New faces soon to be seen on Nam roads?

During Top Rev’s many travels and miles on the road, we once encountered a car that initially resembled a Lexus but on closer inspection and inquiry, discovered that the vehicle’s name tells an interesting story.

The new Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) Beijing X55 comes in three different models, the Dynamic, Elite and Premium, all equipped with a1.5turbo engine delivering 130kW with a comfortable 305Nm.

All three models come with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission (7DCT) gearbox making the car easier to handle without compromising on the performance.

Speaking to Top Revs from Youth Africa, South Africa, BAIC dealer Ockert Pretorius said the car manufacturer had invested US$11 million in South Africa.

Two of their models – the D20 hatchback and sedan and the X25 SUV – directly created 1 000 jobs, with 5 000 indirect employment opportunities.

Pretorius was unsure if the vehicle would be available in Namibia in the near future, but said they had already received some interest and inquires from Namibia, without revealing the potential dealers.

Despite reluctance of new brands, the car has been well received by the South African market, with a substantial number of vehicles sold already.

“The Beijing was announced the winner as the car of the year in its category. It is the first time in the South African automotive industry that a vehicle achieved this milestone the same year it was launched,” Pretorius said.

At first glance, the main attractions are the soft and smooth lines right around the vehicle. Even the door handles are ‘hidden’ inside the body to give the car that extra edge when it comes to aerodynamics and attraction.

With Chinese DNA being evident throughout the entire design, there is the flair of Daimler through the Beijing-Benz joint venture, displayed in the innovation, design and technology that is the cornerstone of the Beijing, reads a statement from BAIC.

In short, the car stands out with exceptional performance, smart technology, uncompromising safety and human centred comfort.

Some of the aesthetic features earning the Beijing its accolades are, elegant solid rear wing (spoiler), panoramic sunroof, space engine styler air vents, aircraft-style gearshift lever and 3D ambient light effect on the door panels. These features are only the tip of the iceberg as it comes with almost every feature one can dream of.

The X55 performance is not only impressive on paper, but also on the road, reaching 0-100 km/h in less than eight seconds. Its fuel economy is also impressive with an astonishing 7,18L/100 km.

Apart from all the standard safety features expected from a car in this segment, it also possess the crash doors unlock system, unlocking the doors automatically in the case of an accident or allowing emergency personnel to attend to any injured.

The BAIC has over the last 60 years revolutionised the motor industry in China to become the fifth largest automobile manufacturer in that country.