Geely has
officially launched the Bin Yue in China. Set to become the company’s first
compact crossover to ride on the new BMA architecture, the Bin Yue is a stylish
looking model which has a prominent “cosmos” grille that is flanked by angular
headlights. Further below, we can see sporty air intakes and silver accents.
The sides of the crossover feature plastic body
cladding, strong character lines and a relatively compact greenhouse. The model
also has a ‘floating’ roof which tapers down to meet a large tailgate-mounted
spoiler.
Overall, the Bin Yue measures 4330 mm long, 1800 mm wide and 1609 mm tall with a wheelbase
that spans 2600 mm. This means the crossover is a tad smaller
than the BMW X1, but slightly wider.
The stylish design continues in the cabin and Geely
says the cockpit has been designed to resemble that of a jet. The company went
on to say “many parts have also been inspired by sci-fi elements such as
supersonic fighters and Star Wars.”
We’re not buying that, but the cabin looks pretty
good as it features a stylish design and premium materials. Highlights include
a digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with an 8:3
aspect ratio. Drivers will also find a leather-wrapped steering wheel, matte metal
trim and chrome accents. Other niceties include voice recognition technology,
4G/Wi-Fi connectivity and over-the-air updates.
Under the hood, two different engines will be
available. The first was jointly developed with Volvo and it’s a turbocharged
1.5-liter that produces 174 hp and 255 Nm of
torque. It is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which enables
the crossover to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. In terms
of fuel efficiency, drivers can expect to average 38.5 mpg US (46.3 mpg UK /
6.1L/100km).
Customers will also be able to order a turbocharged
1.0-liter engine producing 134 hp and 205 Nm of
torque. It is paired to a six-speed manual transmission which enables the Bin
Yue to return 44.3 mpg US (53.3 mpg UK / 5.3L/100km).
On the safety front, the Bin Yue features a Level 2
semi-autonomous driving system which uses millimeter wave radar and
high-definition cameras. Thanks to this technology, the crossover can follow
vehicles at speeds up to 150 km/h and automatically change lanes.
Other highlights include an automatic parking system, automatic emergency
braking with pedestrian recognition and a blind spot warning system.
