BAIC has reported starting the production of its next-generation Beijing BJ40 body-on-frame SUV in a factory in Beijing, China. The vehicle received a redesign along with a new turbo engine, and will go on sale priced at 185,800–225,800 Yuan (U.S. $25,300–30,700).
The new version is 4,790 mm long, 1,940 mm wide and 1,895 mm tall with 2,760 mm between the axles and 230 mm of ground clearance. On its domestic market, the BJ40 comes bundled with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine rated at 245 PS (242 hp / 180 kW) and no other options. A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission carries 395 Nm (291 lb-ft) of torque to all four wheels, letting the SUV sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in ten seconds flat. Drivers can choose from 11 available drive modes.
Among other things, the car no longer looks like a Jeep Wrangler replica. The interior has changed quite a bit, too, with smoother and more understated outlines, a new transmission tunnel and a trio of dash displays. While many cars merge the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen into a single unit, the new BJ40 combines its central display with the passenger’s screen on the right instead, while the digital dash remains separate.
