FAW Besturn B70HEV, B50 is unveiled in Beijing

Shanghai, April 14 (Gasgoo.com) The first Chinese-developed luxury own-brand FAW Besturn was released in Beijing on April 12. The full-hybrid "Beijing Olympic Model Car" - Besturn B70HEV - was unveiled while other models of the FAW Besturn brand were named at the Besturn launch ceremony. The long-awaited "Small Besturn" - Besturn B50 - was also released at the event.

The first home-made Besturn, based on the Mazda6, is manufactured by the FAW-Mazda joint venture in China. The Besturn B70HEV unveiled this time is a full hybrid model to be used as the "Beijing Olympic Model Car" for services in the Summer Games under the theme "Green Olympics, Technological Besturn." 

FAW's hybrid electric Besturn B70HEV model features the adequate energy conversion equipment (like a diesel engine), energy storage device and power motor as its hybrid power plant. As an energy-efficiency and eco-friendly model, the Besturn B70HEV is equipped with an engine capable of 6.0L/100km, able to save fuel by 42.8% compared to other automatic-transmission sedans of the same kind.

The launch of these FAW Besturn models marks another milestone in FAW's brand expansion and market growth after its Besturn brand has managed over the past few months to find its footing in the luxury sedan market and break the technical barriers of luxury vehicles. The new FAW Besturn series is seen as the "best turn" for the brand to start a new generation of car-making.

FAW will release more details on the car at the Beijing show this month. In the meantime, company officials have announced plans to invest $300 million in a new production facility to build the Besturn models in 2009.