Only days before its debut, official photos of the 2015 Borgward BX7 were leaked online but now the vehicle has been launched properly at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. You will already be aware that the BX7 brings the brand back into business after the Ggerman carmaker has been inactive for over five decades.
Even so, it must be mentioned that the Borgward marque is only really German by name as China-based Foton Motor now own the manufacturer and therefore the BX7 will also be put together in China. Let’s move on to the vehicle itself. The Borgward BX7 keeps the classic SUV shape with ample ground clearance and high belt line. The “trademark” octagon radiator grille dominated the front of the vehicle.
The diamond-shaped Borgward logo sits withing this grille and is surrounded with diamond-shaped elements located within the assembly. The regular BX7 has a grille with vertical bars so this design is exclusive to the flagship TS variant. The grille is surrounded by xenon headlights together with LED daytime running lights (DRLs). Further down, fog lights are seated within the air inlet assembly.
The Borgward BX7 is fitted with 21-inch wheels along with 255/40 tyres and brushed aluminium roof rails (TS version only) can be found overhead. At the back, Borgward lettering is placed between the combination LED taillights and a subtle tailgate spoiler is placed on it. The Rear bumper also houses two chrome-edged exhaust outlets.
Under the hood, the Borgward BX7 runs on a turbocharged 2.0 litre inline-four petrol engine with 224 PS and 300 Nm of torque. This mill is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with power going to all corners of the vehicle through a permanent all-wheel drive system. It takes roughly 10 seconds go go from zero to 100 km/h and the top speed has been said to reach 200 km/h.
There is also the option of a plug-in hybrid. This model keeps the same petrol engine but includes an electric motor for a combined power output of 401 PS. Borgward has stated that its BX7 plug-in hybrid has the ability to reach an all-electric range of 55 km.
As far as the interior is concerned, the cabin of the Borgward BX7 is trimmed in Scottish Nappa leather along with contrasting stitchingand the centre console has been given an aluminium-like trim. If you were to go for the higher-end TS version then you will get sports pedals as well as a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Also, offered as standard, is a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, which is apparantly the biggest in its class.
The infotainment system is capable of voice command duties and there is WiFi connectivity onboard as well. Navigation, Bluetooth, USB and AUX compatibility are all offered. Android and Apple handsets can be linked to the system via Borgward’s Multiple Interaction platform. Once they are linked, the system allows the driver to have access to music kept on whichever handsets, phone contracts and whatever else.
Owners have the option of having their BX7s in five- or six- or seven-seater configurations. When the second and third row of seats are folded down, there is apparantly also a total luggage capacity of 1,344 litres.
The vehicle comes with standard driver assistance features like city braking with pedestrian detection, driver fatigue warning, proximity cruise control, traffic sign recognition capabilities, tyre pressure monitoring system, collision assistant with active brake intervention and a 360 degree surround view camera.
When it comes to safety, the Borgward BX7 has “two-stage hybrid airbags” for the driver and front passenger and also side and curtain airbags. You can also get a child safety seat detection system on the front passenger seat as well as Isofix mounts and three-point seat belts.
