Brilliance BS2 aims to undercut European Golf sales
March 4, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Brilliance Jinbei Automotive says it plans to offer its BS2 model as a competitor to the Volkswagen Golf by undercutting Europe’s best selling hatch by some 5,250 euros ($10,315 AUD).
Brilliance’s importer, HSO Motors Europe, showed a near-production version of the BS2 at the Geneva Motor Show today (pictured above) which it plans to commence selling in Germany by the end of the year.
The starting price on the car will be between around the 10,000 euros ($19,650 AUD) in Germany which is considerably cheaper than the base model Golf which has an entry price of 16,250 euros ($31,930 AUD). This also makes the BS2 cheaper than the current VW Polo which starts at 12,150 euros ($23,900 AUD).
Ironically the BS2 hatch was styled by Italian design house ‘Italdesign Giugiaro’, who also shaped the first-generation Golf in 1974.
Brilliance also showed a near-production version of the BS4 station wagon and its BS6 sedan. Unfortunately for the brand the BS6 scored poorly on crash tests which stalled European sales.
Brilliance says that independent tests of the BS4 and BS6 show that each would now receive at least a three-star rating from EuroNCAP.
State-owned Brilliance is BMW’s joint venture partner in China. The automaker is based in Shenyang, near China’s border with North Korea.
Tags: Volkswagen Golf
Thats all great that its very well priced. I wouldnt put my worst enemy in a Brilliance in an accident though. Some things are worth it.
If the price is at all an indication of the quality, BS may just be the most appropriate name in automotive history.
I like it!
I think at that price they are going to sell it for sure.
When can it be sold here in AUS?
Is going to need to be UNDER AUS$10,000 here otherwise you can just buy a proven Getz for $12,990 driveaway.
Waited a long time for the Chinese vehicles to arrive, looks like Europe gets them first
Cheers
F-0
Obviously the Chinese are unsure of the definition of Brilliance, even if they have the world’s largest population of English speaking people.
I doubt for one minute that German people will go for this piece of trash.
Oh my god – If the Chinese really think they can march into a market and wipe out the opposition just like that they are kidding themselves. Really talking BS now.
Seriously, it has taken theKoreans twenty years to get to the same point of credibility and their sales figures are nowhere near the competition.
Reckless get it right, it’s pronounced BRIRRIANCE…..
CS don’t forget it took the Japanese 30 years to get the acceptance, The Koreans actually did it in 15. SO the Chinese could do it in under 10. If the people at the lead of bringing them out here get things sorted out, they will smoke the others in gaining acceptance.
Chinese are good at copying stuff. They’re not good at creating new stuff. That’s the difference between jap/koreans and the chinese…
Come again Dan?????
It has long be common knowledge that the Japanese and Koreans can’t actually design that much from the ground up, but they are masters of getting someone elses design and mass producing it.
15>20 years ago people were saying your exact comment about the Koreans, 30>40 yeas ago it was about the Japanese…..
History does repeat, with monotonous regularity.
It will sell for sure, but not to Golf buyers. I can’t see a lot of cross-shopping going on there.
Correct Golfie, Priced the same as a Kia Rio but the size nearer to an I30 with the equipement of an I30, it will sell.
Come again Frontman???
It is a common knowledge where? I can think of plenty of Japanese cars that were designed from ground up. I guess Koreans don’t copy as much anymore either, but still did few years ago. Looking at chinese made products, it is common knowledge most complex products are all designed away from China. Give a chinese man precise instructions what to do, they’ll do it. Ask him to design something from ground up, he’ll come up with a FAILure, like the BS up here. Maybe in 20 years time it will be different. But there’s no way I’d be inclined to risk my life in their pos BS cars to save a few bucks. They have a looooong way to go to get their cars up to the basic standards of modern cars today.
Dan being very truthful the Japanese have NOT designed anything NEW in the automotive world. Yes they have grabbed someone elses ideas / designs and perfected them but that is different to the actual thought process from a clean sheet of paper. But realistically there are not many truly inovative vehicles or products out there of any brand.
As to Brilliance, before writting them off to fast, have a lot at their partners, both on a building / product supply front and on technology exchange front. They have chosen their bed fellows carefully.
However they do need to really learn how to copy English!!!!
And i quote from the Zhonghua brochure
[Human technique in minute places
The car carried blue-teeth system may connect automatically to the mobile phone (when the mobile has blue-teeth function). By using advanced Motorola chips, the hand-free and private communication.
The lamp non-shut off warning instrument may prompt automatically the user when the lamp has not been shut off timely, to avoid wasting of power.
The low-beam lamp auto-lighting system may compensate the lighting timely when the outer light changed sharply, thus strengthen the safety of traveling.
The electric operated hyperbolic foldable rearview mirror may avoid accidental damage, and its mirror has defrosting function, making clear to the road condition in the rear.
Six disc DVD audio-video system, and amateur grade super low voice box may allow you relaxing in traveling, while the 6.5 inch high resolution LCD screen, providing you good enjoyment as in a theatre.
The central control stand designed compactly, adopting fashionable LCD display, with all functions indicated by suitable graphic markers for easy operating. The blue colored cold-light instrument panel makes reading of data easy and clear, relieving fatigue eyes]
Just to prove I not just argumentative nad do have a sense of humour ;-)
Ok, with that view, neither have any other brands! Should we now say that all manufacturers are now copying Model T Ford?? I’m really not sure what angle you are coming from mate.
As far as designing something NEW to the automotive world, believe it or not, in car mass produced factory GPS was first introduced by the Japanese in the 80s, for example.
What took the Japanese 20 took the Koreans 15 so Im thinking 10 for the Chinese .
Agree with you Frontman ,Japan has always been known for coping ,as an antique collector the amount of stuff they have knocked off over the decades is amazing ,they even knocked off Chinese stuff which is ironic these days.
China is crap now in car manufacturing……….but their progression over the past 10 years is astounding so give them another ten years and I think they will amaze us all.
You have to understand the way the Chinese think before you can try and trust them to manufacture your product,its all teaching teaching teaching and more teaching with them,they have their own ideas of what they think is acceptable and will cut as many corners possible to save on the costs of manufacturing.
The more China companies hook up with quality manufacturers for joint projects the quicker the products will improve.
Ummm, Koreans are still yet to match the Japanese. The Koreans are still yet to arrive at that point. They may be good at the cheap econobox segment, but they’re yet to achieve anyting in all the other segments. For Koreans it’s work in progress still. You’d have to be very ignorant to claim otherwise. So you may find it will take the Chinese equally long to get there also. But I guess it’s all speculation…
Their progression in last 10 years is no where brilliant (despite what their brand name reckons).
And what Chinese stuff did the Japanese knock off?? Some of the rubbish you say bavaria sounds like you’re taking the piss… very hard to take seriously.
Mate you been to China…….Ive manufactured products there for years so I think your just stating an opinion as usual about Korea,I have seen the changes throughout the factories first hand in China .You can clearly see the huge market share Hyundai has and is making ,that my dear is from 10 years of brilliant planning.
I guess if your not educated in antiques you would understand what the Japs have copied from the Chinese. My knowledge extends over 20 years so I think I do know what Im talking about.
Once again you devalue the Koreans product ,not sure who the ignorant one is here.
I am not devaluing their products. Learn to read (it seems to be a re-occuring problem with you), I even acknowledged their success in the lower end of the market, namely the econobox market. Have they done any proper successful 4WD lately? Have they done any proper successful sports cars lately? Have they done any proper successful luxury cars lalely? Attempts were made. Failures were awarded. They’re still trying. I am not saying they will never succeed in that, it will only take time. However to claim that the Koreans are at the Japanese level, is downright wrong!
Mate I dont have a problem reading ,you clearly have a problem owning what you say though.
You state “I even acknowledged their success in the lower end of the market, namely the econobox market” You devalue them buy continuing on with comments like these.”Have they done any proper successful luxury cars lalely? Attempts were made. Failures were awarded.”
Awards arent passed to failures ,you simply didnt think it deserved the award ,get used to it cause it the start of many more quality cars to come from Hyundai in that department,take a look at the Genesis Coupe,it will be brilliant,Toyota and Subaru will miss out whilst once again Hyundai develops new ranges into the market.
Koreans are at the same level as the Japanese in some markets others they are still developing,so dont be arrogant to think they dont already surpass the Japs.
China too will reach the level ,Im sure the Japs are worried enough about the Koreans without looking at the Chinese thinking “crap they can make it cheaper like we USE to and will match quality given time.”
Why do you think the Japs made cars in the first place ,they wanted in on the car market, knew like everything else they had made before that copying will be the cheapest way of developing cars for them . Ask your Dad about the Japs and what they have copied over the years if your not old enough to remember.
Dan Says:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Ok, with that view, neither have any other brands! Should we now say that all manufacturers are now copying Model T Ford??
Oh dear. Was that really the first car?
No.
“Oh dear. Was that really the first car?
No.”
No it wasn’t. But do you get the point? Of course you do, but you have no rebuttal to it, so best to pick on words than address the question, isn’t it.
Bavaria, I am still yet to see any successful cars produced and sold in segments other than the cheap econobox segment. Genesis coupe? Can I go to a dealership now and buy one? No? Has it been a sales success? You can’t buy one yet, so how can it be? Catch my drift? Go into any Korean car dealership, and point out a ’successful’ car. And then let me know what category they belong to. I’ll save you the hassle now, and tell you they are all in the lower end econobox territory. Please don’t bring any prototypes, or soon to be released cars into the equation. I remember when the first Hyundai Grandeur first came out back in 1999 or whatever. There was this big frenzy about it how it’s so good, and how it will conquer the market. Good thing I didn’t hold my breath for that one… What are the chances this won’t happen again? The FACT is, Koreans can do cheap econobox cars very well. It’s a credit to them, and I congratulate them for it. There is obviosuly a need for these cars, and they are kicking everybody else’s bottom in that segment. If that to you means that I am ‘devaluing’ them as you claim, than I am sorry for you misinterpretation, perhaps you do have a problem with your reading…
How far back do you have to go with US or Australian cars to get ones that were not exactly crashworthy. If I offered you a Ferrari 250GTO, even an XU1 Torana you would take. If you crashed it would you survive -maybe.
Of course China does not have state of the art technology yet -the jv partners wont let them have it.
Brilliance must have learned a lot from their jv partner BMW by now. I have been in a few of their vehicles and didn’t have a problem with them. They reminded me of a ten year old Mazda 626 or the like. The Buick Park Avenue though is the Chinese Statey and they are just great. I am in my 50’s and they appeal to me much more than a Caprice. Sure there was Aussie input in to the new interior as well but they will learn quickly -they are in other industries. China approved over 400,000 patents last year from chinese companies!
“Ummm, Koreans are still yet to match the Japanese.”
I much agree with for once. What a relief right.
Its the same as how Lexus still can’t match the germans.
“I much agree with for once. What a relief right.
Its the same as how Lexus still can’t match the germans.”
And you would know that how, may I ask? Your mum drives a Mazda 3. You’re 16 and just going through your L plates. You don’t own, and never have owned a beemer or a lexus, let alone driven one. I have owned both. Yet you’re somehow an ‘expert’ who thinks he has a valid opinion? Go back do your homework, you’re just a teenager.
Perhaps the Chinese people in this generation are only really good at copying as opposed to how great they once were in designing new stuff hundreds of years ago. However, you really have to appreciate how quickly they learn, adapt or “copy” stuff. Take a look at one of the youtube video on “improved BS6 crash test”. If the information provided is correct, Brilliance managed to make a massive improvement on crash test results in less than 3 months time. From the front driver’s compartment collapsing completely, crushing the driver to only slight deformation to the front driver’s compartment and reportedly achieving 3 star rating.
I can’t see the Chinese taking too long to achieve what the Koreans are doing today if they are determined to do so.
Dan, can you really just stop brining up Lexus vs BMW into every single thread in here? It’s really getting old. This thread isn’t even related to either of them.
“And you would know that how, may I ask?”
I’m just proving how ignorant your previous comments are by doing the same.
I don’t know but by many proven review etc I can at least get an idea. Its really the same reason that you think the chinese cars are crap. You haven’t driven them yet so how could you even begin to criticise a new model which hasn’t been released yet or reviewed for that matter.
“Your mum drives a Mazda 3″
As to my personal life, claim that I own a mini minor for all I care as I refuse to lower myself to your level and reveal everything about me to try and make a point.
“Dan, can you really just stop brining up Lexus vs BMW into every single thread in here? It’s really getting old. This thread isn’t even related to either of them.”
Dude, I didn’t. ZoomZoom did! Totallly unrelated to anything in this article either.
And ZoomZoom, the only ignorant one here is yourself. You have… no idea. Let’s leave it at that. And as far as ‘claims’ go, I am only repeating what you have admitted in the past.
Back on topic. Nightshifter, I agree with your statement. They are very good at copying stuff. Anything from intercoolers to designer handbags. The amount of ‘fakes’ you can obtain from there, at a decent and improving quality is a testament to their ability to reproduce and imitate items designed by others. It certainly is a good news about the imroved safety of the BS, not that at the moment it is anything to brag about, being only 3 stars. But at least we can take comfort in the fact that they are an intelligent nation after all, and hopefully if/when their cars do arrive on our shores, they will meet the current safety standards at the very least. And at the end of the day, the more competition the better.
I would be curious to know how the rest of the Chinese car manufacturers are going at the moment. From what I read in the past, Brilliance (they should really change that name)is only one chinese car manufacturer, and there are at least 20 others.