The new Beijing AutoBJ40L Plus has been launched on
the Chinese car market. Price starts at 159.800 and ends at 189.800 yuan. The
Beijing Auto BJ40 L Plus is a high end variant of the BJ40L. It is an
additional model, not a facelift or a successor. The Plus comes with extra wide
fender flares, making this Jeep clone suddenly look a lot more like a Hummer.
This is the standard BJ40L. Price starts at 124.800
yuan and ends at 179.800 yuan. Engines are from Saab with a 204 hp 2.0 turbo
and a 250 hp 2.3 turbo.
Beijing Auto Industrial Corporation (BAIC), the
owner of the Beijing Auto brand, bought the rights to the Saab 2.0 turbo and
Saab 2.3 turbo from GM in 2009, along with the rights to the platforms of the
Saab 9-3 and first generation Saab 9-5. The Beijing Auto BJ40L Plus is
available with both engines, mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The Plus is seen here with part of the roof off. You
can actually take if off entirely, which is really cool, if you have a place to
store it.
The interior sees the biggest change compared to the
standard car; the dashboard is completely new and fitted with a digital
instrument panel, a 12.3 inch standing touch screen, round air vents, a wider
center tunnel, and an electronic parking brake. It also has perforated panels
to save weight an improve speed. Curb weight of the Bj40L Plus stands at 2055
kilo.
The BJ40L badge on the back is in gold on this car. It
was silver on the earlier press photos. A nice touch for a Plus, but also a bit
messy, as the Beijing Auto badge below it is still in silver.
