When I grow up…
You want a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, but only have Suzuki Jimny money? Beijing Automotive might have the solution for you with the BJ80.
Usually, you’d only arrive at a vehicle like the G-Class after long years of hard work, and perhaps after the kids have already moved out of the house. Or you were born into old money, or maybe you’ve landed a lucrative tender… But Chinese automotive giant Beijing Auto Works, a subsidiary of the stateowned BAIC Group that in turn holds the interests of several motor vehicle and machine manufacturers, doesn’t think that you have to toil as hard to at least look like you’ve made it, because the BJ80 places you behind the wheel of a facsimile of a certain legendary German. There’s a long history of vehicles from China being accused as copycats, sort of like that kid at school who writes an exam looking at the papers to his left and right. And there’s even a running joke in the automotive industry that some of these brands don’t have design departments; choosing to save the lucrative salaries of the artsy types and instead just buy reams of tracing paper. To the BJ80’s credit, the nose has been altered somewhat so that the grille and headlamps look a little out of place if your mind recognizes this as a G and, at the rear, the taillights are completely original. But the basic profile, exposed door hinges, multi-spoke wheel design, fender flares all smack of the three-pointed star. In the cabin, the gloss black panels and brushed metal switchgear lend the BJ80 an air of sophistication, but the fonts and graphics of the digital instrument panel and quilted leather upholstery are hints of Stuttgart. At least the BJ80 is supposed to have decent off-road credentials thanks to its boxy design; with an approach angle of 39°, departure angle of 33° and 600 mm wading depth. Under the clamshell bonnet lies a 3,0 ℓ turbopetrol V6 with 206 kW and 420 Nm, which sends torque to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. There’s no word on whether the BJ80 will ever make it to our shores (probably never), but at our current exchange rate it would be in excess of R600 000, which is still R2 milllion cheaper than an actual Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
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