Chinese-owned German brand Borgward is set to enter
the Malaysian car market very soon, doing so with two SUVs – the BX5 and BX7
made their first public appearance in the country at the ongoing Malaysia
Autoshow 2018.
The examples on show are left-hand drive units, but
local assembly of right-hand drive versions are set to follow, with a CKD
programme expected to kick off sometime in the third quarter. It was previously
reported that local production will also cater for export to other ASEAN
markets.
Borgward, which was formed in 1919 before going
bankrupt in 1961, was resurrected in 2015 – the brand is owned by Chinese
automaker Beiqi Foton Motor, a subsidiary of BAIC Group. The BX7, which made
its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, heralded the brand’s return.
The 4.7 metre-long SUV, available in five, six or
seven-seat versions, is 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. It’s paired with a six-speed
automatic transmission, and the SUV is equipped with a permanent all-wheel
drive system.
The BX5 is a slightly more compact
five-seater. Motive power is provided by a 1.8 litre turbocharged four-cylinder
engine offering 190 PS and 280 Nm, with a six-speed auto transmission and
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.
As for pricing, nothing has been confirmed just yet,
but on-site reps have mentioned that the BX5 will be “under RM 100k,” while the
BX7 will go for “under RM 200k.”
