BAW’s 007 SUV to launch in third quarter

---

You have to hand it to BAIC, they were among the first Chinese automotive companies to figure out that by working with a foreign company they could make better cars in China and sell a lot of them at the same time. Initially BAIC signed up with AMC to produce the Jeep Cherokee in China but this single model soon expanded into a full line of Chrysler vehicles, and even the Neon at one point (but the government decided this was a breakaway from their SUV mandate and denied a production license). Sadly the JV with Chrylser ended and became a simple sales deal to sell Chrysler vehicles in China. However, BAW learned a lot from the partnership, and one of the points learned was how to make a jeep that looks better than all modern Jeeps.

The 007 was on show at this years Beijing Auto Show and measures in at (LxWxH) 4595 x 1828 x 1804mm, making it a compact SUV but with a 200mm clearence from the floor. The entry angly is 32° and the exit angle is 29°, which will make it pretty decent both on and offroad. The 2.4L 4 cylinder engine is not exactly a powerful power plant, with it only being able to push the 007 up a 60% angle.

Engines for the 007 will come in 4 cylinder form only and then only 2.4 and a 2.0L paired to a 5 speed manual gearb0x