This big black machine is a Beijing BJ60, seen in Beijing city, covered with a layer of Beijing dust. The BJ60 is a big old-school SUV with a lot of bling all around, with shiny bits around the lights and in the bumper. It also has chromed window frames and roof rails.
The color name is interesting, as always in China: 漠河极夜黑. First of all, it is a long name. Most color names, even the fuzzy ones, are a maximum of four characters long. Secondly, the name refers to a city. The name in Pinyin is Mòhé Jíyè Hēi, which translates to Mohe Extremely Dark. Mohe is the northernmost city in China, situated in Daxing’anling County, Heilongjiang Province, close to the border with Russia. I surely believe the nights can be dark there, even the days.
The BJ60 is manufactured by Beijing Off-Road, which is a subsidiary of BAIC Motor, itself a subsidiary of the BAIC Group. BAIC has always been good at confusing name changes, and the company has launched and re-launched the Beijing brand name various times for different kinds of vehicles. There are two Beijing brands at the moment. 1) Beijing, with mass-market sedans and SUVs. 2) Beijing Off-Road, with off-road capable SUVs. For the BJ60, the current situation is: BAIC Group > BAIC Motor > Beijing Off-Road > Beijing > BJ60.
The shiny bit on the front fender with the 北京 (Beijing) brand name. The Beijing BJ60 is a full-size SUV launched in 2022. It is based on a body-on-frame platform with four-wheel drive, independent suspension, and three locking differentials. The BJ60 is just over five meters long with a 2.8-meter-long wheelbase.
The interior is luxurious, albeit a bit busy, with all kinds of trim forms and shapes. It has wide beige leather seats, a 10.25-inch driver’s display, and a 12.8-inch main screen. The drive selector is on the center tunnel, accompanied by various buttons and a selector dial.
The Beijing BJ60 is a 2.0 turbo + 48V mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV). The output is 267 hp and 400 Nm, mated to an 8-speed AMT gearbox. The top speed is 180 km/h and 0-100 takes 9.5 seconds. Beijing Off-Road also offers a diesel version, but that one is only sold to the government for duties in far-way areas of the country.
The characters write 北汽集团, Běiqì Jítuán, BAIC Group.
The Beijing BJ60 2.0 turbo MHEV sells for 209.800 yuan ($28.9K), which, in China, is actually on the steep side for this kind of car. Competition is fierce, and for the same money, consumers can get all kinds of off-road capable all-wheel drive EVs these days. But even so, there will always be a small market for this kind of old-school petrol-powered machinery.