WeeklySA_AdminBEIJING X55 PLUS: The refreshed model brings a new level of sophistication and advanced technology to the SA market without the need to break the bank
By Ali Mphaki
For some strange reason we were expecting the test unit to be in electric yellow, a vibrant colour that has unwittingly come to symbolize the popular Beijing X55.
But then again fate had decreed otherwise, our Beijing X55 Plus test unit would arrive in stunning polar white hue.
Were we disappointed?
Not in the least. As it turned out, our week long stay ensconced in this compact family SUV simply drove home the point that whatever colour it is offered in, the Beijing X55 Plus is a winner all the way.
It seems apt, for once, to say it does not matter what colour is your cat, so long as it can catch the mice. We will recall the Beijing X55 broke cover barely three years in South Africa (launched in November 2022) under Chinese automaker now Gqeberha-based BAIC (pronounced Bike) taking the market by storm.
Fast forward to late 2024, BAIC South Africa thought it time to give the small crossover some makeup, the revised model now featuring a few styling and specification tweaks and comes with an added Plus suffix.
Continuing its futuristic coupe-SUV-esque exterior execution, in its refreshed version, the Beijing X55 Plus edgy design details include hidden door handles (much like the Range Rover Velar) that pop out of the bodywork and hidden windscreen wipers, as well as LED head- and tail lamps (including a high-mounted stop lamp). Sporty blade wheels and a dual quad exhaust contribute to a more dynamic and powerful appearance.
If the Beijing X55 Plus exterior is somewhat polarizing with its extroverted theme, there is little quibbling about its interior which boast hints of a Daimler touch considering the Germans had a hand in crafting this vehicle.
Welcoming you on board is an interior exuding modernity and elegance. What immediately draws your attention is its aircraft-style gear lever, the space-engine-style air vents, a 10.25 inch digital instrument cluster in a minimalistic full black interior.
Relax you bum on the Recaro-styled front seats and say “Hello BAIC”, the vehicle responds thanks to its voice command recognition system, said to manage over 200 functions, a device which was a hit with my little nephews.
Apart from allowing you to tune into your favourite radio station immediately, the system also gives tired driver warning, weather updates, traffic etc. Forgot to mention the heated and ventilate electrically adjustable front seats come with memory function for the driver, and ambient cabin lighting, a 360-degree camera system, a host of advance driver-assistance systems like lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, AEB, and forward-collision warning.
What really left me smitten was its 540 degree 4D transparent chassis which provides a panoramic view of the road beneath the vehicle.
With such a host of tech specs, no wonder my nephew quipped you can only blame yourself and not the vehicle for failing to navigate this vehicle safely in whatever terrain.
Serenaded by an 8-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, the 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol diesel the bonnet did not disappoint either.
The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission yielding a claimed 7.7-litres per 100km and a brisk 0-100kph time of 7.8 seconds.
Starting from R429, 900 for the X55 Dynamic variant and up to R514,900 for the X55 Premium 2T, the Beijing X55 Plus is more value for money.
An exceptional choice for drivers seeking luxury, performance, and cutting-edge technology at an accessible price.
Motoring: Briefs
AN ELECTRIFIED SOFA ON WHEELS
Citroen’s new C5 Aircross has arrived. The brand’s biggest SUV has been thoroughly overhauled for a new generation, introducing all-new tech on a new platform and a choice of electrified power options. Unsurprisingly, a lot of the production car’s design comes from the concept that was shown at the 2024 Paris motor show, even including the green colour the car launches in. That said, Citroen has told us that the green won’t actually launch with the real production car, so you’ll have to wait a bit if you’re interested.
Citroen is going for big sofa energy inside, making sure all of its Advanced Comfort bits and pieces are front and centre. The ‘zen lounge’ aesthetic (get real, Citroen…) includes the brand’s super soft seating. As well as the seats, Citroen has equipped its Advanced Comfort suspension, too, with hydraulic bump stops over physical ones for better bump absorption.
TWO-DOOR, TWO-SEAT DEFENDER 90
This two-door, two-seat Defender 90 V8 Soft Top costs nearly as much as Ferrari’s own two-door, two-seat Roma, but this is touted to go anywhere, better than anything that has ever worn its moniker before it. This reimagined legend arrives as part of the brand’s Works Bespoke programme and brings with it the sort of charm, grunt, and go-anywhere attitude Land Rover claims only a V8-powered Defender can deliver.
At its core, the Soft Top packs Land Rover’s 5.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol V8, churning out 405 hp (298 kW) and 515 N.m of torque, sent to all four wheels via a slick ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. This enables it to complete the 0–60 mph time in just 5.6 seconds
TRUMP BLINKS
It’s been less than a month since President Trump implemented a blanket 25-percent tariff on foreign-made cars and car parts. Now, in an effort to improve relations with automakers and the public on his 100th day in office, the administration plans to offer partial relief from those tariffs. The changes would eliminate the “stacking” of tariffs on cars and parts that cross the border more than once, according to the Wall Street Journal. Automakers will also be reimbursed for car parts, like steel and aluminum, that cross the border.
The 25-percent tariffs on foreign-built auto parts, which was set to go into effect on May 3, will be partially reimbursed, according to the administration. Automakers have to apply for the reimbursements, though, which allows for a refund of up to 3.75 percent of the car’s value for the first year. In the second year, that figure drops to 2.5 percent. After that, the reimbursement will be phased out.
OUTSMARTED, OUTMANOEUVRED
A cash-in-transit heist was narrowly avoided in Umlazi on Wednesday morning when a cash van was chased into Mega City Mall by armed suspects just after 6 am. Video footage circulating on social media shows the high-speed chase unfolding in real time. In the clip, the cash van is seen racing into the mall’s entrance at an alarming speed, leaving bystanders confused and questioning the urgency.
Right behind it, a white Toyota bakkie comes into view, speeding after the van. At least two armed suspects can be seen sitting at the back of the bakkie, openly brandishing assault rifles in broad daylight. According to eyewitnesses, the van managed to outmanoeuvre the attackers by driving straight to the mall passage. The guards on duty quickly closed the service gate behind the van, locking the suspects out and putting a halt to their brazen plan. Realising they had been outsmarted, the frustrated suspects fired gunshots into the air before fleeing the scene at high speed. No injuries were reported, and nothing was taken during the incident.-SA Truck Magazine
