Well, there we go again and we are not surprised. Back in December we heard the the Beijing Auto B40 was going to hit the market in February. Earlier this month we heard it was delayed until ‘H1’ and now we got an insider telling Chinese media that the B40 will be launched in August, which is very much H2.

The insider also said that trial production has started and some 50 cars have been made. He managed to sneak into the factory to take a bunch of pics of one of those vehicles.

There will be two engines: a 2.7 liter four-cylinder with 147hp and 235nm, and a 2.4 liter four-cylinder with 140hp and 217nm. Both engines are very old and their design dates straight back to the days of the Beijing-Jeep Cherokee.The engines are produced by a company called Shenyang Starlight, a subsidiary of Beijing North Industries.

Earlier on we heard rumors about a Saab engine for the B40 but it seems that didn’t work out. Drive train: 4×4. Transmission: 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. Size: 4350/1843/1837, wheelbase is 2450, curb weight is 1830kg.

The B40 debuted as a concept o 2010 at the Beijing Auto Show and the production version debuted on the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Small-batch production of the B40 started in September last year, but has apparently failed to turn into mass production yet. Beijing Auto probably met some unexpected problems on the way.

Sunroof!

First time we see a ‘B40’ badge on a non-concept car.

Hard gray plastics, gray floor, gray seats; gray everything.

Manual gearbox here.

Max 5500 rpm, on the low side for a petrol engine in a 2013 car, but then, the engines are 1980.

5-speeder. Plastic loox hard, and gray.

At least it will be kinda capable off road. August? We will see…

Via: Autohome.