The German car brand Borgward was founded in 1919 and had a few successful models however it went bankrupt in 1961. Now we hear news that Borgward is relaunching, after a tie-up with Chinese vehicle company Foton. Borgward’s new president Karlheinz Knöss recently mentioned in a press event in Europe that they, Borgward, wants to become one of the top players in the automotive industry.
The first Borgward car of the 21st century will be penned by former Saab design boss Einar Hareide, and it will usher in the design language that will influence every one of the company’s subsequent models. It will ride on a highly modular platform, though whether it was designed in-house or borrowed from another automaker is still unanswered.
Foton and Borgward are aiming to produce 800,000 vehicles per year by 2020, with a target of 1.6 million cars by 2025. Their target markets are both Europe and the emerging markets in Asia and South America.
The plan will start with a premium SUV to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September. The Borgward SUV to be of a similar size to vehicles like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Company officials have confirmed that they’re working on a hybrid plug-in system, so at least one option for the SUV will be electric. It’s suggested that the SUV will also have all-wheel drive and a new dual-clutch automatic transmission. Cabin connectivity is going to be important, with a Multiple Interaction, a bespoke interface claiming to “change the way you think about the car.” The SUV should go on sale in mid-2016.
