Brilliance BS4

The Brilliance BS4 was a four-door notchback sedan produced by Brilliance Auto in the People's Republic of China, where it is known as the Zhonghua Junjie. The car was scheduled for launch in Germany, Europe's largest national car market, in 2007.

Brilliance BS4
Overview
ManufacturerBrilliance Auto
Also calledBrilliance M2
Brilliance Splendor[1]
Huachen Junjie
Zhonghua Junjie
Pyeonghwa Hwiparam II
Pyeonghwa Junma
Production2006–2014
Model years2006–2015
AssemblyShenyang, Liaoning, China
6th of October City, Egypt(BAG)[2]
DesignerPininfarina[3]
Body and chassis
ClassCompact car
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
RelatedBrilliance BS6
Powertrain
Engine1.6 L BL16L I4
1.6 L 4G18 I4
1.8 L BL18T turbo I4
1.8 L 4G93 I4
2.0 L 4G63 I4
Transmission6-speed manual
5-speed manual
5-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,790 mm (109.8 in)
Length4,650 mm (183.1 in)
Width1,800 mm (70.9 in)
Height1,450 mm (57.1 in)
Curb weight1,415 kg (3,120 lb)

Following poor crash test results of the BS6 model and ensuing press comments, a Western launch was postponed at the last minute, and German sales were expected to start in the autumn of 2008, when the vehicle's structure was expected to have been modified in order to achieve improved European crash test ratings. After modification, it achieved 0 stars.[4]

The vehicle was developed in cooperation with Porsche, and used borrowed technology from BMW.[5] A station wagon, designed by Lowie Vermeersch, was made available in 2008. Due to declining sales, the M2 and all versions was discontinued in all regions in 2014, with no current successor.

Body

Seating

The M2 can seat a total of five people. The three back passenger seats has average mid-size car leg room.

Trims

The M2 had a total of seven trims; 1.6MT, 1.6MT Deluxe, 1.8 MT, 1.8 MT Deluxe, 1.8 AT, 1.8 MT Deluxe, and 1.18 AT Premium.

The most basic trim (1.16MT) lacked Side Airbags, Tire pressure gage, Anti-Engine Theft, and a Parking Radar.

Optional Upgrades

Bluetooth and GPS was the only available option, and it was only available on the 1.8T AT Premium trim.

Engine

Initially the car was offered with an old Mitsubishi designed 1.8 L four cylinder engine claiming 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) of output. A turbocharged 1.8 L unit developed by Brilliance themselves, with outputs of 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp) or 170 PS (130 kW; 170 hp), is already included on domestic market models. A diesel engine for installation in the European market version is still under development.

Transmission

The turbocharged version is available only with a four-speed automatic transmission, but for the European market base version a "sloppy" five-speed manual gear box is offered.[6]

Ride and handling

Ride quality is "reasonably comfortable" but steering is "vague".[6]

Equipment

The car has electronically adjustable leather seats, air conditioning and electronic parking assistance. Interior plastic is "harsh and cheap" and leather quality "cheap". However ESC, which has become mainstream for European cars of this class, is not offered.[6]

Commercial

A precise date for a European press launch of the BS4 was never announced.

The car is produced under licence by North Korean automaker Pyeonghwa as the Pyeonghwa Hwiparam II.

Sales

In the year it was launched in China, over 30,000 cars were sold. However, by 2013, only 2414 cars were sold.

References and further reading

  1. "Splendor". Bavarian Auto Group. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  2. "Brilliance". Bavarian Auto Group. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  3. "Special 2009 Geneva Motor Show". Pininfarina. Archived from the original on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
  4. "No stars for Brilliance". Autocar. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  5. "Information about the M2". Chinaautoweb. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  6. "Brilliance BS4 Splendor". Auto Express. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
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