Production of the FAW-Besturn X80 SUV has started in China. The Besturn X80 will debut on the Shanghai Auto Show later this month and will be launched on the Chinese car market in the second half of this year. Price is expected to range from 120.000 yuan to 200.000 yuan.

The X80 is the very first SUV under the Besturn brand, Besturn is also working on their first MPV which will be launched in 2015. The Besturn X80 is based on the platform of the last generation Mazda 6 that is still  in production in China by the FAW-Mazda joint venture. Engines are Mazda-sourced 146hp 2.0 and a 154hp 2.3 , both mated to a 6-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Size: 4586/1820/1662, wheelbase is 2675.

Red is always good to make a big fat SUV look a little bit smaller.

Plastics don’t look too good. Lotta black, lotta cheap. Alu bar is good. Sporty dials, as is the fashion these days. Screen very small but this particular car is likely a low-end version.

C-Pillar the best part of the design.

Whether the X80 will sell is the question. It loox very good and it isn’t too expensive. But Chinese car buyers know very well it is based on old Mazda tech, and that just doesn’t do it anymore. All Besturn-branded cars are based on Mazda platforms, and powered by a mix of Mazda, Volkswagen and FAW engines. The ensuing mess is not helping the brand very much.