Earlier this month I wrote an article on the Beijing Auto BE701 but details were scarce. Today I saw the car at the Beijing International High Tech Exhibtion and found out a bit more. The BE701 is based on a Chrysler Sebring. The Sebring was made in China by a joint venture between Beijing Auto and Chrysler, that jv is now dead. Plan was to make the a couple of thousand BE701 ‘s for a pilot electric-taxi project in Beijing. But now the jv is gone, it loox like that plan is gone too. So likely this BE7101 will be a one-off for ever.
Electric engine: 336V, 60-110kw, 130-300nm, 3500-5500rpm. Battery: 75Ah, 336-375V. Top speed: 160km/h. 0-100: 12.8sec. Range: 160km. Empty weight: 1790kg. Full loaded: 2165kg.
Kid really liked the front of the BE701, kid got a typical traditional Chinese haircut.
There though might be still life in the taxi-project. This is the Beijing Auto C71EV, based on the C71 which is itself based on the old Saab 9-5. The C71EV, which was on the Beijing auto Show as well, has exactly the same specs as the BE701. Time will tell…
So there are three electrical projects in the same class: Beijing BE701, Beijing C70EV Crowe and Beijing C71EV.