Here’s a Beijing BJ90 SUV, spotted in north Beijing earlier this year. The BJ90 has a big V8 under the hood, and at the time, it was one of China’s most powerful and most expensive cars. But it was not totally Chinese.
About Beijing
Beijing (北京) is a Chinese car brand owned by BAIC Motor. The brand launched its first car, the iconic Beijing BJ212, in 1965. In 1985, BAIC and AMC started the Beijing-Jeep joint venture in China for the production of the Cherokee XJ. This JV eventually morphed into Beijing-Benz, a company that makes Mercedes-Benz models for the Chinese market. Furthermore, BAIC owns 9.98% of the shares of the Mercedes-Benz Group. So, when BAIC came knocking on Mercedes’ door for a luxury SUV platform, the Germans couldn’t say no.
The Beijing BJ90
The Beijing BJ90 is a large SUV based on the second-generation pre-facelift Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (X166). Initially, Mercedes-Benz shipped complete vehicles with engines from the Alabama factory to China, where they were converted to the Beijing BJ90. When production of the X166 ended in 2019, Mercedes-Benz shipped the entire production line to China for local production.
Beijing changed the front, the rear, the wheels, and the badges. It was a good-looking car, luxurious and expensive, with lots of chrome and multispoke wheels. Beijing launched the BJ90 in 2017. Initially, it was a government-only car. After an update in 2020, it became available for private buyers as well.
The Interior of the Beijing BJ90
The interior of the early Alabama-made cars was unchanged compared to the Mercedes.
However, the car in the photos is a post-2020 car. The update included a reworked interior with a larger screen, wood panels, and a new center tunnel.
The controllers for the seats are on the center tunnel, a unique location. Mercedes-Benz usually has them at the door panels, and most other automakers fit them on the side of the seats. It has classic round dials and a 10.4-inch infotainment screen.
Beijing sold 4-seat (pictured) and 5-seat variants of the BJ90. The 4-seater had two wide captain seats on the second row. Again, the seat controls are in the middle. Beijing equipped the BJ90 with an 8-speaker sound system with a CD player, dual-zone air conditioning, and a double sunroof. The BJ90 is a big car, but still, it seems rather cramped inside. Size: 5171/1995/1902, 3100.
Specifications of the Beijing BJ90
Beijing offered two Mercedes-Benz engines in the BJ90: a 3.0 twin-turbo V6 and a 4.0 twin-turbo V8. The car in the photos is the Beijing BJ90 4.0T Premium model, fitted with the V8.
Yeah! We love this: Turbo with a red T.
The output of the engine was 422 hp (310 kW) and 600 Nm. That made the BJ90 one of the most powerful China-made cars at the time. The post-2020 cars had a nine-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. Beijing claimed a 250 km/h top speed and 0-100 in 6.5 seconds. It was a little thirsty, with an 11.6L/100 km fuel consumption.
Pricing
In 2020, the V8 model cost 1.28 million yuan or $198K, using the period’s exchange rate. That made the BJ90 one of China’s most expensive cars. Only the Hongqi limousines cost more money. Beijing offered two exterior colors: Ink Jade Black and Jungle Green. The only interior color option was Black.
Amazingly, production of the Beijing BJ90 continued until 2023. At that time, the V8 had already been dropped. The BJ90 was never a big seller, due to its price and high fuel consumption. From 2020-2023, Beijing sold about 250 units per month on average, making the BJ90 a rare sight on the road.