much prettier than maserati
goexim made a wrong move…still not launch? planning to launch at year end coincide with p1 suv launch?
oh dear…lets hope they get their plant up and running quick before they lose those sales numbers
Hmmm…
Who made the engine and gearbox for this new reborned?
Whose chasis design do they borrowed?
Introductory offer please :)
The commercial vehicles they manufacture uses Cummins (diesel) engines.
Would hesitate to guess they got it all from parent company BAIC (Beijing Auto)
Borgward?! The last time I had seen a Borgward on the road was in 1960’s! This Borgward must have been reanimated by a totally new entity n owner.It was last heard it went under in late 60’s.
seems like Borgward went to the future and learned all he could with future car makers for 50 years and decided to send his grandson back to 2018 to create such masterpiece while at the same time keep it in line with current technologies.
You literally repeated what the article said.
Looks better than the Haval line up here. My only gripe with it is the dated looking dash and centre console. Since the BX7 is a 2015 era design the diodes making the front LED DRLs look very dated but hey if it’s going for under 150k with all the kit on board I’m not going to complain as I can see surround view cameras with a power boot.
Car looks good. look like Buick
Beauty, let’s wait for the pricing.
Beautiful SUV. Saw it at MAEPS exhibition. A class above Boyue & Haval.
FRont like CX5 only, a level lower than jepunis SUV
Jepun no where near it. Not even CX5.
Body design can go head to head with the Japanese boys but interior needs a makeover to set it apart from others. The important questions are about build quality and driving performance. If those two are lacking, it won’t find traction against established players. Plus…IMHO, ‘Borgward’ just sounds… uninspiring…. it’s brings to mind words like bog, bogged and backward.
I believe that it should be pricing, quality and after sales services. BX-5 if about 70-80 k than it can sell compete with boyue. BX-7 also can sell as it is 7 seater and if it pricing on 110k to 120k, compete with X-Trail, Innova & CR-V. If pricing are almost same with the Japanese competitor than of course people will likely to choose the X-trail or CR-V.