Dongfeng
Fengshen HUV Concept
Dongfeng launched
the HUV Concept on
the 2016 Beijing Auto
Show. It is the second vehicle
with such a name and of such a kind. The first HUV debuted in 2012 and in 2013 we heard it would see production, but that never happened. The new HUV looks pretty much
production ready, and it has been moved under the Fengshen
brand, which also indicates Dongfeng has plans to bring it to the
market.
The latest
HUV has much better looks than the old one. Still square, but hip, in a Toyota
FJ-Cruiser style. Rear door handle hidden in the C-pillar. Off road tires with
matte gray sporty five spoke alloys. Big roof rails for ferrying the canoe.
The interior
was still a bit concept-ish but the overall shape seems good for
production. The center stack is very cool with a navigation system asking
for your ‘objective’, instead of for your destination.
Dongfeng didn’t say
what was under the bonnet. The old HUV had a 170 Hp 3.0 turbo diesel. That won’t
cut it in 2016. But Dongfeng has enough engines on the shelve that could be
used to propel the HUV, including turbo petrols and big diesels from the commercial-vehicle
division.
The HUV would
make a fine competitor for the Beijing Auto BJ80C, which is priced at a steep 280.800 yuan, and powered by a 250 Hp 2.3
petrol turbo. When the old HUV came out there also was a lot of talk about a
military version, but we haven’t heard much about that anymore.
