Borgward is gaining increasing recognition in the automotive world. The young company with a long tradition won a Red Dot Award for design at the beginning of the year, and the automaker’s Borgward BX7 series has now made a big impression with the judges for the Plus X Award: The athletic-dynamic SUV took home the world’s biggest innovation award for technology, sportiness, and lifestyle in the categories of Design, High Quality, Ergonomics, and Functionality. The BX7 was also issued a seal of quality as SUV of the Year 2016/2017.
“The Borgward BX7 has demonstrated once again that we’re on the right track with our product strategy,” said Tom Anliker, Vice President Marketing, Sales & Service at Borgward Group AG, during the awards ceremony in Bonn today. “The Plus X Award is a very prestigious one for us because it honors both the outstanding design quality and the top-class functional performance displayed by our premiere model.”
The Plus X Award for innovation was presented for the 13th time in 2016. The award honors manufacturers of products that are exceptionally innovative and forward-looking in terms of technology, sportiness, and lifestyle aspects. The products that receive the award must display a specific “Plus X Factor” for added value as defined by a panel of independent trade journalists and high-ranking representatives from 26 economic sectors.
Borgward BX7 TS: Top model in the SUV series
The Borgward BX7 that won the Plus X Award is a 4.70-meter long vehicle that was developed for the globally popular large/mid-sized SUV segment. The model makes a big impression with its extremely advanced communication and entertainment systems and an interior that’s unparalleled in this vehicle class.
All of this is supplemented by Borgward’s typical outstanding design quality, which is based on the brand’s guiding principle of Modern Tradition. Outstanding safety is guaranteed by the intelligent and comprehensive PROTECT concept, which features groundbreaking dynamic handling and driver assistance systems that operate in an anticipatory manner and can help prevent collisions.
If worst comes to worst, however, a very strong passenger compartment with precisely defined deformation zones, as well as passive restraint systems, provide reliable protection and can significantly mitigate the consequences of an accident.
The Borgward BX7 top-of-the-line model with the additional TS designation continues the brand’s successful tradition that was established in the 1950s, when the same designation was used for exceptionally sporty models. Unlike the standard models from the series, which are already fully equipped, the TS features diamond-like chrome rhombus shapes and a chrome Borgward rhombus with refining red inlays mounted on the brand’s typical OCTAGON grille.
Additional typical TS features include specially designed alloy wheels, bumpers, door sill trim, and cladding in the vehicle color, as well as decorative trim made of brushed aluminum. The red TS logo in chrome adorns the front fenders, the rear hatch, and the brake calipers on the six-piston front disc brakes.
The outstandingly spacious and sporty TS interior combines classical elements with innovative state-of-the-art components to create a harmonious atmosphere. Here, high-quality, velvety-soft premium nappa leather with the classical Borgward contrast stitching in hand-made quality is perfectly supplemented by innovative components such as a 12.3-inch central media touchscreen display. The sport program also includes a flat-bottom sports steering wheel and sports pedals.
The interior also features the same brushed aluminum that serves as the distinguishing material for the exterior trim in the TS equipment line. This brushed aluminum refines the dashboard, the handles on the center console, and the air conditioning vents, as well as other components. Other refining elements with a velvety sheen include the aforementioned sports steering wheel and pedals, as well as the gearshift and rocker panels with illuminated TS lettering.
Successful launch in East Asia; market launch in Europe in 2017
Following the successful market launch in China last month, and after the planned launch in India and other emerging markets later this year, Borgward will introduce the BX models to European markets in 2017. In Europe, the German automaker will initially launch the vehicle in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as plug-in hybrid models and all-electric vehicles.
