Official

GM gives China 7-seat minivan, still won't offer MPV in US

  • Image Credit: General Motors, SAIC, Wuling
General Motors and its Chinese joint-venture partners, SAIC and Wuling, have announced a new seven-passenger minivan for the world's most populous country.

Called the Baojun 730, the budget-minded people mover will be available in four trims (Standard, Comfort, Luxury and 1.8 Comfort) and with two available engines. The base mill is a 1.5- liter four-cylinder, which GM says was developed specifically for "economy passenger vehicles." Although mum is the word on power, it can return impressive fuel economy, netting 7.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (33.1 miles per gallon). The other engine is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, although there's not a lick of info available on it. Regardless of engines, the sole transmission is of the five-speed manual variety.

Considering its primary purpose is to haul people and stuff, the 730's three rows of seats look reasonably spacious for a vehicle that rides on a mere 108-inch wheel base. There's no word on total passenger volume, although GM claims that even with seven passengers, there's nearly 12 cubic feet of cargo room.

Despite its status as an economy entry, there is a reasonable level of connectivity in the 730. An eight-inch touchscreen looks to be running some form of Chevrolet's MyLink system, while USB and Bluetooth connectivity will also be available. Cruise control, a backup camera and dual-zone climate control – relative rarities on a budget Chinese MPV – are also available.

Scroll down for the full press release from SAIC-GM-Wuling.
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SAIC-GM-Wuling Launches Baojun 730 Family Vehicle

LIUZHOU – SAIC-GM-Wuling today launched the Baojun 730 seven-seat family vehicle. The new model will be available at 2,600 Wuling and Baojun showrooms across China with a price of between RMB 69,800 and RMB 81,800.

The Baojun 730 was created based on the feedback of millions of SAIC-GM-Wuling customers to address the needs of growing Chinese families. Based on a new front-engine, front-wheel-drive platform developed by SAIC-GM-Wuling, the model has a spacious interior, advanced safety features and a variety of interior amenities.

Eight exterior colors are available: Sky Silver, Candy White, Desert Gold, Storm Grey, Sandy Gold, Starry Night Black, Earth Brown and Amber Gold.

Baojun 730 Price

1.5 MT Standard

69,800

1.5 MT Comfort

74,800

1.5 MT Luxury

80,800

1.8 MT Comfort

81,800


The Baojun 730 has a 2,750-mm wheelbase that is even longer than that of B-segment cars. The 2+2+3 seating configuration creates a flexible interior. Unlike many other family vehicles, the Baojun 730 has a third row that can comfortably accommodate three adults. Even with a full load of passengers, the vehicle offers 330 liters of cargo space. In addition, there are 22 user-friendly storage spaces.

Riding comfort and driving enjoyment are bolstered by a McPherson front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension. Both were tuned by Lotus Engineering of the U.K.

High Level of Safety

The Baojun 730 is the first model built under SAIC-GM-Wuling's "Protection for All" safety concept. More than 50 percent of its chassis is made of high-strength steel. The use of state-of-the-art thermal forming and laser welding manufacturing technologies ensures the highest level of structural integrity.

Several active and passive safety features come standard. They include four air bags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, and attachment points for child seats. Optional safety features include the electronic stability program (ESP).

Choice of Economical Engines

A choice of a 1.5-liter or 1.8-liter gasoline engine is offered to Baojun 730 buyers. The 1.5-liter engine was specifically developed for economy passenger vehicles. It consumes a thrifty 7.1 liters of fuel per 100 km.

Wide Range of Amenities

The Baojun 730 comes with an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen that supports connections with mobile devices via HDMI ports. It also incorporates radio controls and enables access to audio players via USB ports and phone calls via Bluetooth. Other amenities rarely found in seven-seat family vehicles include cruise control, a reverse camera system, a dual-zone climate control system and a power sunroof.

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