Brilliance BS6
Overview
ManufacturerBrilliance Auto
Also calledBrilliance M1
Brilliance Galena
Brilliance Grandeur
Huachen Zunchi
Zhonghua Zunchi
Production2000–2010
Model years2001–2011
AssemblyShenyang, Liaoning, China
6th of October City, Egypt(BAG)[1]
DesignerItaldesign Giugiaro[2]
Body and chassis
Classmid-size Sedan
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine1.8 L BL18T turbo I4
1.8 L 4G93 I4
2.0 L BL20L I4
2.0 L 4G63 I4
2.4 L 4G64 I4
Transmission6 speed manual
5 speed manual
5 speed automatic
4 speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,790 mm (109.8 in)
Length4,880 mm (192.1 in)
Width1,800 mm (70.9 in)
Height1,450 mm (57.1 in)
Curb weight1,420 kg (3,131 lb)

The Brilliance BS6, in China sold as Zhonghua Zunchi (Chinese: 中华尊驰), and later as the Brilliance M1 is a mid-size car produced by Brilliance Auto in the China. It was originally developed by Italdesign Giugiaro and launched as the Brilliance Zhonghua in December 2000.[3]

Safety

A few cars were imported to Belgium for a short period during 2006, but deliveries were suspended after a Euro NCAP crash test arranged by the ADAC (German Automobile Association): the car achieved only one of possible five stars,[4] a result described as "catastrophic" and "disastrous". A second star was denied because on a side impact test, biometric limits were exceeded. Due to the severe deformation of the car, the likelihood of occupants surviving the crash was low. However, according to a wire report carried by Forbes.com, a heavily strengthened version of BS6 has been tested in Spain[5] by Idiada Automotive Technologies SA. Unlike the test in Germany earlier, the Brilliance garnered a 3-star rating as it passed the test performed in accordance with Euro NCAP guidelines. This star rating is still well below that of their established competition. Brilliance is expected to improve the safety ratings of its cars further before its cars are imported into Europe.

European exports

A German-registered Brilliance BS6

The Brilliance BS6 had a starting purchase price of 18,000 EUR, similar in price to established competitors like the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. Brilliance was planning to market the car in America, but its price would have been at least $25,000, slightly higher than the already established Toyota Camry. Efforts to sell the car in Europe stalled after importer HSO Motors filed for bankruptcy in November 2009, in part due to the high price of the cars.[6] According to automotive data provider JATO Dynamics, combined European Union sales of the BS4 and BS6 were only 502 units from 2007 to 2009, with only 46 BS6's sold in the EU in 2009.[7] Sales ended in early 2010,[8] but nonetheless, Brilliance appears to be back again, this time as Shenhua Motors GmbH.[9]

The BS6 was sold in Europe with a 2.0-litre Mitsubishi sourced engine, used in both Comfort and Deluxe derivatives. It is a Euro 4 standard engine producing 122 bhp and 217 g/km CO2.

References

  1. ↑ "Galena". Bavarian Auto Group. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Zhonghua". italdesign.it. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Zhonghua". Italdesign Giugiaro. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Nunez, Alex (22 June 2007). "In German crash test, China's Brilliance BS6 sedan fails miserably" (web). Autoblog. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  5. ↑ Sutcliffe, Ashley (13 September 2007). "Brilliance BS6, Not as lethal as before". China Car Times. Archived from the original (web) on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  6. ↑ Hadyś, Michał (7 November 2009). "Europe is not for Brilliance, the Importer is Bankrupt". Autochiny. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  7. ↑ Hadyś, Michał (7 November 2010). "Brilliance Auto May Halt Car Exports to Europe". Autochiny. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  8. ↑ "China Automaker Brilliance Halts Europe Exports, Executives Say". AutoWeek.com. Crain Communications. 29 April 2010.
  9. ↑ "Brilliance-Gruppe eröffnet Europazentrale" [Brilliance Group opens European Headquarters] (in German). Autohaus online. 12 May 2010.
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