‘Dare to drive big’

The motto is almost like a challenge more than a come on. But considering that the company behind it is owned and backed by an actual superpower and is the sixth largest state-owned automobile manufacturer in China, BAIC can dare us to “drive big,” considering they have been around since 1958 and now offers a “daring” line up of SUVs and off-roaders at par with the best of the west.

For those of you who may have heard or seen a BAIC SUV around town or on the highway, BAIC stands for Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. Formerly known as the Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation.

Last Thursday Sept. 19, BAIC Philippines, through United Asia Automotive Group Inc. (UAAGI), the official distributor of the BAIC brand of SUVs and crossovers, launched its first local hybrid offering and its most attainable off-roader yet, the BAIC B30e Dune. Following the tire tracks of its bigger B40 Ragnar, B60 Beaumont and B80 Wagon siblings, the new BAIC B30e Dune Hybrid immediately got the attention of many off-roading and camping enthusiasts.

There was a time when only America and Europe could brag about manufacturing the best vehicles in the whole world. Back then the US and Europe even got into trade wars and feuds over import restrictions. But such advantages don’t last forever. Japan eventually caught on, learned fast and soon enough we began to hear, see and buy “Made in Japan.”

It did not take long for Japanese vehicles to dominate the world market while the western manufacturers scrambled to find ways to compete against Japanese efficiency and costs. That was how America and Europe ended up collaborating with the “factory of the world” – China.

They probably thought “why buy the cow when you can just buy the milk” and before long, China ended up owning the cows or, in this case, various technologies, designs and equity if not ownership of well-known vehicles. But China did not stop at being other countries’ factory, China soon the acquired knowledge and started with what people labeled as copycats until they eventually developed what we would now call clones or better versions of iconic vehicles.

When Chinese brands entered the Philippine market, the come on used to be low price or cheap cars. That did not turn out for the best and the next generation of local distributors and dealers leveled up, dealt with long-term manufacturers and selected vehicles that fulfilled their buyers’ wish list: Quality – Style – Price.

Today, technology has been added to the requirements, given how the new generation of young drivers are so into tech in terms of connectivity, on-board entertainment, mobility, etc. In the same breath, the higher you go up the food chain, the more they demand performance, efficiency and environmentally friendly vehicles.

“The BAIC B30e Dune is powered by a Dual Motor Smart Hybrid System (single motor for the 4x2 variant) with no less than six energy management modes backed up by a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine. The state-of-the-art powertrain is coupled to a special hybrid transmission. The BAIC B30e Dune 4x2 generates a strong 329 horsepower and 550 Newton-meters of torque while the B30e Dune 4x4’s powertrain delivers a strongest-in-class 403 horsepower and 685 Newton-meters of torque.”

This immense power output enables the B30e Dune 4x4 to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in only 6.9 seconds. That is a lot of power, speed and if you get to see the line-up, with good looks to boot!

“The BAIC B30e Dune Hybrid’s safety features include a full Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) suite with cruise control, integrated cruise assist, intelligent high beam control, blind spot monitoring system, lane assist system, lane change assist, emergency lane keep assist, forward collision warning, rear collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross travel warning, rear cross travel braking and door opening warning. It also has a 360-degree around-view monitor as well as reverse camera and sensors.

“The B30e Dune’s other advanced features include leather seats, panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, smart power tailgates, intelligent adaptive cruise control, six-way driver and four-way passenger power-adjustable seats and full-LED lighting for the front and rear with electronic-leveling automatic headlamps. It also offers added convenience with remote window opening and pre-ventilation features, to ensure the vehicle is cool and ready to go even before getting inside it, especially on those scorching hot days.

“The BAIC B30e Dune comes with a 5-year or 150,000-kilometer (whichever comes first) warranty and is available at a suggested retail price of P1,588,000 for the 4x2 variant and P1,888,000 for the 4x4 variant. Take advantage of the limited-time promotion and enjoy a P100,000 discount off the SRP until Sept. 30, 2024.”

But I have to warn you, if you spend time checking out the B30e or the rest of its bigger “siblings”, chances are you will have separation anxiety. I myself checked out the BAIC B-80 Wagon which is the counterpart to a popular German version. A weaker man would have been divorced that day as I looked and I looked over the BAIC B-80. The B-80 like the rest of the line-up are designed and built solid, complete with the expected comforts and luxuries but at around one fourth the price of western models.

So, if you’re in the market for a tough and stylish first car, an Off-Roader that is design built for purpose and styling, or you want all the Bling without busting the bank account, go and check out the BAICs but do bring an accountability partner so you don’t blame me! God Bless You.

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