Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Belgian dealer axes Brilliance BS6]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/belgian-dealer-axes-brilliance-bs6/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/belgian-dealer-axes-brilliance-bs6/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/02/belgian-dealer-axes-brilliance-bs6/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Brilliance BS6

Brilliance BS6The first reported dumping of the Brilliance BS6 has taken place in Belgium, where dealer Karel Cardoen has halted sales of the car in the wake of its horrifying crash test conducted by Germany's ADAC. In perhaps the understatement of the year, Automotive News Europe quotes Cardonen as saying, "We don't think this car is good to sell in Europe."

The BS6, for those of you new to the story, is a Chinese luxury sedan and recent arrival into the European automobile market. It recently flunked the ADAC crash tests in spectacular fashion, and In the wake of that fiasco, the automaker said that it didn't feel the poor crash results would have a negative impact on sales.

So much for that. Cardoen's dealership was one of just three that were offering the car to European customers. The remaining two are both in Germany. Cardoen said he'll reconsider his position if the safety of the car improves.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (sub req'd)]

Continue reading Belgian dealer axes Brilliance BS6

Belgian dealer axes Brilliance BS6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brilliancebrilliance BS6BrillianceBs6bs6bs6 adacBs6AdacMon, 02 Jul 2007 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[BS Artists: Brilliance says BS6 crash test won't hurt European sales]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/28/bs-artists-brilliance-says-bs6-crash-test-wont-hurt-european-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/28/bs-artists-brilliance-says-bs6-crash-test-wont-hurt-european-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/28/bs-artists-brilliance-says-bs6-crash-test-wont-hurt-european-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Brilliance BS6 ADAC crash test

Chinese automaker Brilliance has stated that its European distributor is confident it'll be able to sell the BS6 sedan on the continent despite its pathetic showing in Germany's ADAC crash tests. In case you missed it the first time around, the BS6 garnered a 1-star rating after collapsing in on itself during the frontal offset test and experiencing similarly poor results in the side-impact test as well. The car rapidly became the object of well-deserved ridicule as the story spread through the Internet. According to Reuters, Brilliance has accused the German media of "viciously playing up" the crash results, noting that it passed the basic safety test required for entry into the European market, as well as a voluntary NCAP test after that. How the BS6 passed any safety test at all is remarkable to us after seeing the ADAC videos. (Seriously, what does the basic safety test Brilliance mentions consist of? Throwing Nerf balls at the car? Subjecting it to a pillow fight?)

Follow the jump for more info, opinion and to view the crash test videos that supposedly won't hurt the car's saleability in the European market.

[Source: Reuters via Automotive News (sub req'd)]

Gallery: Brilliance BS6 ADAC Crash test

Continue reading BS Artists: Brilliance says BS6 crash test won't hurt European sales

BS Artists: Brilliance says BS6 crash test won't hurt European sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brilliancebs6Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[In German crash test, China's Brilliance BS6 sedan fails miserably]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/brilliance-bs6s-adac-crash-test-is-anything-but/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/brilliance-bs6s-adac-crash-test-is-anything-but/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/brilliance-bs6s-adac-crash-test-is-anything-but/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Brilliance BS6 ADAC crash test
Click above image for photo gallery

China's Brilliance BS6 is a recent entry into the European market, positioned as a premium-style import sedan at a budget price. Well, after seeing the videos of the car undergoing crash testing using Euro NCAP guidelines at the ADAC (Germany's AAA, essentially) test center, one thing's certain: buyers get what they pay for. The BS6, as currently constructed, appears to a complete piece of crap. The horrifying 40 mph offset frontal crash test video shows damage that can be described as catastrophic at best. The A-pillar collapses and folds up like a cheap suitcase, forcing the driver's door to pop largely out of its frame, while the lower portion of the car buckles like it's made of recycled pop cans. We wouldn't want to be the driver's legs...or any other part of him for that matter. To open the mangled door afterwards, the ADAC techs needed to use a huge crowbar to get it to budge. ADAC notes that the pedals intruded a foot and a half (32 cm) into the driver's space, while the IP moved in almost 8 inches (20 cm). Needless to say, the BS6 failed the test, garnering just 1 star.

Follow the jump for more coverage/opinion and the related videos. Thanks to Andy B. for the tip!

[Sources: ADAC (translated) via Autobild, AFX News via Forbes]

Gallery: Brilliance BS6 ADAC Crash test

Continue reading In German crash test, China's Brilliance BS6 sedan fails miserably

In German crash test, China's Brilliance BS6 sedan fails miserably originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adacbreakingbrilliancebs6catastrophic damageCatastrophicDamagecrash testCrashTestFri, 22 Jun 2007 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The Brilliance are coming! Chinese automaker plans to export sedans to the US this year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/the-brilliance-are-coming-chinese-automaker-plans-to-export-sed/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/the-brilliance-are-coming-chinese-automaker-plans-to-export-sed/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/the-brilliance-are-coming-chinese-automaker-plans-to-export-sed/#commentsFiled under: ,

After storming Europe in 2006, BMW's Chinese automaking partner Brilliance wants to start sending its BS6 sedan to our shores as soon as this year. If it does, it will be the first Chinese car maker to grace the US market.

According to Brilliance President Zhigang Liu, if the BS6's don't make it this year, then we'll get them in early 2008. When they arrive, you will know them by their . . . well, you won't actually know them, because each one looks like several different cars depending on where you stand. A resurrected and chromed-out Rover grill on a whatchamacallit front end, a perfectly nondescript profile, and a done-a-million-times Southeast Asian rear. The automotive equivalent of jambalaya, it's got a little bit of everything in it. Still, it's hard to say anything bad about the car. At least not the one in the picture.

Brilliance has put $1.3 billion into R&D for its line of sedans, and will invest that amount again over the next five years. As well, the company builds BMW's and Minis in Northeast China, so they should have a some sort of handle on quality control. There are no sales targets set yet, but we practically guarantee they can up their target if they swap the letters "BS" -- which probably stand for Shenyang Brilliance -- for almost anything else.

[Source: Reuters]

The Brilliance are coming! Chinese automaker plans to export sedans to the US this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brilliancebs6chinachineseshenyangMon, 23 Apr 2007 14:24:00 EST