Brilliance, the state-owned automaker that produces BMWs in China under a joint venture with the German automaker, has announced that it intends to show 2009 models at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
Though Chinese automakers showing vehicles in Detroit is nothing new, a spokesperson for Brilliance told Automotive News China that the carmaker is serious about selling cars in the United States during the 2009 calendar year.
Apparently, two Brilliance models - the midsize BS4 and larger BS6 - were sent to the United States in 2007 for emissions and crash testing. Brilliance’s Vice President, He Gouhua, says that the cars passed the safety testing but not the emissions testing. Still, we have to wonder what structural modifications were made between 2006 - when the car flunked a German test - and 2007.
Brilliance plans to show off the BS4 and BS6, as well as the recently-introduced BS3 coupe and FRV hatchback in Detroit.
08/19, 3:56 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
A BS4 and a BS6? One must be filled with more BS than the other.
08/19, 4:18 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
…. Still, we have to wonder what structural modifications
…. were made between 2006 - when the car flunked a German
…. test - and 2007.
.
I hear they poured a bunch of lead in the bumpers for rigidity and shoved some 2×4’s in the doors for the side crash test.
.
BTW, didn’t Brilliance’s VP He Gouhua win some medals in teh woman’s gymnastic events? I didn’t know 12 year old girls ran Chinese car companies.
08/19, 4:29 PM
posted by:
murderedout
PPL will get lead poisoning, from touching the paint, just like there crappy dollar-store toys. Only the uneducated car person will buy these, like a-hole and tripleongagging****s. FUCTARDS!
08/19, 4:29 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I hear they’ll be equipped with a tray that runs the length of the undercarriage to catch the parts as they fall off.
08/19, 4:53 PM
posted by:
tzu13
I’m surprised there’s only been one BS joke so far.
08/19, 4:58 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
…too easy.
08/19, 5:24 PM
posted by:
hateful83
Brilliance = more crap. Ignore it America.
08/19, 5:54 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
With crash ratings that poor (1 star) I wouldn’t worry about the emissions. Unless you consider brains splattered everywhere pollution…
08/19, 6:06 PM
posted by:
ktulu
let’s C it
08/19, 6:09 PM
posted by:
inline6
Will they be building the car on the platform it’ll be shown on? If they aren’t, they’d better be careful, or it’ll implode once the ship that’s carrying it hits a 5′ wave.
08/19, 8:21 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Jeremy Clarkson would have a hayday with the name. I wonder what he would say?
“For lack of a better word, it’s just brilliant!”
or
“Brilliance? It’s rubbish!”
Probably the rubbish one. Any other guesses?
08/19, 11:17 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
You’re all missing the point. It comes down to cold hard cash. Someone on a student budget desperate for wheels doesn’t care about horsepower, crash ratings, or pedigree. It’s strictly WHAT CAN I AFFORD IF I SCRAPE BY ON RAMEN NOODLES AND 99cent PIZZA. So it’s more likely than not that this will sell if it comes in under 10k.
08/20, 7:36 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
If I was a student I’d spend my cash on an E30 3 series from 1990… Oh wait, I’m a graduate with a job and I still did that :$
D’oh!
Note to students: Move to London, UK. The tube and night busses will get you everywhere, you can drink from 18 legally and therefore there is no need for a car… Spend the money on alcohol, your halls of residence, condoms and perhaps some strip joints.
08/20, 8:58 AM
posted by:
gbb
And I thought the Korean cars were crap.
China = bringing crap to a new level.
08/20, 9:15 AM
posted by:
murderedout
beatus, jeremy clarkson is a gay homosexual!, who cares what that queer @ss sissy britian fagget thinks.
.
08/21, 7:29 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
“jeremy clarkson is a gay homosexual!”
As opposed to a STRAIGHT homosexual, or a gay HETEROSEXUAL? Does “gay homosexual” mean he’s extra gay?
That was a really funny response. It probably would have been easier to say “Jeremy Clarkson is a fag.” I would have laughed.
I don’t care what he thinks, but he’s funny. I’d like to see him test this car, and maybe crash…