Take away the badge and this Aeolus Haoji looks identical to a BMW
CarNewsChina has just reported that Dongfeng Motor (known locally as Fengshen), a Chinese automaker has just launched an all new petrol and hybrid version of the Aeolus Haoji SUV for RMB215,000, which roughly translates to USD31,800. Check out their full article on it here.
The most interesting thing about the Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji to me is how it looks slightly similar to a recently launched car I wrote about a while back from the front but from every other angle, if you took away the badge, I’d wager many would say that it is a BMW.
The Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji is the brand’s first mid-sized SUV built on the Dongfeng Superior Modular Architecture (DSMA) platform which was developed specifically for Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) cars.
The design of the Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji features a massive straight grille, split headlights, air vents in the bumper, black paint on the wheel arches and door handles, a wide D-pillar and a two tone-paint job giving it a floating roof design.
However, don’t let the sporty exterior and powerful platform fool you, the Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji is comfortably spacious thanks to its dimensions of 4720/1910/1702mm and 2825mm wheelbase. The exhaust pipe which sits near the right wheel is neatly hidden under the car and has fake exhausts on the bumper.
As for the interior of the Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji, the dashboard features an attached twin-screen 12.3-inch digital infotainment and driver display and the screen can be controlled by touch or via a rotary dial on the centre tunnel where the gear shifter sits. The ICE version is also equipped with a Jamo audio system.
Moreover, for safety, the Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji has level 2 autonomous driver assistance systems (ADAS). The two-spoke flat bottom steering wheel is all black and is semi ovular in shape with minimal buttons and controls, a refreshing change of pace for me as too many buttons just looks cluttered.
On top of that, for power, the ICE version of the Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji gets a 1.5l petrol engine producing 204hp and 350Nm of torque paired to a 7-speed DCT while the PHEV version gets the same engine with an electric motor bumping up power to 245hp and making 540Nm of torque mated to an E-CVT.
With that said, I still can’t shake how similar it looks to a BMW. I hope Dongfeng brings this car to Malaysia since the brand already has a partner here. Would you also buy the Dongfeng Aeolus Haoji purely for how it looks or am I too much of a bimmer fan boy?
