BAIC BJ40e hybrid goes on sale in China

The second-generation BAIC BJ40 has received a new powertrain option: range extender hybrid. It comes to the market in two variants priced from 224,800 and 244,800 Yuan, CarNewsChina reports.

The BJ40e celebrated its debut under the overlong name “BAIC BJ40 Magic Core Electric Drive Edition” at the Guangzhou Motor Show last month. It looked nearly identical to its ICE counterpart, but had a charging port on the right side, a new badge on the rear end and a different set of 20-inch, six-spoke wheels. The interior stayed the same with three displays on the dash.

For all its similarities with the standard BJ40 off-roader, the “e” version does things differently under the hood. It drives the wheels with a pair of electric motors mounted one per axle, totaling 548 PS (541 hp / 403 kW) and 655 Nm (483 lb-ft) of torque. Despite weighing 2,640 kilos (5,820 pounds), the off-roader accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.5 seconds.

A 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 188 PS (185 hp / 138 kW) but doesn’t drive the wheels – instead, all that power goes into charging a 40.3-kWh battery. Once full, it yields 152 km (94 miles) of CLTC range. Charging manually from 30 to 80 percent full takes half an hour, BAIC says. If you go hybrid instead of electric, the range goes up to 1,200 km (745 miles).

Numerous structural modifications had to be made to accommodate the new powertrain. For one, the solid-beam suspension at the rear end was replaced with an independent (per-wheel) design. Ground clearance dropped by 15 mm (0.6”) to 215 mm (8.4”). Approach and departure angles now amount to 38 and 37 degrees, respectively, and wading depth amounts to 750 mm (29.3 inches).

Drivers still enjoy access to three lockable differentials and 11 drive modes. The nominal hauling capacity is 2.5 metric tons (5,511 lbs).
Depending on your chosen trim, the BAIC BJ40e may ship with 12-way adjustable front seats, seat heating, ventilation and massage, 10-channel audio, a 50W wireless phone charger and 256-color ambient lighting. On the ADAS front, you can get adaptive cruise control, lane switch assistance, blind spot monitoring, and remote self-parking.