Spy Shots: Borgward BX7 SUV is Naked in China

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The best Spy Shots so far of the production version of the Borgward X7 SUV. It will debut on the Beijing Auto Show and launch on the Chinese car market soon thereafter. The production version seems very close to the concept that debuted last year in Frankfurt, with only some minor differences on the grille.

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The side bars of the grille are thicker, with an odd vent between the bar and the light, and the bars in the grille are angled instead of straight, with the badge in the middle. This new grille was already ‘previewed’ by the infotainment system in that very same concept!

Borgward is 100% owned by China’s Foton Motor, a subsidiary of the Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC). Foton Motor (web) is a commercial vehicle manufacturer. They make heavy trucks, light trucks, vans, minivans, MPV’s, pickup trucks, and rough ‘n ready SUV’s. They also have a truck making joint venture with Daimler-Benz.

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BAIC is an  endlessly large and endlessly complicated conglomerate. It has passenger car joint ventures with Hyundai and with Mercedes-Benz, it makes cars under the Beijing Auto name, under the Senova name, and under separate joint ventures with other Chinese car makers.

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Beijing Auto Senova X65.

The Borgward BX7 is based on the  Beijing Auto Senova X65. Borgward changed the front, the back, the badges, and a new car was born. The Senova X65 is a popular donor within BAIC, it also forms the base for the Beijing Auto Huansu S6. The other upcoming Borgwards, the BX5 and the BS3, will be based on Beijing Auto platforms too. The BX5 on the Senova X55, and the BX3 on the Senova X35.

Size comparison:

BX7: 4713/1911/1694, and wheelbase is 2760.
S6: 4688/1839/1683mm, wheelbase is 2700.
X65: 4654/1816/1680mm, wheelbase is 2670.

The Borgward BX7 was designed by Norwegian designer Einar Hareide, former design director at SAAB Automobile, and today owner of ‘Hareide Design‘, a design company that has done work for Volvo, Rolls-Royce Marine, and Cisco, among many others.

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The BX7 will initially be available with only one engine; a 2.0 turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, the engine code is 4G20TI1. This engine is also used in the Foton Sauvana SUV where it is coded G420. Output in the Sauvana is 201hp and 300nm. The Sauvana comes only with a five-speed manual box, but the BX7 will get a Getrag 7-speed DCT, powering all four wheels.

Later on the BX7 line-up will be extended with a 3.0 liter V6 turbo and a hybrid based around that V6 turbo. The hybrid will have a combined output of 401hp.

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Foton Sauvana (4830/1910/1885, and wheelbase is 2790).

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Pre-production seems to have started in earnest, photos show at least eight different cars.

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Analogue dials, Borgward logo on the wheel.

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The infotainment system with Apple CarPlay.

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The BX7…

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… and the X65.

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Strange chrome strip under the Borgward name. Strip doesn’t really go and end anywhere. Pipes are very tiny.

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Wheels seem small on these brown and blue examples. Brown car seems top spec with extra pretty alloys, fog lights in the bumper, and a cream-white leather interior.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Dear Mr. TYCHO DE FEIJTER,

    I don’t know who your sources are but they don’t seem to be very reliable.

    As far as the design of the BX7 and also the BX7 TS introduced last September in Frankfurt I need to let you know that Mr. Einar Hareide had absolutely nothing to do with the design of these cars. Mr. Hareide had a consulting function as far as the heritage of the Borgward Brand was concerned but never took part in the actual design process and also was not guiding or overseeing it.
    The cars were entirely created by me and my global Design team.

    Best regards,

    Roland Sternmann

    Global Executive Design Director

    Borgward Group AG

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