Every year, representatives of the Chinese automotive industry are gaining new leadership positions in the market. With the growth of positions, there is also a strengthening of the confidence of motorists in SUVs and crossovers from the "Celestial Empire". A large private company Lifan was one of the first to volunteer to dispel negative perceptions about the reliability and quality of products from China. In 2011, the company presented a compact crossover named Lifan X60. In a relatively short period of time, the car was able to hit the main car charts, including the list of the best Chinese crossovers.
Why did domestic drivers like the model? Everything is extremely simple. The Lifan X60 is an inexpensive and affordable mid-size crossover with good dynamic characteristics. The car is quite simple in terms of construction: a 1.8-liter Toyota gasoline engine, a reliable manual 5-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive. It is pleasant to drive in such a car even in the city, and you can drive along a country road with relative comfort. But, before buying a crossover, it is best to immediately find out what the resource of the Lifan X60 engine is.
What engine is under the hood of Lifan X60?
Chinese engineers do not hide the fact that during the design of the car, their views were focused on the bestsellers of the automotive world - and the Hyundai Santa Fe. As a result of the Japanese-Korean symbiosis, something in between came out, but it should be said that the outwardly model turned out to be attractive. In addition to the design, the technical component was also borrowed: a 1.8-liter 1ZZ-FE engine was installed under the hood of the crossover, which has become legendary with operation on many Japanese cars, which have covered 500 thousand kilometers or more with great success. True, the motor underwent some changes before installation.
The English company Ricardo was engaged in optimization of the engine for the Chinese crossover. The engine was equipped with a variable valve timing system, the installation itself received a transverse arrangement. The powertrain index is LFB479Q. The changes also affected the control unit - it was equipped with a different firmware - and the Chinese developed some of the layout elements on their own. At the output, the engine received 128 horsepower at 6000 rpm.
LFB479Q Specifications:
- type - four-cylinder, in-line engine;
- number of valves - 16:
- compression ratio - 10;
- preferred gasoline - AI-95;
- piston stroke - 91.5.
The uncontested front-wheel drive modification of the crossover suggests that the car is adapted to Russian operating conditions, but, nevertheless, not fully. If the "Chinese" overcomes bumps and small potholes without problems, then he cannot cope with heavy off-road conditions. For urban use, the model is best suited. Thanks to electronic fuel injection, it was possible to reduce the level of fuel consumption of the unit by as much as 3%. At the same time, the motor is 8% more powerful than similar engine options thanks to Delphi and Bosch control systems.
Potential resource
The LFB479Q motor took over from the parent in the person of 1ZZ-FE not only the main advantages, but also the disadvantages. Chinese engineers, together with British designers, have done a lot of work in improving the engine, they really managed to increase the power and reduce the "appetite" of the unit. There are not so many chronic diseases in the Toyota engine. Motorists note a slight overconsumption of oil after 150 thousand kilometers. And this is really a fact, proven by the practice of operating a car with motors of the VVT-I series. It is almost impossible to influence this process, since the level of lubricant consumption is largely predetermined by the design feature of the engine.
When LFB479Q starts to "eat" oil, many owners decide on not the cheapest procedure - replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester. With excessive consumption of engine oil, the failure of the catalytic converter is a matter of time. For this reason, the first problems with the engine can begin after 150-200 thousand kilometers. In China, car owners have found the following way out of the situation: switch from the recommended mineral lubricant to semi-synthetics.
LFB479Q maintenance operating rules:
- The first MOT pass after 3000 km of run - completely replace the engine oil;
- Do not exceed 3500 rpm of the crankshaft during the first 1000 kilometers;
- Do not drive long distances during the running-in period;
- Do not tow the car;
- Refuel with the recommended AI-95 fuel, otherwise there may be problems with the engine at an early stage;
- Adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines for engine oil selection and material change intervals.
A resource-intensive chain is installed on the LFB479Q as a drive. On average, it serves for 100 thousand kilometers. It is necessary to periodically check its condition, due to the unfavorable operating conditions of the car, early stretching of the product is possible. With timely and high-quality service, the lifespan of the Lifan X60 engine will be 300 - 350 thousand kilometers.
Car owners reviews
The Chinese are strong in the quality of the service and service provided, thanks to these advantages, compared to other representatives, today they are able to win an increasing number of buyers. There are plenty of parts and components in Russia for Lifan X60 in every city. At the same time, Chinese car manufacturers are largely focused not only on the domestic market, but also on the external one, in particular, on the Russian one. Domestic buyers have access to various car configurations: from basic to luxury. What is the resource of the Lifan X60 engine in fact, the reviews of the owners will tell in detail.
- Egor, Taganrog. Lifan X60 acquired in 2012 at a dealership. Served there the first time. The break-in period went smoothly and without incident. After passing the first 3,000 km, the engine oil was completely changed. The engine runs stably, the rpm does not float. I am also satisfied with the dynamics of the car. Many people complain about the lack of motor power. I disagree with that. The car feels confident on the track. When overtaking, it does not suffocate. I try not to overload the installation. Already passed 120 thousand kilometers. The oil does not "eat", I change it according to the regulations. There were no problems with the car. Of course, the "Chinese" does not reach the level and status of RAV-4 or Santa Fe, but it may well compete, for example, with the Kia Rio.
- Albert, Moscow. Before buying a crossover at an attractive price, I was interested in one question: "What engine is in the Leaf X60?" As a result, it turned out that the engine was Toyota. Without hesitation, he collected the required amount of money and went shopping. I bought a new car in the salon, it was in 2013. Since then, the car has covered 130 thousand km. Were there any problems with the engine? Absolutely none. I fill in the recommended G-Energy F Synth 0W-40 lubricant. The oil is inexpensive, but sometimes it is not so easy to get it. As an alternative, I recommend Liqui Moly Longtime High Tech with a viscosity of 5W30.
- Sergey, Voronezh. The Lifan X60 crossover was presented to me by my parents. I'm not a fan of big cars, but I personally liked this model. I have been using the car for 5 years, the odometer now shows exactly 100 thousand kilometers. According to the manufacturer, the engine resource is at least 200 thousand kilometers. But, it is quite obvious that the figure varies up and down, depending on the timeliness of the maintenance. I monitor the condition of the motor, so there have never been any problems with it. I have not even changed the chain yet, but it may soon be necessary to do this work, since its service life is designed specifically for 100 tyk.
- Vyacheslav, Irkutsk. I got a car straight from China. For four years of driving the Lifan X60, I can say responsibly that the Chinese have seriously prepared for the release of this model, have spent a lot of effort and money on the implementation of the idea. It turned out to be a good product, and the motor is excellent. Something, but the engine in this car is reliable. Slightly other components of the vehicle suffer - the suspension, there are drawbacks in the cabin. But these are little things when you consider the cost of the Lifan X60. Recently I was at the service station, the masters carried out diagnostics, they said that the engine was in excellent condition, and this was after 95 thousand kilometers. Also from their words: the resource LFB479Q is at least 300,000 km.
- Valery, St. Petersburg. I was personally convinced more than once that cars with a 1ZZ-FE engine run half a million kilometers. As we know, the LFB479Q is the prototype of the Toyota engine. We can safely assume that the lifespan of the Lifan X60 installation is at least 300 thousand km. I have a 2012 crossover in the maximum configuration. I'm surprised by the car in the positive sense of the word. The Chinese have really learned how to make decent SUVs and crossovers. Today the mileage is 160 thousand. Oil from replacement to replacement.
- Kirill, Rostov. Nice car that I have been using since 2015. I took the car in the secondary market in excellent condition for a decent amount. At that time, the car's mileage was 50 thousand km. Today there are already 110 tyk. The powertrain is sensitive to the quality of fuel and engine oil. Refuel only at proven stations, and do not deviate from the manufacturer's recommendations in terms of choosing engine oil. At the very least, get worthy counterparts. Otherwise, the oil scraper will coke, the gaps will be violated, the valve mechanism will fly. Then problems cannot be avoided. Personally, there were no problems with my car. Starts in any weather, oil does not "eat", although the network writes that the engine is characterized by a "masloger". Who knows, perhaps the time has not come yet. But I am sure that with the right attitude and breakdowns of the "heart" of the car will not be.
The lifespan of the Lifan X60 engine is in strict correlation with the quality of service of the crossover. Many owners are trying to extend the life of the power plant by using repair and recovery compounds. In practice, such manipulations often lead to the desired result: the compression is normalized, the engine noise level during operation is reduced, and the engine resource also increases by several tens of thousands of kilometers. The LFB479Q motor is designed for 300 - 350 thousand kilometers. It is very easy to develop the full potential of the manufacturer in the installation, but it is not so easy to extend the service life of the CPG parts.
The fact that the Chinese are copying with might and main the developments of eminent manufacturers is no secret to anyone. Lifan uses licensed copies of Toyota engines in his models, which he adjusts (most likely in order to reduce the cost of production) to his standards. For example, in a popular model, but with modifications.
An engine is installed on the Lifan X60, which was copied from the legendary 1ZZ-FE series, which is legendary throughout the Far East.
The index of the 1.8-liter Lifan engine has the abbreviation LFB479Q.
Chain or belt
Let's immediately answer the question that worries many lifanovodov, belt or chain? Rejoice ...
Although the chain has its drawbacks, most domestic motorists are very afraid of a belt break, probably this is a fear from the domestic auto industry.
Engine features
The location of the power unit at Lifan X60 is transverse. Engine with variable valve timing system. By the way, the LFB479Q version is called VVT, in which there is clearly a connection with Toyota's VVT-i development. The Chinese removed the -i (with intelegence) prefix. An interesting fact is that the British (engineering company Ricardo) took part in the development of the Chinese engine.
Toyota's engine was very reliable, it was put on the most popular models, including the Corolla (the best-selling car in the world in class C), Avensis and even Celica. The most common problem was oil consumption - this is a disease of all engines with VVT-i technology, which is caused by a design feature and manifests itself after 150 thousand km.
Photo, where the rings are stuck on the 1ZZ-FE engine, resulting in increased oil consumption.
In the Far East, they solved the problem in a not very beautiful way. Most owners just put up with it. They switched to semi-synthetics (while the specification should be 5w-30 synthetics) - it is cheaper. But it is worth remembering that in the Far East such engines do not capitalize, they simply order contract spare parts - these are spare parts with a mileage of no more than 50-70 thousand. Japan is islands, you can't hit it anymore. But the Japanese do not have contract Chinese engines of the LFB479Q series, and cannot be. Swap capability is unknown.
If the Lifan X60 engine starts to eat oil, then the catalyst may soon fail. In this case, it is changed to a flame arrester, the company has worked out the technology, but the cost is not cheap.
Of course, the Lifanovites call the x60 their own development, but the genesis of the model is more prosaic - the second generation Toyota RAV4 model is taken as a design basis. Apparently, unofficially: Lifan has no legal relationship with the Japanese company, and the Chinese are engaged in "imitation" at their own peril and risk. But it would be rash to call the x60 a copy of the RAV4. Rather, it is a "plot based on": the structural and layout scheme is similar to the RAV4, but the dimensions have been changed, as well as the overall aesthetics of the car.
Lifan x60 is a car with a monocoque body and a transverse power unit. The engine is new, with a volume of 1.8 liters (133 hp), with a variable valve timing system. In the Chinese version, the phase shifter is denoted by the abbreviation VVT (Variable Valve Timing), which also echoes the "Toyota" development VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence). The 1.8 VVT LFB479Q engine was made in cooperation with the English company RICARDO, which is even mentioned on the official website of the British. Many other design details are also taken from European manufacturers, in particular from Bosch and Valeo. The Chinese are even proud of this, emphasizing the "new level of quality."
The x60 design is quite typical for cars of this class: McPherson front suspension, rear - independent "multi-link", disc brakes on all wheels with 4-channel ABS. Rack and pinion steering, with hydraulic booster. The supports of the power unit are selected correctly, no vibrations are transmitted to the body and controls. Even the air conditioner radiator is not rigidly fixed to the front beam, but through additional dampers and is separated from the engine radiator by foam rubber gaskets. A trifle - but nice.
Transmission - only a five-speed "mechanics", no variator, no automatic transmission is provided. Unfortunately, no all-wheel drive is envisaged either, they think about it, but there is no solution yet. It's expensive and goes beyond the concept of the x60 as an extremely cheap car. At the same time, the Chinese already have the design of the drive to the rear axle through a viscous coupling, it's only a matter of the economy of the project. Now the Lifan marketers think that the all-wheel drive version of the x60 may not withstand the competition.
From this it is easy to deduce the market framework of the model: an urban SUV or even just a station wagon with an increased ground clearance, in which there are more comfort, convenience and versatility than claims to conquer off-road. The salon is not made in Chinese with high quality, even, from good fabrics and plastics. There is a pungent smell in new cars, but this is not phenolic emissions, but the "aroma" of glue and sealants, which quickly evaporates. We got used to the smell after half an hour of getting to know the car.
The architecture of the front panel is simpler than "Toyota", for example, the Chinese did not begin to reproduce the spectacular "glove compartment" with a sliding lid, located in Toyota between the passenger airbag and the main glove compartment. The center console and dashboard are different here. The RAV4 is only reminiscent of a similar arrangement of deflectors and climate control "krutilok". The transformation of the interior is beyond praise: the rear seat can be folded separately and completely, while the cushions are reclined forward, and the backs lie on the floor, forming an almost level platform. For rear passengers, there is a large folding armrest with two cup holders. More of the little things: a 12-volt socket in the armrest box for the front riders, cup holders in all side doors, a small folding niche to the left of the driver.
So far, the Lifan x60 is offered in two trim levels - LX and EX. The first - basic - includes two front airbags and ABS + EBD. The EX adds various niceties, such as a two-din DVD audio system with a large screen, navigation and visual parking sensors, a key with a remote trunk opener, a leather steering wheel, front seat belt pretensioners, climate control.
The Lifan Motors proving ground, where it was proposed to test new crossovers, is not very suitable for a full-fledged test drive, to put it mildly: it is extremely compact, representing only a road with three types of irregularities and one “driving” hairpin turn. Therefore, so far we can only speak approximately about what x60 is in motion.
The curb weight of the crossover is 1330 kg, which is comparable to a conventional C-class car. Therefore, the engine is 133 hp. "Lifan" is more or less enough. The Chinese have not yet shown the graph of the dependence of the torque on the rpm, but it is obvious that the motor reaches its maximum return at about 4500 rpm.
The first two gears are quite short and fast, and the third is long, with a claim to economy. With a sufficiently "sharp" steering wheel (a little more than 3 turns from lock to lock), the steering wheel lacks sensitivity. The position of the rudder at "zero" is indistinct and there is not enough feedback. This does not add confidence when maneuvering at high speed.
Third gear, revs of about 4000, "throttle to the floor" - and at the apex the engine starts to die down: it lacks traction. In general, Lifan x60 has a weak handling character, unsuitable for active driving. But economical urban movement is his element. Hence the excellent fuel consumption indicator: 8.2 liters per 100 km (according to the passport). The 1.8 VVT engine is the only one in the Lifana range, controlled by an electronic gas pedal and complies with Euro-4 standards.
From April Lifan x60 will be produced in Russia at the Derways plant in Cherkessk. The scope of the project has not yet been determined, even the Chinese themselves do not know in what configurations the car will enter the Russian market and at what prices. The future name of the novelty is also unknown. Although the “Lifanovtsy” in Russia give their cars more poetic names than digital indices. The price will be more affordable than that of the main competitor - Vortex Tingo. The latter in a mono-drive version is now sold for 500 thousand rubles.
With all-wheel drive for x60, there is no clarity yet, but "automatic" for the car is not provided in principle. And this is a big marketing blunder of the Lifanovites. It will be very difficult to sell the planned 25 thousand cars without the "automatic machine". It is this amount of x60, according to the Chinese, that the Derweiss conveyor is capable of providing. In China itself, by the end of this year, only 10 thousand cars will be assembled, half of which will be exported.
Lifan x60 is a pretty cute crossover in appearance. Is it so good to operate? The reviews of the owners of this car will tell you about this.
Among other things, the car has two airbags, all four power windows with an automatic closer (activated by long pressing the close button on the key fob). The automatic switching on of the light at the onset of darkness is also implemented. Now this is not relevant, so they decided to do this: cover the light sensor with tape, and put the steering column switch in the AUTO position. Now the dipped beam will turn on when the ignition is turned on and go out 30 seconds after it is turned off.
The car is equipped with a standard security system. It reacts to opening doors, although there is no hood and trunk sensor. But there is a button for remote trunk opening on the standard key.
Maximum speed indicated 170 km \ h Acceleration to 100 km more than 14 seconds Fuel consumption in the combined cycle 8.2 liters per 100 km. In fact, it is slightly higher due to constant problems and malfunctioning of the oxygen sensor. Curb weight 1330 kilograms. This is the mass of the car in running order, that is, with all fluids, consumables, but without the driver and passengers. Maximum permitted weight 1705 kg. This is the permissible maximum load of the crossover, that is, the mass with cargo, driver and passengers allowed by the manufacturer.Features Lifan x60 - Engine
The engine was named LFB479Q It is a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.8 liters. Engine power 132 hp at 6000 rpm. 16-valve motor with a timing chain drive. Equipped with vvt-i. Torque 168 Nm / 4200 rpm That is, at 4200 rpm, the motor has the best acceleration.
Engine problems happen ... There are knocks in the engines of some cars. An infrequent case, about 2-3 engines per hundred cars. Under warranty, the entire motor assembly is changed. The plant is constantly working on improving the design, so to speak, "learn from mistakes."
Lifan x60 transmission characteristics
Single-disc mechanical clutch, hydraulic clutch drive. This means that there is no clutch cable and the discs are squeezed out using hydraulic cylinders. Filled with brake fluid. Changing the clutch master cylinder is a little inconvenient, it is located in a hard-to-reach place and is connected to. The gearbox for x60 is a mechanical five-speed. Actually, there is nothing special, the reverse gear does not have a synchronizer, so it turns on with a little push.
Characteristics of the Lifan x60 chassis
The Lifan is equipped with tubeless low-profile tires. Tire pressure 290 kPa. It is worth noting that high profile tires look much better on the car. Fitting diameter of tires is 16 inches. The size is 215 x 65, that is, the sidewall height is equal to 65% of the tire width (215 mm). Front suspension type MacPherson: The rear suspension is multi-link independent. Such a suspension is much softer to swallow bumps in the road.
Lifan x60 steering characteristics
Steering on x60 rack and pinion with. Minor problems with the hydraulic booster on the Lifan were noticed, namely, the gur tube often bursts. The malfunction is eliminated under warranty and at the moment, perhaps the manufacturer has already changed the design of the tube or system itself, in order to avoid further requests from citizens. The steering wheel is adjustable only in height and that, in my opinion, is not enough.
Characteristics of the braking system Lifana x60
The brake system on the Lifan is dual-circuit with a vacuum brake booster. Equipped with ABS with the function of adjusting the pressure of the rear wheels EBD. The front and rear brakes are disc brakes, and there are separate pads for the parking brake, but already in the drum.
The whole photo session The idea of a perpetual motion machine has been around for many hundreds of years. But so far there is not a single working model - the law of conservation of energy cannot be fooled!
Four of us comfortably loaded into the cherry X60, we also filled the trunk to the eyeballs, and now we are slowly rolling towards Mount Akhun. The fuel gauge flashes and subtly hints that our crossover is about to stall. But we have already driven about thirty kilometers along the mountain serpentines in the vicinity of Sochi and have never even turned off the air conditioner!
Have they finally built a working model of a perpetual motion machine in China? The design of the float is such that it can be easily damaged during assembly of the fuel tank. And it’s not clear who is to blame - the Chinese, who designed such a fragile part, or the workers of the Russian Derways plant, who showed negligence during assembly.
With an eye on the best
The X60 has a classic suspension design - McPherson at the front and an independent three-link at the rear. But they are not tuned in the best way, when cornering with good asphalt, the crossover heels heavily, and its rear wheels "walk" left and right in the lateral direction. Although on straight sections, the car is quite stable. Is that a little harshly overcomes the joints and pits. But if you are a supporter of the saying "the quieter you drive, the further you will be", you will not find anything particularly negative in the habits and manners of the X60.
Most importantly, in the bustle of the city, the X60 feels like a completely compact car, which, due to huge mirrors and a large glass area, makes it easy to rebuild and park even on the narrowest streets.
"To sail in full sail"
Imagine this situation: you need to get somewhere by sea, while the time allotted for the trip is not limited. What will you do? Raise the sail and, due to the energy of the wind, you will float calmly, where your eyes are looking. Isn't it a perpetual motion machine? The main thing is to avoid storms and periodically patch up the sail when it gets worn out. Of course, it is possible to sail by land only in the deserts.
But on the whole, the essence is very clear - for free and for as long as you like today you can move only due to "free" wind energy ... and also due to solar energy, of course. But night happens much more often than absolute calm at sea.
So the Chinese company Lifan has chosen a "perpetual motion machine" as its logo - three stylized sails, symbolizing quality, innovative technologies and customer care.
True, we did not find exceptional innovations in the Lifan X60, and the quality of the car, despite the Circassian assembly, remained at a "typically Chinese" level. The plastic sill strip in the area of the left rear door came off right during the test drive, debris of peeling sound insulation was found under the arches, and traces of poor-quality casting and subsequent processing on the suspension arms.
At the same time, the gaps on the body are different in places, the tailgate can only be closed by a person with strong muscles, and the mechanism of the rocker arm of the manual gearbox crunches during switching.
What the Chinese are really strong at is customer care. They promise by next year to present specifically for the Russian market a version of the X60 with a dark leather interior, as well as with all-wheel drive.
At the same time, with the maintenance and service, for which the Chinese are traditionally scolded, Lifan is also doing well. Spare parts and consumables worth several million have already been delivered to the central warehouse in Moscow, and soon regional dealers will have their stocks, by the way, as many as 79.
But the segment of affordable off-road vehicles is constantly expanding. And even now there is strong competition in it: you can buy Chinese analogues of Chery Tiggo / Vortex Tingo, you can support a domestic manufacturer and get a Chevy Niva, or do it easier and buy a bestseller - Renault Duster. How does the Lifan X60 stand out against the background of this fraternity? Its main advantages are rich equipment and a spacious interior. Representatives of the company promised to stabilize the quality of the Circassian assembly and Chinese components.
