BAIC has introduced their large M60 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) at the 7th iteration of the biennial Philippine International Motorshow (PIMS) which ran from October 24 to 28 at World Trade Center in Pasay City. The new M60 is their first van with: (1) front-wheel-drive, (2) unibody construction, and (3) an automatic transmission (a Punch Powertrain-sourced CVT in this case). By its curb weight, the M60 is technically a mid-size MPV like the Toyota Innova and Chevrolet Orlando, but at 4.8m long and with seven plush seats (with two bucket seats in the center row instead of a 3-place couch), this biggest of BAIC’s van-type transporters borders on being a full-size people mover like the Toyota Alphard. And this while the M60’s sticker price of P0.998 to P1.068 million puts it against much smaller compact MPVs such as the Toyota Avanza and Honda Mobilio.
Press Statement by BAIC Philippines, “BAIC shows new MPVs and SUV at PIMS 2018,” 2018:
Pasay City, 24 October 2018–BAIC Philippines will exhibit three new sport-utility and multi-purpose models at the 2018 Philippine International Motorshow (PIMS) which runs from October 24 to 28 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. At the automotive industry’s major biennial trade show where the brand was first introduced four years ago in 2014, BAIC will launch their new M60 mid-size crossover multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), and will also showcase the M50S compact MPV and the BJ20 compact crossover sport-utility vehicle (SUV), models which they introduced less than a month ago on September 28.
The timing of the launches highlight how the new M60 mid-size MPV pushes further some of the best features of their new M50S MPV and BJ20 SUV models. The M60 scales up the people-mover dimensions of the compact M50S that BAIC dubs a modern-day station-wagon, depicting the bigger MPV as a roomy, seven-seater with the stature of an executive transport. On the other hand, the new M60 takes the BJ20’s small yet powerful 1.5liter turbocharged gasoline engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT) and puts this match-up to more practical use pushing a large three-row MPV to a top speed of 170km/h.
Delivering peak power of 150hp at 6000rpm and maximum torque of 210Nm over a surprisingly wide 2000~4500rpm range like on the BJ20 SUV, the M60’s 1.5 liter turbocharged mill has a power profile that rivals that of turbodiesels while burning cleaner Euro 5 gasoline. And, while the M60’s CVT remains an ideal choice for fuel efficiency and for keeping the turbocharger spooled up during acceleration (BAIC asserts a conservative yet impressive 13km/l of mixed-mode fuel mileage), it also represents BAIC Philippines’ first automatic gearbox option on an MPV model.
The large new M60 crossover is at the borderline between mid- and full-sized MPVs with its 4.8m length, 1.8m width and 1.7m height. Its rigid unibody construction and front-wheel drive transaxle deliver enough weight savings to keep the M60’s curb-weight down to the 1,445kg that’s more typical of a compact minivan rather than that of a mid-sized MPV. In fact, those weight savings keep the M60’s curb-weight to just five kilograms more than that of the smaller BJ20 SUV.
Despite its large size, the M60 stays nimble with a 5.5m turning radius that’s kept tight by a compact 2.76m wheelbase which, in turn, is smoothed out by taking advantage of the big crossover MPV’s independent suspension. And, like both the up-trimmed M50S compact MPV and BJ20 compact crossover SUV, the M60 features a reversing camera and sensors for easing the large MPV into and out of tight situations.
With its Standard 1.5L CVT variant listing at P0.998M, and its Luxury 1.5L CVT variant at P1.068M, the BAIC M60 mid-size crossover MPV is priced to move against larger full-size MPVs as well as smaller compact and sub-compact minivans. Visitors to PIMS 2018 will be offered the chance to evaluate these prices and products hands-on with test drives of BAIC’s newest models as well as their compact MZ40 three-row and MZ45 four-row vans, models that were launched along with the brand and have enjoyed growing popularity since 2014.