Motoring

Less Jeep more Tank 300 looking new BAIC BJ40 uncovered

Shrouded in controversy since opening its much debated plant in the Coega IDZ in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, five years ago, Chinese automaker, Beijing Automotive Industrial Corporation (BAIC), has had the second generation version of its off-road-focused BJ40 leaked online.

New but still not “own” looks

Signalling a complete departure from the current that debuted in 2016, the BJ40, whose name pays homage to the Beijing BJ212, better known as the Beijing Jeep, eschews the Jeep Wrangler-inspired look for a design seemingly influenced by the Ford Bronco.

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Appearing equally similar to rival Great Wall Motors’ (GWM) Tank 300, the BJ40, which does without the “L” lettering in South Africa to avoid lured comments or comparisons, still rides on a ladder-frame chassis, but with measurements of 4 790 mm in overall length, a height of 1 895 mm, width of 1 940 mm and wheelbase of 2 760 mm.

*_{Current BJ40, known as the B40 Plus in South Africa, has been around in China since 2016. Image: BAIC.}*

Compared to the current model badged B40 Plus, the BJ40 is 145 mm longer, 15 mm wider, 24 mm taller and 15 mm longer on the wheelbase front. A claimed ground clearance figure wasn’t revealed.

According to carnewschina.com, citing the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the BJ40 has a towing capacity of 2 500 kg for a braked trailer and a mechanically locking rear differential similar to the current model.

Interior transformation

Set to make its official public showing at the Chengdu Motor Show this coming Friday (25 August), the change in external design has filtered through to the interior, where the BJ40 adopts a more modern and plusher look highlighted by a digital instrument cluster and expansive touchscreen infotainment system extending almost the entire width of the dashboard.

*_{Interior dominated by a pair of screens for the infotainment system and instrument cluster. Image: autohome.com.cn.}*

The pair of displays separated by a single air vent, the interior also sports a rounded climate control arrangement with physical buttons, a new multi-function steering wheel, a touch-pad gear lever seemingly derived from certain Chery models and a combination of leather and Alcantara seats with orange side bolsters.

Taken in what appears to be a studio, the images, posted by AutoHome, also confirms the presence of heated and ventilated front seats, a rotary dial for the low-range transfer case with 2H, 4H and 4L, a wireless smartphone charger and a panoramic sunroof.

*_{BAIC’s long standing partnership with Mercedes-Benz clearly visible inside the B40 Plus. Image: BAIC.}*

Similar to the Tank 300 and Bronco, access to the boot is provided by a hinged tailgate affixed to the spare wheel. As before, seating is provided solely for five.

New engine, no diesel or manual

*_{Rear takes significant styling hints from the Bronco. Image: autohome.com.cn.}*

Up front, the BJ40 takes leave of the B40 Plus’ 2.0-litre turbodiesel and Saab-made 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines for a completely new turbo-petrol still displacing 2.0-litres, but with reported outputs of 180kW/385Nm.

The only mentioned transmission is an eight-speed automatic that replaces not only the BJ40’s six-speed but seemingly also the six-speed manual.

*_{Jeep Wrangler styling the result of BAIC having had a long standing partnership with Jeep dating back almost four decades. Image: BAIC.}*

Not confirmed

Set to go on sale soon after its premiere in Chengdu, pricing for the BJ40 is expected to start around the 200 000 yuan (R518 507) mark with exact specification to be revealed in due course.

For now, it remains unknown as to whether BAIC South Africa will see it fit to bring the new BJ40 to market next year.

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