The Beijing Auto BJ90 SUV will finally see mass
production. There has been some small-batch production before, but those cars
were government-only. From September onward, the BJ90 will be for everyone.
The Beijing Auto BJ90 is based, down until the
alloys, on the X166 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. Beijing Auto can use the GLS under
a technology-transfer agreement with Mercedes-Benz.
The BJ90 only gets the twin-turbo V6. It is sourced
directly from Mercedes-Benz, with engine code ‘276821’. According to official
specifications provided by Beijing Auto, the engine delivers 328 hp. Top speed
is claimed to be 245 km/h, which makes the BJ90 the fastest Beijing Auto ever,
by far.
Size: 5171/1995/1902 mm, wheelbase 3100 mm.
GLS: 5120/1934/1850 mm, wheelbase 3075 mm.
Price for the BJ90 will start around 800.000 yuan or
125.000 USD.
Beijing Auto added an interesting design element:
the C-pillar that seems wider than on the GLS. But it isn’t really. The wider
part is just an over-painted window. Beijing Auto goes to some length to hide
the GLS underneath…