In 2011, a Chinese car similar to the BMW X6 made quite a splash. It was promised to be presented to the world on April 19 of that year. A week before this date, the entire automotive world was looking for information about the new product with excitement and was looking forward to the Shanghai Motor Show. The novelty even managed to get the nickname "Chinese BMW X6" among journalists, its spy photos were posted on the Internet, and a variety of rumors about the alleged engine compartment were circulating among motorists.
Interest was fueled by the fact that the company was developing the model Great wall, which is considered the most successful among Chinese competitors, and its products are almost the most reliable and beloved, both in their homeland and in many countries, including Russia.
A Chinese car similar to the BMW X6 is named IF Concept. Its appearance (then - judging by the photographs and reviews of automotive specialists) was so reminiscent of the world famous German brand that an obvious question of plagiarism was asked to the designers of this Chinese miracle. Only, judging by the promises of the manufacturer, the car should have cost an order of magnitude cheaper than BMW. So what came of all this, and how did the promising announcements end? But first, a little about the car itself.
Appearance and size
Describing the appearance of the IF Concept is, in principle, a thankless task - just look at the photo of the BMW X6 to get a fairly complete picture of what the Chinese imitation looks like. However, corrosive journalists found out that the Concept differs from the prototype in terms of dimensions. In length, it exceeds the original by 15.3 cm, in height - by 15. But the width of the Great Wall brainchild is less than the Bavarian by 52 mm.
The IF Concept has a wheelbase of 3,075 millimeters, while BMW uses a 2,933 millimeter wheelbase for its popular model. However, all these details do not greatly affect the general view: in most cases, the appearance of the Chinese car, almost exactly repeats the outlines of the BMW X6.
What's under the hood?
The technical filling was kept in the strictest confidence by the manufacturer. In open promises, 6 airbags, xenon in the headlights, LEDs in the taillights, climate control in the automatic and three zones and access to the interior without a key were announced. In general, all relying bells and whistles
When launching into the series, it was supposed to equip the IF Concept with two types of engine (both gasoline, diesel and were not planned in the plans):
- 2-liter turbocharged;
- 3-liter, 6-cylinder, V-shaped.
Front-wheel drive was promised in both versions, the transmission is exclusively a 6-speed automatic. For Chinese cars, such indicators can be considered simply excellent: most often they even use weak engines on crossovers.
Outcome
For better or worse, the Chinese idea of \u200b\u200bsurpassing one famous German brand is obviously a thing of the past. In the future, things somehow went wrong, and the Chinese car, similar to the BMW X6, never went into production.
The Shanghai Auto Show flashed with a huge variety of more interesting versions from other manufacturers: electric Emgrand EC7 EV from GeelyNissan's Compact Sport Concept, Subaru's XV Concept city SUV dubbed the crossover of the future, the space A-Class proposed by Mercedes.
The journalists argued and dispersed, the auto experts did not treat the model with due attention ... And the Chinese themselves, apparently, based on the results of the Shanghai Motor Show, began to guess that the practice of copying other people's ideas has ceased to justify itself. And the sketches of well-known models will not give the cars either originality or, moreover, the quality of performance.
Still, it is necessary to produce forms that are different from the known ones, which can interest a potential buyer. And in 2014, the Great Wall rehabilitated itself by offering the world its own idea - Haval Coupe Concept 2015... There is nothing borrowed in the outline of the model, although some generalized trends are visible.
In general, we can say that it is also close to the BMW X6 (but not in the external similar contours), since Pierre Leclerc participated in its development, who suggested the design of the famous Bavarian.
Imagine the Louvre. You roam the majestic corridors in search of the main masterpiece. And now you see her - the charming smile of the Mona Lisa, a famous work of art that came out from under the brush of Leonardo da Vinci.
A reproduction of the Mona Lisa, or Mona Lisa, can be found in hundreds of museums around the world, private collections. But these paintings will not have that depth, mystery and elaboration of the image - there is no signature style of the master. Sometimes amateur copies appear, where a pretty smile is replaced by an incomprehensible grin.
Roughly the same analogy can be drawn between the legendary BMW X5 and its clone, ShuanghuanSCEO. The Chinese frame SUV was launched into mass production in 2006. It is built on a proprietary Japanese auto company frame. Isuzu and, in general, resembles a prefabricated hodgepodge of auto parts from different manufacturers.
Chinese bmw
Exterior ShuanghuanSCEO
The back of the body of the Chinese car is very similar to the BMW X5. The optics are almost identical, the same applies to the side faces: a similar window line, recognizable door stamping. But the stem, the front part of the body, has nothing to do with the X5.
This is Prado-120 pure water. The emblem crowning the hood is very much like the Ssang Yong badge.
One can only marvel at the resourcefulness of Chinese engineers and designers. After all, they combined the leitmotifs of iconic cars, creating a design that is not 100 -percentage copy of none of the existing models. At the same time, the quality of the execution of claims is rife.
They even saved on paint: instead of metallic, a conventional matte finish was used. Due to the curvature of the side windows, abundant transmission of sunlight, the interior heats up very quickly.
Litigation
The BMW company presented its claims to Boomer from the Celestial Empire. After the proceedings, the Munich court recognized the claim of the German automaker as legitimate: ShuanghuanSCEO's access to Germany was closed, and the export of all sold copies outside the country was prohibited.
The Bavarians tried to defend their rights in other countries, but did not succeed. The Milan court, after considering the case, recognized ShuanghuanSCEO and VM \\ # X5. two completely different cars, allowing the sale of the Chinese in the Italian domestic market. The defendant, ShuanghuanAutomobileCo., Was pleased with the outcome of the case: the company's representatives called the decision true and correct.
Perhaps, the management of BMW did not hope for the success of this event - the ban on sales of ShuanghuanSCEO in European countries. But the interior, the technical stuffing of ShuanghuanSCEO: fundamental differences from the X5:
1. Salon
The appearance of the interior immediately evokes thoughts of the work of Toyota designers. The design of the center panel is similar to that installed in the Lexus. Instruments - large markings, pseudo neon lights - are similar to the design of the same Japanese Toyota cars.
Among the obvious disadvantages are the disgusting fit of the panels, toy plastic, which quickly becomes covered with scratches.
2. Electrical filling
Shuanghuan SCEO is not inferior to other Chinese cars in terms of the richness of electrical filling: climate control, cruise control, full power accessories, parking sensors, electric seats, automatic sunroof, etc.
Upon detailed study, it becomes clear that some of these systems are not working correctly. For example, to turn on the air conditioner, after starting the engine, press the Auto button, and to change the settings, you have to return to the manual adjustment mode. And all this with a strong noise of work, a discrepancy between the actual temperature and the specified parameters.
The car has one airbag for the driver.
Interestingly, it works only if the seat belt was fastened.
The leather seats look more than decent. Frustrating only the gearshift lever, which is covered with low-quality paint, leaving characteristic black marks on the driver's palm.
3. Power units
The most popular in the CIS countries is the 2.4-liter 125 hp gasoline engine borrowed from Mitsubishi. Also available is the ShuanghuanSCEO with a 2.8-liter turbo diesel with 115 hp.
There is no underdrive gear. The center console is equipped with a handle for operating the drive. The underbody protection is insufficient, therefore, it is strengthened for serious off-road trips.
As you can see, on the technical side, there are no coincidences with the BMW X5 at all. This is not surprising, since the price of ShuanghuanSCEO in the maximum configuration does not exceed $ 34,000.
It's no secret that the Chinese are very good at copying a variety of things. And if earlier everything was limited to clothing, electronics and household appliances, then recently Chinese cars that have a lot of similarities with the world's bestsellers from the automotive industry began to fall into our field of vision. By the way, accusing the Chinese of plagiarism is still not very correct, because due to their mentality, they have a different view of copying, different from ours. If they succeed in copying something, they believe that they have reached a certain level of skill, and now they are no worse than the manufacturer of the original model.
Not so long ago, pictures of the brainchild of the Chinese car industry of the Shuanghuan Sceo crossover began to appear on the Internet, which at first glance is very similar to the BMW X5 in the back of the E53. But this is only at first glance, Sceo is not a twin of X5 one hundred percent.
- These two cars have only a similar silhouette, the Chinese did not completely copy the Bavarian car, this is also indicated by the differently drawn side lines of the body, and the rear part of the Chinese car, which has only a spoiler with the X5.
- Shuanghuan Sceo has body parts borrowed from other cars: the hood is very similar to the Mercedes ML, and the logo is similar to the SsangYong badge.
- The technological component has little in common with the German, the Shuanghuan Sceo is a typical Chinese car with units manufactured in China, albeit under the license of colleagues from Japan.
Technical features
In terms of design features, the X5 and Sceo have even less in common. The Shuanghuan Sceo is a classic frame SUV with plug-in all-wheel drive. The front suspension of the car is independent on double wishbones, the rear is dependent spring.
The car has only one engine - a four-cylinder 125-horsepower 2.4-liter gasoline unit produced under license from Mitsubishi. Naturally, this car is not designed for high-speed jerks from traffic lights. And who will do this on a two-ton frame SUV? Shuanghuan Sceo is designed for quiet driving on the highway and combating off-road conditions.
With regard to the gearbox, only one option is also available - a five-speed mechanics, which does not cause any complaints, the gears are engaged clearly and smoothly.
Unfortunately, not all cars are downshifted, but everyone has a plug-in all-wheel drive system. Although, I must say, in order to move through mud and sand, a plug-in rear axle will be enough. And the long travel and softness of the suspension will provide comfort when moving on any rough terrain.
Car interior
The creators of the Shuanghuan Sceo failed to create a salon like a premium segment car. And to a large extent this was influenced by the materials used: the seat upholstery made of genuine leather does not look natural, the cheap plastic betrays itself, the audio system is very mediocre. Although we must give credit to the designers, the interior is really well designed, just a little underdeveloped. At least in the Sceo, you won't find centimeter gaps in the panel or disgusting squeaky plastic.
Nevertheless, the Chinese developers managed to create a good reliable car. It cannot be said that it is authentic, but you will be respected on the road, because at first glance, the Shuanghuan Sceo really looks like a donor in the face of the BMW X5.
The price of the car also plays an important role. In the maximum configuration, the Sceo will cost around $ 33,000. For this money, of course, you can buy an X5, but it will not be new at all and it is far from the fact that it has a clean history and not twisted mileage. And the maintenance of a Chinese car will be incomparably cheaper, because only reliable, time-tested engineering solutions are used in it, which may be a little outdated, but this does not in any way affect their operation and service life.
Chinese crossovers, new items of 2017-2018, were replenished with a new Dongfeng X5 SUV, and in our review there is a photo, price and configuration, technical characteristics of Dong Feng X5. The official premiere of the stylish car took place at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2016 under the hard-to-pronounce name Dongfeng Fengxing Jingyi X5. Sales of the new Chinese car DFM X5 on the Chinese market will start on December 17, 2016 price 90-120 thousand yuan (835-1150 thousand rubles) for cars with gasoline 1.6 (122 hp) and 2.0 (147 hp) engines, front-wheel drive and very rich equipment.
Dongfeng Motor's marketers seem to love the combination of the 5 and the X in the model name. In another way, it is simply impossible to explain the presence in the model line of the Chinese manufacturer of such a number of cars where these letters are found: Dongfeng Fengxing Joyear X5, also known as Dongfeng Jingyi X5, and in addition the new Dongfeng Fengxing Jingyi X5.
How not to get confused in such a variety of manufactured models is most likely clear only to Chinese manufacturers and motorists. The Dongfeng Motor model line, which includes the brands Dongfeng, Dongfeng Fengxing, Dongfeng Fengshen and Venucia, totals about 50 !!! cars, many of which are practically twin brothers, and in extreme cases co-platforms.
This is the case with the new Dongfeng X5 SUV, which is the closest relative of the Dongfeng MX5 and Dongfeng AX5 crossovers. It is interesting that at the same time the appearance of the new Chinese SUV DongFeng X5 is very similar to the exterior design of the body ... no, of course, we are not talking about frank copying, but rather an imitation of the image of the German model.
There are rectangles of headlamps with a dotted line of LED daytime running lights along the lower edge, a compact false radiator grille, a bumper with pronounced air ducts, a characteristic rib that prescribes the sidewalls of the body at the level of the door handles, a design similar to the German design of the parking lights and rear bumper.
- The external dimensions of the body of the Dongfeng X5 2018-2019 are 4515 mm in length, 1812 mm in width, 1725 mm in height, with a 2720 mm wheelbase and 190 mm of ground clearance.
- As standard, the new SUV is equipped with 17-inch light-alloy wheels with 215/60 R17 tires, for an additional charge, large 18-inch wheels with 215/55 R18 tires and light alloy wheels with an original design.
The salon of the new Chinese crossover DonFeng X5 is fully 5-seater and can easily accommodate not only the driver and his four companions, but also ensure the transportation of a significant amount of luggage. By the way, there is enough space in the first and second row to comfortably accommodate five people with a height of more than 180 cm.
The dimensions of the luggage compartment will delight 850 mm in height, width from 1020 to 1330 mm and length from 820 to 1690 mm. The useful volume of the trunk, depending on the position of the split backrest of the second row, varies from 790 to 1690 liters, provided that it is loaded to the ceiling.
The interior is made of budget, but high-quality materials (soft plastic with a pleasant texture, artificial leather) with stylish decorative inserts for wood and aluminum.
Equipping the new Chinese SUV with modern equipment is traditionally rich for cars from the Middle Kingdom: a multifunctional steering wheel, a dashboard with a large on-board computer screen, an advanced multimedia system with an 8-inch touch screen (music, telephone, navigation, rear view camera), climate control, burning of the front and rear seats, electric driver and passenger seats, electric handbrake, keyless entry system and engine start button, electric sunroof, parking sensors, LED DRLs and taillights and other nice little things. For example, an all-round panoramic view system, a tracking system for objects in the blind spots of the rear-view mirrors and a parking assistant are available as options.
Specifications Dongfeng X5 2017-2018
The SUV's suspension is fully independent with MacPherson struts in front and multi-link in the rear, default drive to the front wheels, all-wheel disc brakes, electric power steering.
Under the hood of the Chinese novelty, it is possible to install one of two four-cylinder atmospheric gasoline engines.
- 1.6-liter (122 hp) paired with 5 manual transmissions or an optional CVT variator.
- A more powerful 2.0-liter (147 hp) works in tandem with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Chinese goods are confidently conquering new sales markets, successfully and inevitably replacing traditional brands. Car manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom do not hesitate to attract customers by imitating popular brands. Cloning began with famous models of its Asian neighbor, Japan. But in the last decade, copies of European cars have appeared, which lure the originals with their cheapness and brutal appearance.
The alleged original Shuanghuan Sceo resembles only from a distance and in poor lighting.
In the segment of luxury crossovers, the Chinese BMW X5 - Shuanghuan Sceo stands out. The patent purity of this car was not contested by the German concern, lawsuits were brought against the importers of the Asian clone only to ban trade in European countries. In Germany, the Munich auto giant naturally received full support, but Italian justice did not support its Old World neighbors and allowed sales. Also, Sceo feels calm in the CIS countries, in the vastness of Asia and South America. With such a large customer audience, Chinese manufacturers do not need to think too much about uniqueness and author's novelty.
Constructive indicators
Coming closer, you are convinced of the Asian origin of the car. Moreover, in reality, the car was manufactured under Japanese licenses and repeats its German counterpart only partially. The similarity is noticeable only in body proportions. The rest of the elements can be compared with a dozen other similar models. With such a huge number of cars produced in the world, it is already difficult to surprise buyers and experts with the uniqueness of the lines and the novelty of the equipment.
The similarity is noticeable only in body proportions. The rest of the elements can be compared with a dozen other similar models.
The classic puffiness of the body is concealed by the trimmed rear wheel arch and the fitted bottom. The outer contour, suspected of plagiarism, is heavily diluted with unoriginal details. The rear body kit is completely different from the tasty and laconic Munich tuning. The front end is more like a duplication of Japanese crossovers, and the interior design clearly betrays a Chinese native.
Significant dimensions and serious mass make Shuanghuan Sceo noticeable and recognizable on the road:
- length × height × width, mm - 4710 × 1820 × 1870;
- full equipped weight, kg - 2505;
- track, mm - 1535;
- clearance, mm - 200;
- wheel diameter - R17.
Equipped with disc brakes on each axle, the Chinese SUV calmly and confidently winds kilometers on country roads and is unpretentious in urban mode. When driving outside hard surface, four-wheel drive is included, which normally copes with average off-road conditions.
The quality of the body assembly and the good spaciousness of the cabin make it possible to consider Sceo as a family car of an inexpensive price level.
Small rolls, due to the decent height of the car, is compensated by the softness of the suspension. Modern optical devices provide good illumination of the road, and excellent visibility allows you not to worry about unnoticed obstacles.
Shuanghuan technical equipment
As a classic SUV, the Sceo is based on a frame, has independent front suspension and forced four-wheel drive. The car is equipped mainly with a gasoline 125-horsepower 2.4-liter engine or its turbocharged 2.8-liter upgrade, capable of squeezing out 200 hp. The modern equipment is complemented by a 115 hp diesel engine. The declared fuel consumption is low enough for its class - about 7-9 liters per 100 km.
Video: Shuanghuan Sceo Review
The offered basic equipment largely corresponds to the premium class of the car:
- anti-slip system;
- air conditioner with climate control;
- electric drive of mirrors and windows;
- steering column height adjustment;
- modern multimedia system.
The luxury version adds leather trim, heated seats and a sunroof.
A significant disadvantage of the Shuanghuan Sceo is the lack of an automatic transmission. Equipped with a 5-speed manual, the car accelerates hard and develops only 150 km / h maximum speed. Truncated by environmental requirements, power units do not allow the Chinese crossover to be a frisky horse in road competitions.
The safety of the driver and passenger is ensured by two front airbags recessed into the front panel. Automatic brake load distribution assists the ABS in driving successfully. The machine is equipped with reinforced door pillars for side impact protection. The rear parking sensor will indicate the distance with an accuracy of 10 cm and help in successful parking.
The simple analog design of the speedometer and tachometer does not spoil the colorful picture. The audio system, according to most experts, is the most advanced among the rest of the brothers from the Middle Kingdom.
The dashboard is made in a truly Chinese style with a variety of colored highlights in a red-orange palette.
Comparison of competitive peers
For the final conclusion, it is pertinent to look at the comparative indicators of cars similar in class. In addition to the Schuanghuang Sceo, we will select his alleged German original and a similar Japanese car. We will analyze the basic configuration of 2015.
In comparison with Japanese and German SUVs, the Chinese analogue is noticeably inferior in engine power and speed parameters. The lack of comfortable automation also does not add to the advantages of the Sceo. Of the advantages, the low weight and cost of the car are noted.
Comparison. Few are willing to pay for luxury in decoration and brand awareness.
