The Beijing Auto Senova X65 SUV has been launched on t he Chinese car market, price starts at 98.000 yuan and ends at 149.800 yuan ($15.889 – 24.090).  The Senova X65 is a new compact SUV, it debuted on the Guangzhou Auto Show in November last year. It is the first SUV under the Senova brand.

The decals are a surprising option, looking very 1985 Europa.

Beijing Auto says the Senova X65 is based on their Matrix platform, which is derived from the platform of the Saab 9-3. BAIC, the mother company of Beijing Auto, bought the rights the the platforms for the Saab 9-3 and the last-generation Saab 9-5 from GM in 2009. The deal included the Saab-developed 2.0 turbo (B204E) and 2.3 turbo (B235R) engines.

The X65 is powered by said 2.0 turbo, here with an output of 177hp and 240nm, mated to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Car on pics is a manual. Later on a 1.5 turbo with 163hp and 225nm will become available as well. Size: 4645/1816/1680, wheelbase is 2670.

A very classy interior, albeit a tad too dark. Sporty dials, sporty seats, and a truly giant LCD touch screen (but the cheaper versions get this).

The back is even blacker but the bench is big enough for three.

Red decal above bumper almost cool. Exhaust pipes tiny, flanking a skid pad for mountaineering.

The typical Senova grille. Decalls under headlights decidedly not cool. Skid pad too small to be very useful.

This is a Saab 2.0 turbo. One of these powered my dad’s Saab 9-3, new in 1999.

They even have an extra Senova X65 sticker, on the right above the bumper, with racy stripes.