Changan Auto has brought its new CS85 coupe
crossover to this year’s Guangzhou Auto Show, to highlight all of its premium
features such as the leather-rich interior and modern on-board kit. The CS85 is a
China-only product, and will enter the market sometime early next year. Reports
indicate that a plug-in hybrid version could also be in the cards, arriving
after the two initial petrol variants.
This crossover’s styling, which we can analyze from
all angles thanks to AutoHome and Bitauto, has very little in common with that
of its platform sibling, the CS75, which is a more conventional-looking SUV. We
could say that the design language used on the CS85 is quite similar to that of
the BMW X4, something that’s evident not just from a lateral view, but also
from a rear 3/4 angle.
Then you have the front end design, which looks a
lot like what you’d find on a latest-generation VW Touareg, with that large
V-shaped grille and the way it connects with the headlights. Let’s not ignore the badge,
which looks like an upside-down Acura emblem – although that’s a general thing,
and not specific to the new CS85.
Even though it’s obvious that cheap plastics are
found in some areas throughout the cabin (such as the lower dashboard and at
the tail end of the center console), we can also spot a lot of soft-touch
surfaces, from the leather-wrapped door panels to the seats, center console and
even the upper dashboard.
The overall design looks very VW Group-ish, and
specifically, we’re thinking about Audi – especially with regards to that
gearshift lever, and even the positioning of the infotainment and climate
control screens, although the latter is hardly as big and intricate as what
you’d find on an Audi Q8. It’s actually a very small rectangular display,
surrounded by touch-sensitive and physical buttons.
Now, while we don’t know how good the software
powering those systems is, the layout is very modern and we’re especially
impressed by the fact that the CS85 features a 360-degree 3D camera, just like
some of the industry’s most luxurious saloons and SUVs.
The CS85 Coupe will be priced
from around 140,000 yuan (US$ 20,000) and could go as high as 200,000 yuan
(US$ 29,000). Also, unless buyers are holding off for a plug-in hybrid variant,
they will initially have to choose between either a 178 HP 1.5-liter turbo or a
233 HP 2.0-liter turbo, the latter mated to an 8-speed automatic.
As for its size, the CS85 is reportedly 4,720 mm long, 1,845 mm wide, stands 1,665 mm tall and
has a wheelbase of 2,705 mm. It is slightly smaller than a BMW X4 in
all aspects, except for height.
