Chinese Brilliance BS6 sedan performs terribly in crash test

Can't see a reason either why anyone would bother to buy one of these cars, for that kind of money you get almost anything you like used In one of thee tests it was stated that the car costs between 16 and 23.000?. Yesterday I saw a 2001 Merc S320 with 98.000km on the clock for 22.000?. And that is still one of the safest cars around.
On friday my parents had an accident with our 96'Escort, they hit on a wet road an oncoming Vectra at around 80km/h. Guess they wouldn't have survived in a Brilliance. Thanks to Ford I still have parents, slightly bruised though. The right front of the car is all pushed in (around 40cm) and the dasboard on the passenger site came in a little. The airbags worked properly and all doors were easy to open after the accident (eventhough the passenger door was bended).
 
Wow, I'm glad to hear they weren't seriously injured. The car did it's job and absorbed the impact to protect the occupants.

I'm sorry they were in the wreck, but I'm glad they are ok.
 
Thx guys :)
I'll take a pic tomorrow when I'm going to remove the rest of our belongings out of the car.
 
skr said:
Can't see a reason either why anyone would bother to buy one of these cars, for that kind of money you get almost anything you like used In one of thee tests it was stated that the car costs between 16 and 23.000?. Yesterday I saw a 2001 Merc S320 with 98.000km on the clock for 22.000?. And that is still one of the safest cars around.
On friday my parents had an accident with our 96'Escort, they hit on a wet road an oncoming Vectra at around 80km/h. Guess they wouldn't have survived in a Brilliance. Thanks to Ford I still have parents, slightly bruised though. The right front of the car is all pushed in (around 40cm) and the dasboard on the passenger site came in a little. The airbags worked properly and all doors were easy to open after the accident (eventhough the passenger door was bended).
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I would just like to add that a used old car is easier, faster and cheaper to repair too. You don't have to send it to China and wait a month just to change the brakes. Or wait for them to send the parts to where you want to repair the car. :p Would be cheaper to buy another "Brilliance".

Good to hear your parents are OK.
 
They should have named it "Brilliance DriveThrough"... :think:
 
OH SHI-!!

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/03/brilliance-to-get-a-2008-u-s-debut/

Businessweek reports that Brilliance (yes, that Brilliance) plans to have cars (possibly the Saibao, above) for sale in the U.S. next year for around $20,000. Phoenix, Arizona-based Autokam is behind the import plan and a Flash animation on their Web page says to expect Brilliance products this fall.

Digging around a bit on Autokam's Web site you'll find an Oct. 2006 article from "Dealer" magazine where Autokam founder David Shelburg talks about the status of crash and emissions tests and the difficulties of importing Chinese-made cars. Shelburg also shares his candid opinion of "Automotive News" publisher and editor in chief Keith Crain. "I'm not going to get along with that SOB if it kills me."

[Sources: Businessweek via China Car Times, Autokam, Dealer magazine, ChinaCar USA]

Shelburg also talks a bit about the competition's plans to import cars from China including Malcolm Bricklin, for which Shelburg once worked during Bricklin's Subaru phase. Funny how all things automotive seem connected, isn't it?

In the interview, Shelburg says he's been working since 1992 to bring cars over from China and has been putting the Brilliance Saibao through emissions and crash tests since 2005. Results from those tests, Shelburg says, have led to numerous improvements in the car's quality, performance and safety. If all goes according to plan, Autokam, in partnership with China Car USA, will have the Brilliance Saibao for sale first, followed by the Europa, Hover SUV, Lobo hatchback and M-2 models.

It's hard to say if Autokam can be the first importer of Chinese cars, but what's very clear is that they are coming, they will be inexpensive and regardless of their quality and safety credentials, will put pressure on already established brands. When? Who knows?
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If it does get pass the safety tests, I am instantly demanding the NHTSA be immediately disbanded. If the Chinese can push their crap thru, then I demand my own Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R!!
 
hes been tryin for more than ten years. SOMETHINS gotta be up
 
20 000 USD for that? Thats expensive.
 
Its supposed to compete with the mid-sized cars...but it doesn't look very big considering US mid-sized cars have gotten much bigger. What I find surprising is its supposed to be styled by Pininfarina but looks very much like an overgrown Kia Sephia.
 
Looks to me like it was styled by "Deformable Offset Barrier"
 
On topic: it just literally vanished in a puff of engine fumes! Are the Chinese making automotive magic tricks now?

Off-topic: What's that little piece of music that plays in the crash footage? I know it but I can't put my finger on it....

The music that is. I don't want the car near me.
 
chaos386 said:
This is exactly how the Japanese, and later the Koreans, started out. They're only copying right now because they're trying to catch up. Sooner or later, the sheer amount of money involved with these companies will attract serious engineering talent, and they'll start pushing out cars that will be on par with the rest of the industry but far cheaper.
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I think the Chinese cars in 30 years will be like the Japanese Hondas and Toyotas, Safe and great sellers.
 
What makes you say that? Right now nothing out of China is superior to what we produce in the West - there's just more of it and it's cheaper so we can throw it away when it breaks.
 
I'm not Takumi said:
Yeah, but back then, the Japanese and Koreans didn't produce tinder boxes.
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The Japanese actually ADDED something to car industries all over the world. Reliability and economy. And I think that Jap cars had up-to-date safety. Or atleast very close to western cars. Luxury was missing tho, but that was then.
Chinese do not add anything, they copy stuff and make it worse. Much worse it seems.
 
There is plenty of innovation in the Chinese car industry- GM's direction with Buick for example. It matters not what your judgement of the Japanese is now, but what it was 30 years ago. And back then it was no different. Remember when the Subaru 360 was "dangerously unsafe"?
 
Blind_Io said:
What makes you say that? Right now nothing out of China is superior to what we produce in the West - there's just more of it and it's cheaper so we can throw it away when it breaks.
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"Made in Japan" used to be insulting, too.

If the motivation's there (which it is - look at all the millions of companies copycatting everybody else) then they'll get it down right. EVENTUALLY. So don't hold your breath.
 
Subaru 360 is a kei car intended for the Japanese market. Bringing it to the US is more of a marketing mistake.
 
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