Borgward BX7: What to expect?

If the name Borgward doesn’t ring a bell in your mind, then we wouldn’t blame you. We ourselves had to find it out using trusted internet sources. Borgward is a German car maker who had filed for bankruptcy in 1961. Strangely enough, Chinese company Beiqi Foton Motor in 2015 helped Borgward back on its feet. The very same year, at the Frankfurt show, the BX7 concept was showcased. Borgward is now ready to set foot in the Malaysian market and will soon launch the 2018 Borgward BX7. That the SUV format is preferred world over is no secret and hence the right way for Borgward to start within a country like Malaysia. Here is all that we know about the Borgward BX7 SUV so far.

Design ethos

The design of the Borgward BX7 looks inspired from Maserati it seems. At least from the front angle. The wide grille and subsequently the badge look the same. The big projector headlights with LED DRLs and other jazz looks really impressive. The fog lights too are big enough and have an underlying chrome in their enclosures. As far as the sides are concerned, they look like any of the regular SUVs should - towering and lithe. Borgward has added 18-inch tasteful looking alloy wheels. The rear of the car has a Porsche-like gate as well as lights. There are twin exhaust ports too.
Overall, the Borgward BX7 SUV looks very upmarket and chic. It’s mix and match of design from famous cars seems to have worked well in ensuring an allure.

The vehicle measures 4,715 mm in length, 1,911 mm in width and 1,690 mm tall. The 2,780 mm wheelbase is something which is standard in this segment.

Inside story

We are talking of German engineering under the watchful eyes of a Chinese investor. Heard a similar story with a Scandinavian before? You got it right. Volvo crafted a similar story and we haven’t seen their quality levels drop or something. The case with Borgward seems to be pretty much the same. The interior is done in brown leather and from what we gleaned from the Malaysian left-hand drive show car, it looks pretty tightly put up as well. Here again, the inspirations abound. The multimedia system looks straight out from the Lexus RX-5 while the upholstery too looks premium. The front seats are powered with the driver getting memory and massage function as well. There is a head-up display on offer as well. A panoramic sunroof, steering mounted audio controls, three-zone climate control, remote controlled audio system, entertainment package for the rear passengers and more are part of the equipment list.

It is still unclear if Borgward Malaysia will bring in the five, six or seven-seater version of this SUV. Our bet is on the six-seater as this will leave ample space for all the occupants. The boot space too is ample however the Borgward BX7 specifications don’t mention the litre capacity.

Engine and mechanicals

According to the BX7 specifications list shared during the press conference, there is a single turbocharged petrol engine on offer. This one boasts 300 Nm of torque and 224 PS of power. The 2.0-litre engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox with power being sent to all the four wheels. There is also a fuel efficient front wheel drive available.

As far as suspension is concerned, it is the MacPhersons at the front and the multi-link at the rear. Borgward will likely have tuned it for the handling rather than ride quality. However, this can still be worked upon depending on the country of launch and the requirement. Malaysia may get equal doses of both - decent ride and involving handling package.

Safety quotient

While there were no specifics mentioned, we expect this one to come loaded to the gills with safety features. An estimated guess should say six airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Assist, traction control, blind spot monitoring, cornering stability control and more. Being German has its virtues that this one should easily sail through most of the crash tests with flying numbers too.

Final words

The Borgward BX7 price should start from RM 130,000. Its competition includes the Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Hyundai Tucson. The SUV could be locally assembled however we are not sure if the operations are going to start as a CKD or as a CBU. Good looks, plush interiors and a powerful engine might help Borgward make a mark in our SUV crazy country.