Borgward BX5: What to expect?

Borgward Auto is looking to launch two of its products in Malaysia - the BX5 and BX7, this September 30. We have already briefed you on Borgward BX7 offerings, it's now time for the smaller model.

The Borgward BX5 is the company’s smallest offering as of now. It is a 5-seater SUV and will compete with the Mazda CX-3. First up, some details on Borgward Auto. The company is German, alright. However, it is now owned by the Chinese firm Beiqi Foton Motor. The former applied for bankruptcy in 1961. At that time, it was considered at par with BMW and Volkswagen. It was also one of the top four carmakers in Germany then. In 2015, Foton Motor resurrected the brand and sells its vehicles in China amongst other countries. Earlier this year, Go Bremen Motors signed a deal with Borgward to not only market its products but also manufacture them in Malaysia. Go Bremen will also supply Borgward vehicles to other ASEAN countries at a later stage. So, what exactly is the Borgward BX5 then? We take a look.

Design and interior

There is nothing attractive about the BX5. However, there isn’t anything to loathe as well. The BX5 measures 4,490 mm in length, is 1,877 mm wide and has a height of 1,675 mm. Execution-wise, the BX7 is much better designed, we feel. The xenon projector headlights are seemingly nice to look at while the fog lights could have been designed better. The BX5 feature list isn’t out yet but we have an indication that the fog lights will have cornering function. Borgward offers 16-inch alloys on the BX5. The rear seems to be influenced by the Porsche Macan. There are also faux skid plates both at the front and back.

The cabin of this Borgward features a floating touchscreen infotainment system. Dual zone climate control, rear AC vents, leather upholstery, powered driver’s seat with memory function, clean air ioniser, adjustable seat belts are some of the Borgward BX5 features. The list though is something which we can expect based on the show car that was on display. It may be noted that Borgward is yet to share the final specifications. The car can comfortably seat five passengers and is claimed to have the biggest boot in the business too. We can vouch for the spaciousness of the cabin given that the wheelbase of 2,685 mm is the biggest in its class.

Powertrain

The Borgward BX5 SUV on display boasted a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol motor that is good for 190 PS of power and a peak torque of 280 Nm. A 6-speed automatic transmission coupled with all-wheel drive will be standard is what the rumours suggest. We think Borgward will release the BX5 specifications closer to the launch date on September 30. For now, it is safe to assume the aforementioned specifications hold true.

Safety

Again, this is pure speculation. But given that even Chinese car makers these days offer lots of safety features, it is prudent that the list given below is true. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, traction control, cornering ABS, Hill Hold Assist, front and rear parking sensors, reverse camera, radar assist for keeping the car on intended path and many more will be on offer. However, the technology-laden features will be optional while others like the airbags will be standard.

Final words

Borgward is looking to go full out with its two SUVs. While we don’t know the exact prices, expect the Borgward BX5 price to be around RM 100,000. It will be locally assembled, however, whether this will be from the start is still a guess. We look forward to testing these vehicles on Malaysian soil and bring to you the reports.