From China for China: BMW Teams up with Brilliance to Create 5-Series Plug-in Hybrid Sedan

BMW has teamed up with joint venture partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. to develop a new plug-in hybrid model based on the long wheelbase version of the local market 5 Series Sedan, which is available exclusively in China. The prototype model will receive its world premiere at the Auto Shanghai 2011 later this month.

Read more »

Brilliant…BMW’s China Partner Brilliance Working on X1-Lookalike A3 SUV

There is no question that when it comes to automotive clones from China, history repeats itself. Following in the footsteps of Mercedes-Benz’s China partner BAIC, which came out with a five-door hatchback closely resembling the Stuttgart firm’s B-Class, Brilliance Automotive, BMW’s associate in China, is working on a compact SUV model that looks very much alike X1 crossover.

According to Chinese news site Auto Sohu that broke these scoop photos, the new Brilliance model with the Audi name and BMW looks will be officially revealed at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show in mid-April. It is reported that the Brilliance A3 SUV will be offered with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine sourced from Mitsubishi’s local division.

Read more »

China Rumors: BMW to Team up with Brilliance and Develop Local Market EV Based on 5-Series

BMW is making plans with its Chinese partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. to develop a new fully electric model designed specifically for the local market, according to Autonews Europe citing a report from the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper.

Read more »

BMW's Chinese Partner Brilliance Auto to Make U.S. Debut at 2009 NAIAS

The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in mid-January will see Brilliance Auto, BMW's Chinese partner, making its first appearance on U.S. soil. The Chinese automaker has already spread its wings to Europe but now its setting its eyes on the North American market as company officials say they want to begin selling cars in the U.S. as early as next year. Brilliance intends to show four vehicles in Detroit, the Pininfarina designed BS6 mid-sized sedan and BS4 compact sedan (pictured above and after the jump) and the BC3 compact coupe and FRV hatchback. In China, Brilliance builds BMW's domestic market 3 Series and 5 Series models.

NAIAS officials also revealed that another Chinese automaker, BYD will make an encore appearance in Detroit after its debut at the 2008 show. BYD has not disclosed any details of the vehicle premieres and models that will be on display at the Cobo Center.

The Chinese automaker made headlines recently when American billionaire investor Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings paid $230 million for a 10-percent stake in the firm to support its green technologies. BYD is currently developing electric-hybrid cars that it plans to sell in China later this year, Europe and Israel by 2010 and eventually in North America.

Just for the record, the number of Chinese auto manufacturers that displayed cars at this year's NAIAS show were five: Changfeng Motor Group, BYD Auto, Geely, China America Cooperative Automotive, Inc./ZXNA (Chamco) and Li Shi Guang Ming Auto Design.

China’s Brilliance Announces German Pricing for BS4 Sedan

Brilliance Auto, BMW's partner in China, announced on Tuesday that its BS4 compact sedan will be available in Germany from October 25 with prices starting at €15,990 or about $23,450 with the current exchange rates. The Pininfarina designed sedan that measures 4.65 meters in length (longer than a BMW 3-Series sedan) will be offered with a choice of two naturally aspirated 4-cylinder gasoline engines: a 100 HP 1.6-liter and a 136 HP 1.8-liter unit. For comparison’s sake, the smaller Ford Focus Sedan with an 80 HP 1.4-liter gasoline engine is priced in Germany from €17,750. -Continued

Brilliance already sells the larger BS6 sedan in Germany but the Chinese automaker received negative headlines in Europe last year when the BS6 failed miserably at ADAC’s crash tests gathering just one out of five stars. The Chinese automaker has said then that it would improve the car’s safety standards changing more than 60 components in order to achieve a better rating at ADAC’s crash tests.

China’s Brilliance Becomes Official Sponsor of Borussia Dortmund

What a better way to promote your goods in Europe than to become an official sponsor of a major soccer team like Germany’s Borussia Dortmund (BVB). The deal between HSO Motors Europe, the general importer of the Brilliance car brand in Europe and the German Premier League football team is for the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons, but the two parties have the option to extend the agreement. “In BVB, we have found the ideal partner to start our commitment to football. Football is not just the core of BVB, but has a fascination for Brilliance that far transcends any financial involvement,” said Hartwig Hirtz, Managing Director of Brilliance Motors Deutschland. -Continued

“We are looking forward to a long-term partnership and will be pleased to be able to contribute to the brand positioning of Brilliance in Germany via the Borussia Dortmund platform,” said Stefan Heitfeld, head of Sportfive - the Dortmund-based marketing partner of BVB.

Photo: BVB

Brilliance to Show Four Models in Detroit

China’s Brilliance Jinbei Automotive will show four models at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show in January 2009 according to a company spokesperson. The cars that will be on display at the Chinese automaker’s Detroit show booth will be the mid-sized sedan BS6, the compact sedan BS4, the BC3 sports coupe and the FRV hatchback. A Brilliance spokesperson said that the company expects to sell its first cars in the States sometime in 2009 without however providing any further information on its plans for U.S. dealers and distribution. Brilliance, which produces BMW's Chinese market cars through a join-venture partnership, has already set its foot in several European markets.

Via: ANE (sub. Req)

Brilliance - Zhonghua Coupe

For starters, let me refresh your memory if you can't remember who Brilliance is. One of China's most promising carmanufactures, the Brilliance Group operating segments are divided mainly into the mini-bus / automotive components part and the Sedan brands, one of whom is Zhonghua. Additionally from 2003, the Chinese Group has established a joint venture with BMW, producing 3 Series & 5 Series BMW's in China.

Obviously, that had something to do with the design of the Zhonghua Jinjue sedan (click the link to read more) which was first shown in Europe as a concept in last year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Now, as these spy photos prove, Zhonghua want's to go into the coupe business. Although the only clear shot we get is from the interior (which by the way reminds me of the Ford S-Max...), you have to admit that the Zhonghua Coupe looks quite promising. via: xcar

Technorati: Brilliance, Zhonghua, Coupe, spy+shots, 2007, Carscoop, autos, auto+news, car+news,China, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, 2006, Frankfurt+International+Motor+Show

Brilliance Jinjue

Brilliance Motor Works

Is this China’s best yet?

Remember that “BMW”like Chinese sedan that was previewed last year's Frankfurt Show? Well, Chinese carmaker Brilliance has released it in the China market under the name Jinjue sedan.

Jinjue, which can be translated either as “Triumphant Horse” or “Winning Gold”, was designed, as its bigger brother, the Zhonghua sedan -not surprisingly, by Italian specialist Pininfarina and it reminds us of a “mini” 5-Series –some evil people say it looks even better than the new 3 Series…

Now before you ask yourself why doesn’t BMW do something about it, shall I remind you that BMW & Brilliance Auto have a formed a joint-venture in China, producing BMW’s for the local market. It is also said that BMW has given the “know how” to Brilliance for the making of the Jinjue.

Four engines will be available at launch ranging from 1.6 to 2.0 liters -including a 1.8 Turbo with 170 hp. Brilliance hopes this sports sedan will boost its annual sales from 17,500 to 30,000 this year. That does not include possible European sales, which are said to start later this year.

Brilliance, Jinjue, Chinese+cars, autos, auto+news, pictures, images, specifications