What will happen in 2019: expensive cars and disputes with the government

Due to the growth of VAT and the unclear future of state support programs for the car market, new cars in 2019 will continue to rise in price. We found out how auto companies will negotiate with the government and what new products they will bring.

However, this state of affairs only stimulated buyers to make decisions more quickly, and the VAT increase planned for 2019 from 18 to 20% was an additional argument. Leading auto companies told Autonews.ru what tests await the industry in 2019.

Numbers: sales are up for 19 consecutive months

According to the results of sales of new cars in November 2018, the Russian car market showed an increase of 10% - thus, the market continues to grow for 19 months in a row. According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB), in November, 167,494 new cars were sold in Russia, and in total from January to November, automakers sold 1,625,351 cars - 13.7% more than last year.

According to the AEB, December sales results should be comparable to November. And for the full year, it is expected that the market will reach the figure of 1.8 million cars and light commercial vehicles sold, which will mean a 13 percent plus.

Most notably in 2018, according to data from January to November, Lada sales(324,797 units, +16%), Kia (209,503, +24%), Hyundai (163,194, +14%), VW (94,877, +20%), Toyota (96,226, +15%), Skoda (73,275, +30%). Mitsubishi (39,859 units, +93%) began to take up lost positions in Russia. Despite the growth, Subaru (7026 units, +33%) and Suzuki (5303, +26%) lagged behind the brand.

Sales improved in BMW (32,512 units, +19%), Mazda (28,043, +23%), Volvo (6854, +16%). The premium sub-brand from Hyundai - Genesis "shot" (1626 units, 76%). Stable in terms of Renault (128,965, +6%), Nissan (67,501, +8%) Ford (47,488, +6%), Mercedes-Benz (34,426, +2%), Lexus (21,831, +4%) and Land Rover (8 801, +9%).

Despite the positive figures, the overall volume of the Russian market remains low. According to the Avtostat agency, historically the market showed the maximum value in 2012 - then 2.8 million cars were sold, in 2013 sales decreased to 2.6 million. In 2014, the crisis came only towards the end of the year, so there was no dramatic drop in the market - the Russians managed to buy 2.3 million cars at "old" prices. But in 2015, sales collapsed to 1.5 million units. The negative dynamics continued in 2016, when sales sank to a record low of 1.3 million vehicles. The revival of demand occurred only in 2017, when the Russians bought 1.51 million new cars. Thus, the initial figures of the Russian automotive industry are still far away, as well as the status of the first market in terms of sales in Europe, which Russia was prophesied in the pre-crisis years.

Representatives of auto companies interviewed by Autonews.ru believe that sales in 2019 will be comparable to the results of 2018: according to their estimates, Russians will buy the same number of cars or a little less. Most expect a failed January and February, after which sales will go up again. However, auto brands refuse official forecasts before the start of the new year.

“In 2019, the cars bought in the pre-crisis 2014 will be five years old already - for Russians this is a kind of psychological mark at which they are ready to think about replacing the car,” said Valery Tarakanov, marketing director of Kia, in an interview with Autonews.ru.

Prices: cars went up in price all year

New cars in Russia after the crisis of 2014 by November 2018 rose by an average of 66%, according to Avtostat. For 11 months of 2018, cars have become more expensive by 12% on average. The agency's experts came to the conclusion that auto companies have now almost won back the fall of the ruble against world currencies. But they stipulate that this does not mean a price freeze at all.

Inflation and an increase in the VAT rate from the beginning of 2019 - from 18% to 20% will contribute to a further rise in car prices. Representatives of auto companies in conversations with an Autonews.ru correspondent also do not hide the fact that the increase in VAT will directly affect the cost of cars, and from the very beginning of 2019, for example, this was confirmed by Renault, AvtoVAZ and Kia.

Discounts, bonuses and new prices: when is the best time to buy a car

“On the eve of the last quarter of the year, the Russian automotive market continued to show strong growth. However, this pleasant fact did not come as a surprise, given the tailwind in the sails of the entire retail sector, counting down the time until the VAT change. There is growing concern among market participants regarding the sustainability of demand in retail starting from January 2019,” explained Joerg Schreiber, Chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee.

At the same time, automakers hope that the ruble exchange rate will not change much against foreign currencies, which will help avoid price spikes.

State support programs: gave half as much

In 2018, two times less money was allocated to state support programs for the car market, popular with Russians, compared to 2017 - 34.4 billion rubles. instead of the previous 62.3 billion rubles. At the same time, only 7.5 billion rubles were spent on targeted programs designed specifically for motorists. We are talking about programs such as the "First Car" and " family car”, which apply to cars worth up to 1.5 million rubles.

The rest of the money went to more specific programs like "Own Business" and " Russian tractor". For development and production activities Vehicle with remote and autonomous control spent 1.295 billion rubles, 1.5 billion rubles to stimulate the acquisition of ground electric vehicles, 0.5 billion rubles to stimulate production in the Far East (we are talking about compensating transport costs for car companies) - 2.5 billion rubles.

Thus, the government, as promised, continues to systematically reduce the volume of state support for the industry. For comparison: in 2014, only 10 billion rubles. went to recycling programs and trade-in. In 2015, 43 billion rubles were allocated to support the automotive industry, of which 30% was also spent on recycling and trade-in. In 2016, spending on state support for the automotive industry reached 50 billion rubles, of which half was also spent on similar targeted programs.

As for 2019, the situation with state support remains. So, in the middle of the year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that the First Car and Family Car programs were extended until 2020 inclusive. They should allow buying new cars at a 10-25% discount. However, automakers claim that they still have not received any confirmation of the extension of the programs - the Ministry of Industry and Trade has not been able to clarify the situation and respond to Autonews.ru's request for a month.

Meanwhile, at a recent meeting with automakers, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said that the volume of state support for the domestic automotive industry is five times higher than the budget revenues from this industry.

“Now it is 9 rubles per 1 ruble of revenues to the budget system from the automotive industry. This is with a recycling fee, and without a recycling fee - 5 rubles of state support,” he said.

Kozak explained that these figures should make one think about the conditions under which state support measures should be provided to the auto industry, adding that the vast majority of business sectors do not receive any support from the state at all.

Disputes with the government: auto companies are unhappy

In 2018, disputes between auto companies and the government over the conditions for further work on the market intensified. The reason was the expiring terms of the agreement on industrial assembly, which gives car companies that have invested in the localization of production a tangible set of benefits, including tax benefits. This situation primarily means that manufacturers, in the face of uncertainty, may postpone the launch of new models, which, by the way, threatened Renault. In addition, it is more difficult for companies to predict their pricing policy. On this moment the government, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Economics, has not yet been able to develop a unified strategy.

Until recently, the departments offered various tools to replace the ending decree on industrial assembly No. 166. Thus, the Ministry of Industry and Trade actively lobbied for the signing of individual special investment contracts (SPICs) between the government and car companies. The document provides for a certain set of benefits, which is determined separately with each signatory, depending on the amount of investment, including in R&D and export development. This tool has been repeatedly criticized by car executives for being non-transparent and too rigid in terms of further investment.

The Ministry of Economics, in turn, opposed it for a long time and insisted that only those who produce high-tech products, which cars do not belong to, can work under SPICs. The FAS also joined the negotiations with the position that companies should not form alliances and consortiums, that is, they should not unite to sign SPICs. At the same time, it was precisely this idea of ​​combining brands to obtain a synergistic effect that began to be promoted in the Ministry of Industry and Trade many years ago.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak had to intervene in the conflict situation, he created a special working group, invited representatives of all auto companies to it and also expressed a number of his own ideas. But this did not defuse the situation - auto brands complained about newcomers, including Chinese companies which from scratch could count on state support, on the reluctance to invest too high investments in R&D and export organization.

At present, according to Autonews.ru sources participating in the negotiations, the majority is on the side of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and a number of auto companies are already preparing to sign SPICs in the new year. And this means new investments, projects and models, the appearance of which can revive the Russian car market.

New models: there will be many premieres in 2019

Despite accurate forecasts from automakers, most of them are preparing a lot of new products for Russia. For example, Volvo Autonews.ru said that they would bring new Volvo S60 and Volvo V60 Cross Country. Suzuki will launch an updated Vitara SUV and a new Jimny compact SUV.

Skoda will bring the updated Superb and the Karoq crossover to Russia next year, Volkswagen in 2019 will begin Russian sales of the Arteon liftback, as well as new modifications of the Polo and Tiguan. AvtoVAZ will roll out Lada Vesta Sport, Granta Cross and promises a few more new products.

Whole photo session

Representatives of FAW put the solid mid-size sedan Besturn B50 on a par with the Mazda 6, KIA Optima and Ford Mondeo. However, the cost of the car is comparable to the Hyundai Solaris. So what league does the B50 have to play in on the Russian market? Let's try to figure it out

The Besturn is built on a Mazda/Ford platform, equipped with a licensed engine from Volkswagen and a gearbox designed by Aisin, FAW specialists worked on the design with the involvement of ItalDesign studio - a promising list. All this should inspire consumer confidence in the car. But some big names, as they say, you will not be full. It is necessary to understand whether FAW managed to achieve a harmonious combination of all elements, the integrity of the resulting model.

First impression

That one was waiting for me in the parking lot. silver sedan, which I expected to see from the descriptions on the Internet - indeed, there is something subtly common in cars on the Ford CD3 platform, on which the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKZ and Mazda6 of the first generation are assembled.

Besturn is closest to the latter - it was on the basis of Mazda's modified version of the CD3 FAW that he created his own model. And the silhouette is similar, and the dimensions, and even the floor mats from the neighboring Mazda lay down almost better than the standard ones.

Yet the B50 looks different. I don’t know if the design was completely developed by specialists from the world-famous ItalDesign Giugiaro bodywork studio, but the result was solid and without direct borrowing from other more famous brands, which car manufacturers from the Celestial Empire often sin.

There's more aggression in the Besturn B50 than in the rounded-family Mazda6 of the first generation. The car is wide and low, with head optics coming over the fenders. Fashionable LED today running lights not observed, but this is understandable - the machine has been in production since 2009. A restyling of the model is planned for 2014, and then all the modern elements that befit a D-class car may appear.

Both outside and inside, all the details and elements of the body fit neatly, nothing falls off or dangles. From this point of view, Besturn B50 pleasantly surprises. The culture of production has clearly grown in recent years. By the way, the body of this sedan is produced using anodizing technology, which increases its corrosion resistance. However, the body is not subjected to any, even minimal, additional anti-corrosion treatment at the factory, so the new owner should do this: only welds are treated with mastic here. The front fenders are made of plastic, the rear fenders are made of felt-like material. Both of them cope with the protection of the arches, but it is still recommended to supplement the rear lockers with plastic ones: snow, mud and just rainwater will not allow regular “boots” to live for one and a half to two years, and the moisture absorbed by them will begin to contribute to the destruction of the arch even earlier .

Of the shortcomings of the exterior, an external examination revealed only foggy foglights - however, this was not observed on the more recent Besturn standing next to it. The rest of the lighting equipment looked and worked properly.

Salon and electronics

The interior in the car is clearly from the Asian market - this is where light trim is in vogue. Frankly speaking - not very convenient for an unusual user - I sit in the driver's seat, put my feet into the cabin - and immediately leave a dark boot mark on the plastic door sill.

It is good that the interior upholstery and door cards are easy to clean and are distinguished by enviable wear resistance. During the test, even the sharp plastic legs of the loose tool box, left by me accidentally in the back seat while driving on a dirt road.

However, the Russian market dictates its own conditions - the new B50 comes with a dark interior, also trimmed with artificial leather with contrasting stitching.

If we talk about space in the cabin, then the car is convenient for people of medium size (clothing size M, height 176-180) - in this case, five people will be accommodated here while maintaining relative comfort.

At the same time, opinions about the suitability of the car for more tall drivers and the passengers were divided - someone lacked seven centimeters "eaten" by the hatch, and someone, even with a growth of under two meters, comfortably settled down on driver's seat, from which to the ceiling is actually exactly a meter in the lower position of the driver's seat cushion.

By the way, about the driver's seat - it is frankly hard, but at the same time ... comfortable! In the configuration that we got for the test, it also has a large number of electrical adjustments (except for lumbar support). Lateral support is weak, but the Besturn B50 does not pretend to be sporty either. But the shape of the back is such that during intensive travels the back does not get tired. In a word, I personally have no complaints about the ergonomics of the seats - they are just so comfortable that once you adjust the fit for yourself, you don’t remember about it anymore.

The rear seat, in addition to having an armrest with two cup holders and Isofix system for child seats, folds in a 60/40 ratio, which allows you to increase the already solid luggage compartment (450 liters) due to the space reserved for rear passengers. By the way, there are many places for this - for example, from the back of the driver's seat to the back of the rear sofa - almost a meter, and the width of the sofa really accommodates three people, and the person sitting in the middle will not feel deprived.

folding rear seat is carried out using special handles located in the trunk. Under the floor there is a full-size spare wheel, but for some reason on a stamped disk (despite the fact that the car is delivered to the Russian Federation on cast fifteen-inch disks with R15 195/65 rubber). Of course, standard cast wheel bolts are suitable for Besturn and for thinner stamped ones. But was it worth the savings?

But back to the salon, or rather - to the driver's seat. The design of the dashboard, center console, steering wheel and steering column switches cannot be called ascetic, but concise - quite. On the one hand, there may be a bit too many buttons, on the other hand, most of them are localized in the area of ​​​​the center console, and everything you need to drive a car is compactly grouped exactly where you expect.

Switching buttons are clear, plastic leaves a good impression. The heating system control knobs are executed neatly, but they do not have limiters of extreme positions and clamps in general, which is not always convenient - it will not be possible to blindly control the climate.

The instrument panel contains a dial tachometer and speedometer, while fuel and temperature indicators are placed on a centrally located dashboard on-board computer screen with burgundy-red indication. There you can also view information on instantaneous (but for some reason not average) fuel consumption, average speed movement and read odometer readings - counter total mileage and two custom.

On the leather-covered (by the way, very natural-looking) steering wheel, the radio and cruise control are placed. The cruise works properly, but I don’t want to touch the radio control buttons after the first press - every action from this remote control is accompanied by a loud squeak, which cannot be turned off by any actions in the settings menu.

In the really well soundproofed interior of Besturn (although the engine compartment, for example, cannot boast of good insulation), this squeak is almost more annoying than a buzzer open door with the ignition off and on parking lights. And this despite the fact that after arming the car, all external lighting turns off on its own after about 15 seconds.

This delay is a direct consequence of the Follow me home system. Theoretically, the system is needed so that you can park your car in front of your villa in the evening, and the headlights will illuminate your path to the front door. In practice, this quickly gets boring - with an intercom and without backlighting a car parked on the other side of the yard, you can figure it out, and you quickly get tired of the neighbors' advice to “turn off the headlights”.

By the way, since we are talking about electronics, if you look at the difference between the trim levels, it will become clear that one of the most expensive components of a car is a salon mirror, which integrates a compass, a public address system, anti-glare protection and monitors for parking sensors and tire pressure sensors. Everything works properly, although the speakerphone turned out to be too quiet, and the tire pressure sensors are too sensitive - it took a lot of effort to calm them down, in addition, in this car they require the same pressure of 2.2 technical atmospheres on all four wheels.

By the way, be careful - the pressure sensors are inside the wheels themselves. Radio pressure gauges are fixed on special design nipples, and there is a risk of their damage during tire fitting. When you change the assembled wheels, you lose this system altogether: ordering new ones and “registering” them into the system is a complicated matter.

The side mirrors did not let us down - there are no special systems in them, but heating, electrical adjustment and a turn signal visible from the passenger compartment are convenient.
In general, the view from the driver's seat in the B50 is good, the landing is comfortable, and one can only complain that the on-board computer screen glares a little in the sun (at any degree of brightness).

On the run

Actually, we turn on the turn signal, finally leaving the parking lot - and here the first surprise awaits us. The point is that the car sporty look, with a clearance of 160 mm, rear multi-link suspension and a completely modern six-speed automatic transmission has a 1.6-liter engine from the EA113 family, unfortunately, not from the branch that is put on the Golf GT and Audi TTS. Rather, the 103.4 horsepower, four-cylinder, eight-valve, licensed to FAW, came straight from the 1993 Volkswagen Jetta.

By modern standards, 145 Nm at 3800 rpm (to which the machine in D mode is not inclined to get at all, switching up every time at 2800 rpm) is quite a bit. Especially for a machine with a "dry" weight of 1.3 tons. However, you won’t have to feel uncomfortable in city traffic - Besturn accelerates adequately, fulfilling the acceleration standard from standstill to 100 km / h in 14.3 seconds (in mode manual switching), although according to the passport it should fit into 13.8 s.

The Besturn B50 is equipped with a gearbox from the Japanese company Aisin, co-owned by Toyota.

The Aisin Warner TF-61SN, also known as the 09G, is a proven unit developed by the company for the Volkswagen concern. Since 2003, the box has been placed on Mini Cooper, Skoda Superb and Saab 9.3, as well as numerous front wheel drive cars under the Volkswagen brand with an engine capacity of up to two liters and a torque of up to 280 Nm.

Automatic transmission has proven to be durable and relatively inexpensive to repair. However, she is also known for her dislike for hot weather. Because of this, it is recommended to check the oil in the box after every hot summer - if the transmission fluid is “burnt”, change all seven liters (excluding the radiator), along with the filter - since filters for this type of automatic transmission are the most common commercially available.
A partial replacement transmission fluid every 60-80 thousand kilometers will help delay overhaul box, up to which the liquid filled in at the factory should serve only in theory.

The box in the B50 is configured in such a way that, on the one hand, the car can adequately move around the city, and on the other hand, it is quite capable of overtaking on a country road. However, even a small load or a couple of passengers make the driver more likely to abandon risky maneuvers that require rapid acceleration.

So we will assume that solidity lies in the power - the car is loaded and it really does not suit us to hurry. The box has a “Sport” mode and manual modes - but they don’t save much: even in S mode, upshifts occur, albeit without jerks, but earlier than we would like. As already mentioned, in sequential switching we got acceleration to 100 km / h at the level of 14.3 seconds (close to the passport value). Wherein best time shown in Sport mode was 15.4 seconds. But in Drive mode, you will accelerate to “hundreds” in about 16 seconds.

FAW engineers taught their brainchild to move measuredly and solidly. The MacPherson strut front suspension and the multi-link rear suspension, although stiffer than I expected, still allow you to call the movement of the B50 in space smooth.
The suspension travel is short both front and rear, but at the same time, “breakdown” does not occur even on the numerous deep potholes found on our country roads. Uncomfortable rolls in turns are also not observed. That is, we can state that the engineers who worked on the suspension settings managed to keep the golden mean.

Worthy of praise and the stability of the car on bends - excellent: a sharp demolition of the front axle or skidding of the rear, depending on the situation, begins far beyond the limits of ideas about safe driving, and even then - rather "thanks" regular tires.

But speed bumps work hard car. However, the real owner of the FAW is unlikely to storm them on the move - the clearance here, as befits a sedan that claims to be solid, is 160 mm without passengers and cargo. It is necessary to take care of such a car, which means that you should forget about curbs and goat trails: the B50 will be uncomfortable there.

In the rain, Besturn leaves an ambiguous impression of itself - on the one hand, the aerodynamic features of the car are such that even at low speed, water from the windshield fills side windows(where there are no wipers, of course) significantly worsening visibility. This, in my opinion, is a clear disadvantage. On the other hand, the control remains extremely clear even on a wet road, even on standard tires. And that's a plus! Thanks to the engineers who tuned the car's suspension, steering and gearbox.

Steering is worth a special mention. Often in cars of the lower price segment you have to deal with an “empty” steering wheel, an unobvious connection between the steering wheel and wheels, etc. It doesn't exist here. Of course, the B50 is far from the models of the world's leading manufacturers, but I would say that Feedback on the steering wheel is sufficient so that the driver does not experience discomfort, not understanding at what angle the wheels are turned, how the car reacts to uneven road surfaces, etc.

By the way, the turning radius of a car of 5.25 meters, declared by the manufacturer, is quite plausible, and for a car 4.6 meters long, it is not so great. There are no problems with maneuvering in confined spaces, rear overhang allows it to be placed over medium-height curbs while parking. More serious obstacles are warned by a four-zone parking sensors with proximity indication, which works relatively accurately.

The brakes on both axles in the Besturn B50 are disc brakes. Claimed anti-lock system ABS Bosch 8.1, enhanced by the EBD brake force distribution system, showed good results even on the results of braking “into the smoke” on a wet track. The trajectory of movement at emergency braking managed to save, as well as the ability to change it at the last moment in order to avoid a “theoretical” collision with a wild animal, an unexpected obstacle, a pedestrian or the stern of a car that suddenly braked in front. And yet, it should be borne in mind that the 8.1 generation ABS, although it differs from its predecessors precisely in improved behavior on wet and slippery surfaces, still does not work well on rough roads - Besturn in this case not an exception.

In the country

As we have already said, May - they are holidays for that, to get out of the city - to evaluate the capacity, carrying capacity, and dynamics of the car with a heavy load.

Well, what if the shelf is under rear window poorly adapted to the transportation of seedlings due to the large angle of inclination of the glass, then the capacity of the trunk, the dimensions of its opening and the carrying capacity of the car will please anyone.

Gross vehicle weight - 1775 kg for the version with automatic transmission. Subtract the dry weight of the machine (1325 kg) and get the load capacity of exactly 450 kg. That is, 5 people and 15 kg of luggage for each - not bad in theory.

In practice, we managed to fit in the luggage compartment three backpacks with food and equipment for two days, three tents (one of them is a heavy camping tent), meter-long covers with fishing rods, several boxes of equipment, a coal samovar and a bunch of small things for a group of ten Human. Not that it's all vital, but once Besturn's trunk starts to fill up, it's hard to stop.

It is difficult to say whether Besturn was at least close to the maximum load, but in the end, three people got into it (a driver of 76 kg, a navigator of 100 kg and just a passenger of 80 kg) and drove off along the highway out of the city.

As I mentioned, on the track the engine allows you to accelerate, but not very fast. From the declared 14 seconds to a hundred, declared for an empty car, there is no trace left - it’s good if twice as much time passed from the moment of launch to reaching a comfortable 100 km / h. A little awkward when entering the freeway from an adjoining secondary road, but tolerable in the end.

Optimal Speed movement - about 100-120 km / h (by the way, in the car at 120 it is heard sound signal), and this is dictated mainly by the desire to protect the car from potholes - acoustic comfort is excellent at almost any speed. We didn’t even try to develop the maximum speed on a loaded car, but according to the results of third-party tests, the ceiling for the “dry” Besturn B50 is 184 km / h according to GPS / GLONASS.

When driving into the forest, into a hostile environment for a sedan, the passenger and navigator had to be kicked out of the car and then they played the role of pilots, scouting the way for a slowly crawling car.

By the way, the radio tape recorder, which drowns out the driver’s lamentations at this moment, is not bad in Besturn, but peculiar: the connector for the flash drive is located at the driver’s left knee in the glove compartment (files should have only Latin names and God forbid they lie in different folders - Besturn doesn’t care - he does not know how to sort by folders), and getting confused in the control system of the radio, single-zone climate control and bluetooth headset is as easy as shelling pears.

In view of the dubious, but still necessary, testing of the maximum volume aspect, we, like the right tourists, thought to open all the doors and try to turn on the music “at full”, but the neighbors in the parking lot did not approve of this undertaking. So the question of “pumping or not” will be left to lovers of disorderly conduct.

By the way, it will be difficult to replace the head unit with a non-standard one: status indicators are integrated into it air conditioner, so changing the radio - you will lose them. You can try to order a head unit for the B50 with a built-in computer, which is not available in trim levels for Russia, but you will have to install it yourself.

In natural habitat

On the Besturn during the test, I drove more than eight hundred kilometers, of which a maximum of 200 were outside the city. About half the time I traveled alone, the rest of the time - with fellow travelers. The only time I felt that I had chosen the wrong car for the trip was when I had to carry all the contents of an immense trunk about a hundred meters to the place of the future camp. But it was more of a reinsurance - and not only FAW ended up spending the night at this makeshift parking lot away from the camp.

At the same time, the B50 looks extremely organic on a suburban multi-lane highway. Not bad manifests itself in the evening city. Feels good in the bustling morning crowd and apathetic trips from work. Causes genuine delight in the older generation being transported from a family celebration, it is also appropriate for meeting a girl with her friends from the airport.

It is these stories that I really see in reality on the advertising posters of this car.
He has everything a modern city dweller needs - a presentable appearance, an automatic transmission, a cup holder and an airport parking card slot in the center console that most owners would never know existed.

The manufacturer declares a guarantee of 4 years (or 100 thousand mileage), an interservice mileage of 15 thousand (moreover, in the homeland, in the Middle Kingdom, it is 10 thousand, are the roads worse there?), And undertakes to take care of the FAW owner in every possible way. According to rumors, they take care of some rarely broken spare parts, if anything, you have to wait a long time.

The main problematic elements of the car are suspension struts, both front and rear, front hub bearings and a servo drive in the climate control system.

The car is not quite ready for winter - the hydraulic booster starts to howl from the cold, crickets and noises appear in the windshield area, the owners complain about the starter's less confident operation in the cold season.

Most of these problems are fixed by warranty obligations manufacturer, subject to the availability of spare parts. In the case of their absence (thanks to unification!) You can often pick up an analogue from well-known European and Japanese brands.

Eventually

It is difficult to make an unambiguous verdict for the B50. Frankly, the car is worth ... attention. It is at least worth a look to all those who choose a car in this price category. Then you can read forums and reviews. People on the Internet are inquisitive, and even the most biased of them write enough to form a general impression on their own.

For myself, I compiled it - an insufficiently powerful engine with an overestimated consumption of 11-13 liters. (up to 14 liters in traffic jams and about 8-9 on the highway) per hundred, with the declared 8.5 liters .. And also low ground clearance, although sufficient for a sedan. On the other hand, throughout the entire time of communication with the FAW B50, I drove a car that aroused genuine interest and sympathy from everyone with whom I spoke about it. Logan neighbors, friends on octaves, golfs and Mazdas, girls on Hyundai and Honda - all noted that they were pleasantly surprised by the car. And a team of hardworking Asians at the car wash sent an embarrassed translator to clarify the technical characteristics and features of Besturn.

The main disadvantage is that the language does not turn to call the car cheap. For 450-500 thousand it would really be good (and another 50 thousand cheaper - just great), but we are talking about a car for 550 in the basic configuration, for 580 thousand in the average and for 670 in the maximum. Isn't it too much?

Restyling is expected in the near future, moreover, with a modern and more powerful engine. Maybe then the Besturn B50 will come close in content to the price assigned for it? Unless, of course, the price increases along with the amount of horsepower ...

Author Publishing site Photo photo of the author and the manufacturer

The Chinese auto company FAW recently presented its updated version of the business class sedan called the FAW Besturn B50F. As you understand, we are talking about the refinement of the car of the same name, now it has just received a prefix at the end in the form of the letter F.

The official premiere fell on the Moscow international car show which took place in August this year. Of course, the car should soon enter the Russian market.

In the meantime, let's try to find out what's new in FAV Besturn V50F, what updates the manufacturer has pleased us with, and what to expect from the release of new items on the world market. Because it's not just some budget sedan, and a car with an eye on the business class, the requirements for it will be increased, and you can find fault with any little things. Such a class does not forgive mistakes. Let's see if FAV allowed them.

Exterior

Updating is a complex and time-consuming process. In fact, manufacturers needed to make the car more attractive, more interesting, more modern, better. At the same time, do not go beyond the original version, maintain the same dimensions, add some zest to the car, and, if possible, improve the technical characteristics.

Looking ahead a little, let's say that Chinese engineers managed to achieve all of the above. Appearance became brighter, more interesting, new units appeared under the hood. But still, let's talk about everything in order.

Take a look at the official photos and videos showing the FAW Besturn B50F sedan. He has clearly changed.

The front end is completely new, with an attractive trim grille, new optics, where there was a place for LED running lights, as well as cornering lights. The original bumper, air ducts, chrome inserts, classic rectangular fog lights, a modified hood shape, other front fenders. As a result, the view turned out to be amazing, although somewhat reminiscent of the Subaru Legacy.

The side view opens the eyes to the powerful stampings located on the front wheel arches. The arches themselves have acquired an almost perfect radius, in which wheels and rims look good, starting from 16 inches. Less is not recommended. Original alloy wheels from the manufacturer will surely meet your needs. But if you want to put your FAV Besturn V50F on something more solid, you will have to buy it separately.

The task part received a new bumper, complemented by an impressive diffuser, as well as marker lights, now with LED content. Optimal size tailgate, good access to the luggage compartment complement the image of a sedan.

We can say that the car turned out to be interesting, attractive, even somewhat daring with a clear trace of a sporty character.

Due to new bumpers and changes in the body, the dimensions have changed, but not significantly. As a result, the dimensions of the restyled version are as follows:

• length - 4615 millimeters;
• width - 1785 millimeters;
• height - 1435 millimeters;
• wheelbase - 2675 millimeters;
• ground clearance (clearance) - 160 millimeters.

Interior

Very often, when restyling, automakers do not touch the interior, or make minimal, literally point changes. In the case of the FAW Besturn B50F, everything is completely different, since the interior has changed dramatically.

The front end has been completely refurbished. Now there is a new multifunctional steering wheel, a modern instrument panel with red and white illumination, an original visor above the instrument panel, an attractive front panel and a rather daring center console with an excellent tunnel that divides the front part into a driver and front passenger area.

The large area of ​​​​the center console allowed the audio system to be located there, climate equipment so that no one interferes with each other.

The driver and front passenger seats have a pronounced lateral support, the materials used are quite high quality, the manufacturer did not save much here. Inside, there is both soft and hard plastic. Although there are no complaints about the latter.

As for the back row, good materials also prevail here. There is enough space for three adult passengers. Moreover, they will be free both at the top of the head and at the feet, and even long trips will not cause discomfort.

The luggage compartment will accommodate 450 liters of luggage. You can also lower the rear row backrests if no one is driving there, and thereby increase the luggage space by almost three times.

Equipment

Like it or not, but equipment very often plays a big role when choosing a car. Unfortunately, some leading automakers give too little in the base and ask too much for a surcharge. In the case of the FAW Besturn B50F, the situation is more attractive. Already in the database, the sedan can offer you:

• alloy wheels 16 inches;
• front fog lights;
• external rear-view mirrors with electric drive and heating;
• sunroof and electric drive for it;
• power windows on all side doors;
• central locking;
• multifunction steering wheel;
• audio system with 6 speakers;
• on-board computer;
• air conditioner;
• two frontal airbags for driver and passenger;
• security alarm;
• rear parking sensors;
• BAS, EBD, ABS systems.

If you wish, you can order a car in a more expensive configuration, and then you will have:

• Cruise control;
• bluetooth port;
• leather interior;
• front side airbags;
• electric drive for adjusting the position of the driver's seat;
• Rear View Camera;
• TCS, TPMS systems.

Prices

There is no official information regarding the price of FAV Besturn V50F for the Russian market yet. But there is very little time left to wait for her appearance, since already at the beginning next year the novelty should appear on sale.

It is noteworthy that in Russia they wanted to start launching sales this summer, but something did not work out. Therefore, you will have to wait a bit for the announcement of the cost.

Specifications

The pre-styling version looked good, had a solid potential. Nevertheless, the impression was largely spoiled by not the most successful motor.

Buyers could only count on the FAW Besturn B50 with a 1.6-liter engine, 103 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. This motor remained in stock for the updated version. It is still equipped with a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

But now a new one is available power unit. Its working volume is 1.8 liters, produces 138 horsepower and 172 Nm of torque. Complemented only by a six-speed automatic.

Conclusion

Well, the updated business class sedan from FAV makes an impression. And very, very positive. He began to look better, began to ride better due to the new motor. And in general, it is perceived much more optimistic than its predecessor.

The manufacturer has done a great job, for which they can only be praised. However, the company will have to overcome the main rival in the global market - the reputation of Chinese cars. Alas, it is still not the most positive, many with concern pay attention to more affordable compared to Japanese, European and Korean cars, but they prefer the latter, considering them more reliable and better.

Not everyone understands that decent, solid, high-quality, reliable cars that meet stringent European requirements are already being produced in China. Yes, these brands are not yet well-known, they have not even come close to BMW, Audi, Toyota, etc. But there is time and Chinese auto industry still able to speak loudly about himself. And cars like the FAW Besturn B50F - bright to that confirmation.

FAW Besturn X80 - front-wheel drive crossover compact segment, which combines attractive design, decent technical "stuffing" and a good level of equipment ... Its main the target audience- urban residents (often family), leading an active lifestyle and practicing forays into nature ...

First ever Chinese automaker The SUV was introduced to the world community in April 2013 at the stands of the international Shanghai Auto Show, and the following month, its sales began in the Chinese market. This car, by the way, built on the basis of the Mazda 6 of the first generation, reached Russia only four years later - in April 2017 (moreover, in a pre-styling form).

In September 2016, the FAW Besturn X80 went through a planned upgrade (but before Russian buyers in this form, "arrived" only in July 2018) - the SUV "refreshed" outwardly, becoming even more similar to Infinity models, got a seriously redesigned interior and received new equipment, but at the same time retained technical part without any changes.

In general, the appearance of the crossover is quite modern, attractive, but with individual elements it clearly looks like the Infiniti FX (first generation) and Mazda CX-5 (also the first).

The front part of the FAW Besturn X80 is decorated with complex headlights with LED “eyebrows” of running lights, an impressive “hexagon” of the radiator grille and a massive bumper, and its lean rear flaunts nice lighting equipment and a pair of round pipes exhaust system sticking out from under the bumper.

However, the car looks most advantageous in profile - what are the littered outlines of the roof, the line of the “window sill” soaring towards the rear and the relief flows of the wheel arches, which pooled together give the appearance a dynamic and taut look.

The length of the Besturn X80 body is 4620 mm, the wheelbase reaches 2675 mm, the width is 1820, and the height is 1695 mm. The track width of the front and rear wheels fits into 1580 mm, the indicator ground clearance crossover does not exceed 190 mm, and the angle of entry / exit (respectively) is 26 and 27 degrees.

The curb weight of the car varies from 1500 to 1570 kg, depending on the configuration.

The interior of the FAW Besturn X80 looks attractive and modern, and in addition to this, it boasts high-quality ergonomics and a solid level of performance (soft and hard plastics are combined inside). In the immediate field of view of the driver - a weighty three-spoke multi-steering wheel and designed with a hint of sportiness dashboard, exposing a pair of arrow scales and a color display of the on-board computer between them. A nice and concise center console is decorated with a protruding 8-inch “tablet” of the multimedia system and convenient radio and “microclimate” units.

The front seats are comfortable enough for city trips, but when driving for a long time, the load on the back is noticeably noticeable. Sitting in the back row is much more comfortable, but only if you are not tall (tall passengers here will rest their heads against the sloping roof).

Things are not the best here with the trunk - with a capacity of 398 liters (this is not enough for a crossover of this size). Somewhat corrects the situation, divided into two unequal sections, the back of the rear sofa - which folds almost flush with the floor, thereby increasing the volume of the "hold" by more than three times.

On the Russian market, the FAW Besturn X80 is offered with one gasoline engine- This is a 2.0-liter "aspirated" (meets Euro-5 environmental standards) CA4GD1 with an in-line layout, distributed fuel injection and a 16-valve DOHC timing belt. It develops a maximum of 142 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 184 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm, and is mated to a 6-speed "mechanics" or "automatic" and exclusively front-wheel drive transmission.

How agile the crossover is in dispersal from standstill to the first “hundred” is not reported. The maximum "Chinese" is able to accelerate to 180-185 km / h, and its fuel consumption varies from 8.2 to 8.6 liters in combined mode, depending on the type of gearbox. The volume of the gas tank of the SUV has 64 liters.

The urban SUV FAW Besturn X80 is built on the basis of the Mazda 6 platform (first generation), which the Chinese have slightly altered “to fit their standards”. The front of the car rests on an independent structure with MacPherson struts, stabilizer bar and double wishbones. The rear of the body rests on an E-type multi-link design with anti-roll bar.

The front wheels of the five-door are equipped with ventilated discs. brake mechanisms, on rear wheels Installed simple disc brakes. In the "state" the car is equipped with rack and pinion steering with an integrated hydraulic booster.

In the Russian market, the FAW Besturn X80 in 2018 is offered in two trim levels - "Basic" and "Luxury".

• A crossover in the basic version costs a minimum of 1,099,000 rubles - for this money you get a car with a “manual” gearbox. Regularly, the five-door is equipped with: four airbags, ABS, ESP, fabric trim, an audio system with a USB connector, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, air conditioning, four power windows and other equipment.
• A car in the "top" version with a manual transmission is sold at a price of 1,199,000 rubles, and the surcharge for automatic transmission is another 100,000 rubles. Such an all-terrain vehicle additionally includes in its functionality: single-zone climate control, “leather” interior, electric front seats, sunroof, media center with an 8-inch screen, cruise control, light and rain sensors, rear view camera, keyless entry system, rear parking sensors and some other "gadgets".

First Automotive Works (FAW) is the oldest automotive manufacturer in China and has been in business since the last century. This plant was built in the 1950s with the help of Soviet specialists. Now FAW is a leading automaker in China, which cooperates closely with the German Volkswagen and widely exports its products around the world. One of these machines is passenger sedan FAW Besturn B50. Reviews and review of the car - further in our article.

Design

Appearance Chinese FAW quite impressive. But did the Chinese themselves manage to create such a car? Of course not. The Italians had a hand in developing the appearance, and, as we know, they make the most beautiful cars in the world and constantly fulfill orders from General Motors, Mercedes and many other world manufacturers.

But back to the FAW Besturn B50. The appearance of the car is far from budget, but most importantly - there is no plagiarism here. The front of the car has stylish powerful optics with a "sly look" and embossed wheel arches. The bumper with integrated fog lamps successfully complements the look of the sedan. The hood visually seems very long, and rear end body - on the contrary, short. This effect was created thanks to the rounded roof, which makes the design of the sedan more aerodynamic. Windshield FAW Besturn B50 has a very large, which positively affects the visibility for the driver.

The back of the car is very simple: a straight trunk lid, conventional optics and a bumper. Of course, the design of the FAW Besturn B50 cannot be called a masterpiece, but it looks very solid, original and attractive, which is what you need for a regular budget sedan.

Dimensions and capacity

The car has the following body dimensions: length - 460 centimeters, width - 178.5 centimeters, height - 143.5 centimeters.

In this case, the length of the wheelbase is 2675 millimeters. capacity luggage compartment very standard for cars of this class - 450 liters.

Interior

The sedan pleases with its bright and spacious interior. At the front there is a massive panel with smooth lines, as well as a multifunctional steering wheel with buttons remote control. On the center console is visible branded audio system with CD, MP3 and six built-in speakers around the perimeter of the cabin.

The instrument panel, by today's standards, is a very simple design. Distinctive feature"Chinese" is a red illumination of scales and arrows, and the brightness level can be adjusted independently.

The driver's seat is electrically adjustable and can be adjusted in eight different directions. The lumbar support roller also adjusts to the anatomical features of the car owner. The front passenger seat has only mechanical adjustment.

The second row of seats can accommodate up to 3 adult passengers. Thanks to the well-thought-out body design, passengers in the 2nd row have enough legroom. The roof, despite its sloping shape, does not put pressure on the head. So the Chinese paid enough attention and effort to comfort. Finally, speaking about the interior, I would like to note good sound insulation, which is so lacking in domestic cars.

FAW Besturn B50 - engine specifications

Since the Chinese "Fav" was built on the platform of the Japanese "Mazda", the main engine of the sedan is a 1.6-liter gasoline unit with a capacity of 103 horsepower. The same was installed on the Mazda 6 of the first generation. This in-line unit is the same for all trim levels and versions of the FAW Besturn B50. But the choice is given among transmissions. So, the buyer can choose only a six-speed “mechanics” or a 6-band “automatic”. By the way, the latter has a convenient manual shift function and is able to adapt to a specific driving style. Is in automatic transmission and sport mode function.

What is most surprising, this motor is able to start with half a turn at an air temperature of minus 35 degrees Celsius. Car owners do not note any problems with engine maintenance during operation.

Dynamic characteristics

Although this sedan refers to European market to class D cars, the car boasts high acceleration dynamics. So, a jerk from zero to hundreds is estimated at more than 12 seconds. Wherein maximum speed"Chinese" is 190 kilometers per hour. For a sedan of this class, this is very good performance dynamics.

A few words about economy

It is impossible to say that this car consumes little fuel, however, in mixed mode, the novelty spends no more than 8 liters of gasoline per “hundred”. And this despite the fact that the curb weight of the sedan is almost 1.3 tons. Perhaps if diesel units were added to the line, this indicator would be a couple of liters less. But for now, on the Russian market, we will be content with the Mazda engine.

Electronics

Presence of electronics in cars budget class today is far from uncommon. Moreover, every year manufacturers complete their the lineup more and more electronic "bells and whistles".

was no exception and chinese car FAW Besturn B50. So, a budget sedan, regardless of configuration, is equipped with an electronic control device braking system and engine. By the way, Siemens employees took an active part in these developments. The electronic was made by the Germans from the Bosch company. The latter includes ABS and means that control the automatic distribution of brake forces. This electronics, according to the manufacturer, is very accurate and responsive. Proof of this is the high speed of signal processing that comes from ABS sensors(on average from 15 to 20 per second).

Vehicle running system

The suspension on the sedan is independent, on double levers with stability stabilizer. Brakes - disc brakes on all four wheels.

Finally, it is worth saying about the technical parameters that with such characteristics, the car can successfully compete with its main competitor and the Mazda 6 co-platform.

How does the sedan behave on the road?

As the test drive showed, Chinese novelty very confident on the road. With the dynamics of acceleration, "Fav" is doing very well. However, the absence wide choice power plants (and as we noted earlier, there is only one four-cylinder unit in the line) makes buyers think about purchasing sedans of other models and brands. Of course, for a car weighing 1300 kilograms, 103 horsepower is negligible power. However, the fact that the engine was developed by the Japanese is reassuring, which means that the FAW Besturn B50 will definitely not have problems under the hood. In practice, it turned out to be interesting to use a 6-speed robotic automatic machine with the possibility of manual gear shifting.

But what is most interesting, there is practically no difference between the dynamics of a car equipped with “mechanics” and an automatic transmission - both cars gain “hundred” in about 13 seconds. Apparently, the Chinese engineers set up the automatic transmission in such a way that it squeezes all the power out of the engine, ensuring the fastest possible acceleration of the new product.

FAW Besturn B50 - price and configuration

On the Russian market, this car is offered in three trim levels: Modern, Deluxe and Premium. The basic package includes options such as:

1. Air conditioner.
2. ABS and EBD system.
3. multifunctional steering wheel with the possibility of height adjustment.
4. Electric windows on all doors.
5. Parktronic.
6. Signaling.
7. Branded multimedia audio system.
8. Alloy wheels.
9. Frontal
10. On-board computer.

For all this "good" you will have to pay about 549 thousand rubles. This set of options is very unusual for initial configuration budget sedan.

In addition, there is a premium version. In addition to the standard equipment, it includes the following:

1. Leather interior.
2. Front and side airbags.
3. Electric adjustment of the driver's seat.
4. Climate control.
5. Bluetooth system.
6. Tire pressure sensors and full power accessories.

The price of the FAW Besturn B50 (2013 restyling) in the luxury version starts at 669 thousand rubles.

Why does it start? Because for an additional fee, the dealer can complete the car with the following list of options:

For each car, regardless of configuration, the Russian dealer provides a guarantee for 3 years or 100 thousand kilometers.