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Spy Shots: Beijing Auto C70 based on Saab 9-5

October 27, 2011 by Tycho de Feijter

The best spy shots so far of the upcoming Beijing Auto C70, based on the old Saab 9-5. BAIC, mother of Beijing Auto, bought the rights back in 2009 from then-owner General Motors. The rebadged and slightly redesigned car debuted as the C71 concept at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. These latest spy shots show another redesign.

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Beijing Auto C70G with extended Wheelbase

September 28, 2011 by Tycho de Feijter

Beijing auto will launch the C70 at the April 2012 Beijing Auto Show. The C70 is based on the old Saab 9-5. According to new reports the C70 will actually be called C70G and it will be extended by 5 centimeters, yes 5, for more space in the back, which is very important in China.

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Paten Applied: Beijing Auto C71 based on old Saab 9-5

September 5, 2011 by Tycho de Feijter

Beijing Auto has applied for patent on the C71, based on the old Saab 9-5. The design is definite, the C71 will debut at the April 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Design didn’t change much from the C71 concept that debuted at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show.

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Beijing Auto to make the Electric (Saab) C71EV

July 26, 2010 by Tycho de Feijter

Beijing Auto will build around 3000 C71EV’s, the electric version of the C71 which is based on the old Saab 9-5. Beijing Auto will set up a network of chargers around the city in a joint venture with the Beijing government, which by la way is also the biggest shareholder of Beijing Auto.

The project is essentially the same as an earlier project with an electric vehicle based on a Chrysler Sebring. When the Beijing Auto-Chrysler joint venture died the project was canceled. It is now back with a new car. The Sebrings were meant to be used as taxi’s only with a planned production of one thousand cars. The C71EV will likely see more different buyers.

Specs: Electric engine: 336V, 60-110kw, 130-300nm, 3500-5500rpm. Battery: 75Ah, 336-375V. Top speed: 160km/h. 0-100: 12.8sec. Range: 160km. Empty weight: 1790kg. Full loaded: 2165kg.

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Beijing Auto Show Live: BAW C71 ‘Saab 9-5’

April 23, 2010 by Tycho de Feijter

BAW, Beijing Auto Works, brought the C71 Concept to the show. Ot is a reworked Saab 9-5, BAW bought the 9-3 and 9-5 platforms from GM before Spyker bought the rest of Saab. The nose got the biggest change with futuristic headlights and closed air intakes. The car on show had a 2.o litre turbo engine that came with the platform. BAW did also buy the production lines that it now needs to rebuilt in China. It will take a while, let’s say a year, but then the C71 will keep the old 9-5’s spirit alive. Whether that is a good thing,  is another matter.

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Beijing Auto Show Preview: BAW ‘Saab’ C71

April 22, 2010 by Tycho de Feijter

Here we have the other BAW-Saab, the 9-5 based C71, at the Beijing Auto Show exibition hall. The show starts tomorrow. Got some questions in the mail about BAIC/BAW/Beiqi, let me try to clear up any confusion:

BAIC, Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation, is the parent company of the brand BAW, which stands for Beijing Auto Works. In China the brand is called BeiQi, which is an abbreveation of Beijing Qiche, which means ‘Beijing Auto’. On the cars themselves Beiqi uses the nameplate Beijing.

Same goes for the cars made in joint ventures, like the Beijing-Hyundai Sonata.

So if the C71 makes it into production it will be called ‘Beijing C71’. Except off course, when BAIC thinks it is better to use an entirely different brand name.  Read more »

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BAW C71 Concept based on Saab 9-5

April 20, 2010 by Tycho de Feijter

BAW (Beijing Auto Works, Beiqi) bought the old 9-3 and 9-5 platforms from GM-Saab before Spyker bought the rest. The C71 concept is based on the old 9-5 and will debut at the Beijing Auto Show on Friday. BAW didn’t change too much, a new concept-like front and that’s about it. More as we know.