The Beijing U5 or previously the Senova D50 is a compact sedan produced by BAIC under the Senova (Shenbao 绅宝) brand and later the Beijing brand.[1] The electric version is called the EU5, and was branded as the BJEV or BAIC EU5 before being rebadged as the Beijing EU5. The U5 and EU5 both received a facelift in 2021 and was renamed to U5 plus and EU5 Plus sold under the Beijing brand.

Senova D50/ Beijing U5
Beijing U5
Overview
ManufacturerBeijing (BAIC)
Production2013–present
Body and chassis
ClassCompact car
Body style4-door sedan/saloon
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel drive

First Generation (2014–2017)

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Senova D50 I
 
Overview
Also calledBeijing Auto C50E
BJEV EU400
BJEV EU260
Production2013–2017
Model years2014–2017
AssemblyChina
DesignerMike Robinson at Bertone
Body and chassis
ClassCompact car (C)
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive
PlatformM-trix (Based on the Saab 9-3 platform)[2]
Powertrain
Engine1.5 L A151 I4 (petrol)
1.5 L 4A91 I4 (turbo petrol)
Transmission5-speed manual
CVT automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,650 mm (104 in)
Length4,582 mm (180 in)
Width1,794 mm (71 in)
Height1,486 mm (59 in)

Originally unveiled as the Beijing Auto C50E, the first generation Senova D50 debuted on the 2014 Beijing Auto Show, and was launched on to the China car market in H2 2014. The C50E was planned to be sold under the Senova brand name with the original designation being D150. Prices of the D50 starts from 74,800 yuan to 119,800 yuan. The D50 is powered by a Mitsubishi-sourced 1.5-litre petrol engine produced by Shenyang Mitsubishi with 163 hp (122 kW; 165 PS) and 225 N⋅m (166 lb⋅ft; 23 kg⋅m). The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or CVT.[3]

BJEV EU260/ EU400 (Electric Version)

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Originally the Beijing Auto Senova EV300, the electric car based on the Beijing Auto Senova D50 sedan was later renamed to EU under the BJEV brand. Beijing Auto previewed an EV300 concept on the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show, with a new and more aerodynamic front DRG compared to the D50 that it was based on. The Senova EV300 is powered by an electric motor producing 136 hp (101 kW; 138 PS) and 240 N⋅m (177 lb⋅ft; 24 kg⋅m) of torque, the electric range is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) with initial pricing before green-car subsidies by central and local governments to start around 200,000 yuan. The EU260 EV debuted on the 2015 Guangzhou Auto Show in China.[4] After the rebranding, the EU260 is manufactured by BAIC BJEV, a subsidiary of the Beijing Auto Industry Corporation (BAIC) that makes electric cars.[5] The EU series includes two different trim levels with different electric range including the BJEV EU400 and BJEV EU260 with the BJEV EU400 discontinued after the second generation D50 was launched.[6][7]

Second Generation (2018–present)

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Senova D50 II/ Beijing U5/ Beijing U5 Plus
 
Overview
Also calledBeijing U5
BJEV/Beijing EU5 (electric version)
Beijing U5 Plus
BAIC U5 Plus
Production2017–present
Model years2018–present
AssemblyChina
Body and chassis
ClassCompact car (C)
Body style4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
RelatedChanghe A6
Powertrain
Engine1.5 L A151 I4 (petrol)
Transmission5-speed manual
CVT automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,670 mm (105 in)
Length4,630 mm (182 in)
Width1,820 mm (72 in)
Height1,480 mm (58 in)

The second generation Beijing Auto Senova D50 was unveiled on the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show in April 2017,[8] with the initial market launch planned to be in June 2017.[9] However, the launch of the second generation Beijing Auto Senova D50 for the Chinese car market was later postponed to be on November 8[10] with prices ranging from 67,900 yuan to 96,900 yuan.[11] Power of the second generation D50 comes from a 1.5-litre inline-four petrol engine producing 116 hp (87 kW; 118 PS) and 147 N⋅m (108 lb⋅ft; 15 kg⋅m) mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic gearbox.[12] A 1.5-litre inline-four turbo petrol engine producing 150 hp (112 kW; 152 PS) and 210 N⋅m (155 lb⋅ft; 21 kg⋅m) was added later.[13]

As of 2020, the second generation model was later renamed to Beijing U5 after the launch of the revamped Beijing brand.[14]

Beijing U5 Plus

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The U5 received a facelift for the 2021 model year called the U5 Plus. The Beijing U5 Plus debuted during the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show featuring slightly revised front and completely redesigned rear. The interior is equipped with a 7-inch display on the center console and a 12.3 inch high resolution dashboard display.[15]

The power of the U5 Plus is a 1.5-litre engine producing 116 hp (87 kW; 118 PS) and 148 N⋅m (109 lb⋅ft; 15 kg⋅m) or a 1.5-litre turbo engine producing 150 hp (112 kW; 152 PS) and 210 N⋅m (155 lb⋅ft; 21 kg⋅m). Transmission options include a 5-speed manual transmission, a 6-speed manual transmission, and CVT gearbox.[16]

Beijing/BJEV EU5 (electric version)

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Same as the first generation Beijing Auto Senova D50 sedan, the second generation D50 also spawned an electric version manufactured and sold under the BJEV brand. The electric version of the second generation D50 was also sold under the EU series, and this time it was sold alongside the first-generation-D50-based EU260 as the EU5 replacing the also first-generation-D50-based EU400.[17]

2020 rebadge

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As of 2020, following the rebranding of the Beijing brand, the BJEV EU5 was rebadged with the Beijing brand while the name remains unchanged, fitting into U-themed sedan range as an electric variant of the Beijing U5 sedan. The Beijing EU5 is offered in 8 trim levels with 3 different range variants of 416 km (258 mi), 460 km (290 mi), and 501 km (311 mi). Prices ranges from 132,900 yuan to 161,900 yuan.[18] The EU5 is powered by a single electric motor good for 218 PS (215 hp /160 kW) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque.

Beijing EU5 Plus (2021)

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The all-electric Beijing EU5 received a facelift that debuted during the 2021 Auto Shanghai under a new name called the EU5 Plus. The facelift sports a charging port that now resides in a front fender instead of the front fascia. Further design tweaks are in line with the U5 Plus petrol-powered version facelift, which are in the areas of the trunk lid, slimmer taillights, and C-shaped headlights with rounded details. The EU5 Plus cabin features two touchscreens, redesigned seats, restyled steering wheel, air deflectors, and HVAC.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (June 16, 2014). "Visit to the Beijing Auto dealer in Beijing, China". CarNewsChina.com.
  2. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (May 20, 2014). "Beijing Auto Shenbao to launch two new sedans, SUV, and an MPV". CarNewsChina.com.
  3. ^ Ning, W. E. (March 3, 2014). "Spy Shots: Beijing Auto C50E is completely Naked in China". CarNewsChina.com.
  4. ^ Wang, Joey (November 20, 2015). "Beijing Auto Senova EU260 EV debuts on the Guangzhou Auto Show in China". CarNewsChina.com.
  5. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (June 12, 2016). "Eye To Eye With The Beijing Auto EU260 EV In China". CarNewsChina.com.
  6. ^ Ning, W. E. (May 4, 2015). "Spy Shots: Beijing Auto Senova EV300 for the Chinese car market". CarNewsChina.com.
  7. ^ "北汽新能源EU5". www.bjev.com.cn.
  8. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (April 21, 2017). "New Beijing Auto Senova D50 Unveiled On The Shanghai Auto Show". CarNewsChina.com.
  9. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (May 12, 2017). "The New Beijing Auto Senova D50 Is Almost Ready For China". CarNewsChina.com.
  10. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (October 25, 2017). "New Beijing Auto Senova D50 Will Hit The Chinese Car Market In November". CarNewsChina.com.
  11. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (August 8, 2017). "This Is The New Beijing Auto Senova D50 Sedan". CarNewsChina.com.
  12. ^ Feijter, Tycho de (November 9, 2017). "Beijing Auto Senova D50 Launched On The Chinese Car Market". CarNewsChina.com.
  13. ^ "2019 BAIC SENOVA D50 Technical Specs". chinapev. March 29, 2019.
  14. ^ "宣布进入造车3.0时代,BEIJING汽车能否实现突围?". Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "内外焕新 车展实拍BEIJING U5 PLUS P1".
  16. ^ "内外焕新 车展实拍BEIJING U5 PLUS P34".
  17. ^ "Beijing Auto BJEV EU5".
  18. ^ "2020 BAIC Beijing EU5 (EV) Technical Specs". March 29, 2019.
  19. ^ "Beijing EU5 EV becomes EU5 Plus after facelift".
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