Car Moon

BMW is making plans with its Chinese partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. to develop a new fully electric model designed specifically for the local market, according to Autonews Europe citing a report from the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper.

What we have here is a faux-crossover version of Brilliance Motors' FRV hatchback that was unveiled along with a new sedan variant of the car at the Shanghai Auto Show. Just like any modern wannabe crossover, the FRV Cross' body shell has been bolstered with lashings of protective plastic add-ons and matt aluminum underbody skid trays along with a set of roof rails and newly designed alloy wheels, but that about sums it up.

One of the most interesting concept cars unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show was the all-electric Brilliance EV. BMW Group's Chinese partner said that the EV is equipped with two electric motors and a set of lithium-ion batteries. The first electric motor that produces the equivalent of 30HP allows the EV to travel a distance of 130km or 80 miles with a top speed of 40km/h or 25mph. When the second motor kicks in, the EV's output more than doubles while in this case, it can reach a top speed of 130m/h or 80mph.

BMW's Chinese partner, Brilliance Auto, has revealed the first photos of its new derivative of the subcompact FRV, the sedan version that will be making its world premiere at next week's 2009 Shanghai Auto Show. Brilliance, which made its first appearance on U.S. soil at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show this past January, will most likely offer the FRV sedan with the same powertrain options as the hatchback model that is available with two gasoline engines, an 85HP 1.3-liter and an 100HP 1.6-liter unit.

ADAC, Germany's and Europe's largest automobile club - something like the AAA in the USA- has released the latest crash test results for the Brilliance BS4 sedan and the outcome for BMW's Chinese partner is far from good. In fact, in the new crash test procedure that was performed under Euro NCAP's stricter rating scheme that takes into consideration safety systems such as electronic stability control (ESC) and seat belt reminders, the BS4 received a zero star rating. ADAC notes however that in the previous rating system, the BS4 would have been awarded with three stars.

Still, ADAC's final report on the BS4 is that the compact sedan is "far away from the current safety standards" and that it poses several hazards to the driver's well being in the event of a crash noting for example that the steering wheel airbag is positioned incorrectly and that the clutch and brake pedals compromised protection for the driver's feet.

HSO Motors Europe, the official importer of the Brilliance brand in Europe questions ADAC's results saying that the German automobile club's counterparts in other European countries such as ÖAMTC in Austria and the Swiss and Dutch motor clubs, which co-funded the test, "unanimously evaluated the crash test by awarding three stars." The company's European importer also states that even though ADAC's test was based on the Euro NCAP rules, "it was not requested by the official Euro NCAP organization in Brussels".

And that brings us to our question; really, why hasn't Euro NCAP performed any tests on the Chinese automaker's European-market models?

HSO Motors Europe, Brilliance Importer - Official Statement on ADAC's Crash Test Results

Dear Colleague, You definitely already know that the ADAC has subjected our new BS4 series to a crash test in compliance with Euro NCAP. The results: three stars based on the old measurement method but zero stars according to the new procedure. The remarkable thing is that ADAC's counterparts in other countries, including the ÖAMTC in Austria and the Swiss and Dutch motor clubs, which co-funded the test, unanimously evaluated the crash test by awarding three stars. Only the ADAC has shocked the public with its bad news. The ADAC is misleading the press, policymakers and consumers by eliminating all of the stars and equating its zero-star rating with zero safety. The other participating motor clubs have provided much more transparent information.

In an initial statement, Focus-online has summed up this matter as follows: "The zero-star rating leads clueless buyers to believe that the BS4 is a totally unsafe car — which it is quite definitely not. Its crash test results may not be brilliant, but they are sound."

Why is this evaluation so inconsistent with that of the other European motor clubs which co-funded the test? Why has only the German motor club released a different result, despite having presumably coordinated the testing and evaluation procedures with the other clubs? How much importance can be attached to a test whose outcome must have already been clear to the ADAC in advance, considering how our cars are equipped?

And how much confidence can European consumers place in a test if its results are interpreted so differently?

It is hard to shake off the impression that a card with political dimensions is being played here — and not just in the German market. Also undeniable is that, although the test was based on the Euro NCAP rules, it was not requested by the official Euro NCAP organization in Brussels.

HSO Motors Europe, the general importer of the Brilliance brand in Europe, will now thoroughly check and assess the results together with the manufacturer, Brilliance Auto Shenyang. We are proud of being able to say to our customers, our dealers, our business partners and everyone else that Brilliance has, quite objectively assessed, made significant progress and will continue to follow this path.

The 2009 Detroit Auto Show marked the first official appearance of China's Brilliance on the U.S. automotive scene. BMW's Chinese partner introduced four of its most prominent models to the American public, including the Pininfarina designed M1 mid-sized sedan and the M2 compact saloon, as well as the M3 Coupe and FRV C-segment hatchback. Thanks to Mitsubishi's decision to pull out from this year's show, Brilliance was able to occupy (along with China's BYD) that space on the main floor of the Cobo Centre.

The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in mid-January will see Brilliance Auto, BMW's Chinese partner, making its first appearance on U.S. soil. The Chinese automaker has already spread its wings to Europe but now its setting its eyes on the North American market as company officials say they want to begin selling cars in the U.S. as early as next year. Brilliance intends to show four vehicles in Detroit, the Pininfarina designed BS6 mid-sized sedan and BS4 compact sedan (pictured above and after the jump) and the BC3 compact coupe and FRV hatchback. In China, Brilliance builds BMW's domestic market 3 Series and 5 Series models.

Brilliance Auto, BMW's partner in China, announced on Tuesday that its BS4 compact sedan will be available in Germany from October 25 with prices starting at €15,990 or about $23,450 with the current exchange rates. The Pininfarina designed sedan that measures 4.65 meters in length (longer than a BMW 3-Series sedan) will be offered with a choice of two naturally aspirated 4-cylinder gasoline engines: a 100 HP 1.6-liter and a 136 HP 1.8-liter unit. For comparison’s sake, the smaller Ford Focus Sedan with an 80 HP 1.4-liter gasoline engine is priced in Germany from €17,750. -Continued

Brilliance already sells the larger BS6 sedan in Germany but the Chinese automaker received negative headlines in Europe last year when the BS6 failed miserably at ADAC’s crash tests gathering just one out of five stars. The Chinese automaker has said then that it would improve the car’s safety standards changing more than 60 components in order to achieve a better rating at ADAC’s crash tests.

What a better way to promote your goods in Europe than to become an official sponsor of a major soccer team like Germany’s Borussia Dortmund (BVB). The deal between HSO Motors Europe, the general importer of the Brilliance car brand in Europe and the German Premier League football team is for the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons, but the two parties have the option to extend the agreement. “In BVB, we have found the ideal partner to start our commitment to football. Football is not just the core of BVB, but has a fascination for Brilliance that far transcends any financial involvement,” said Hartwig Hirtz, Managing Director of Brilliance Motors Deutschland. -Continued

“We are looking forward to a long-term partnership and will be pleased to be able to contribute to the brand positioning of Brilliance in Germany via the Borussia Dortmund platform,” said Stefan Heitfeld, head of Sportfive - the Dortmund-based marketing partner of BVB.

Photo: BVB