DRIVE SOUTH AFRICA: The new BAIC B40 Plus drive to Nirox Sculpture Garden

There are 8 visual components of sculpture – colour, form, line, shape, space, texture, and value. And when these elements come together, they produce an outstanding piece of art. In the motoring world, the new BAIC B40 Plus embodies these characteristics, and more important is the price point.

Our destination is Nirox Sculpture Gardens, with rolling lawns, waterways, and 30 hectares of space to host more than 50 installations by artists across the African continent, and the world. It is an innovative way to blend together with nature and art.

The B40 is a head-turner – the styling is bold and the shape is completely unexpected. In a sea of SUV’s and off-roaders that can easily be picked out of a line-up, this vehicle stands out proudly.

Like one of the components of sculpture – the Ocean Blue colour of this BAIC is met with nods and thumbs up wherever you drive. The shape is a hybrid of a Wrangler and a Hummer. The space and comfort are priorities in the interior, and so is technology.

Situated within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, The Nirox Sculpture Gardens is exactly the breath of fresh air Gautengers need. With countless areas to picnic and shade beneath the sweeping trees, it’s hard to believe you are sitting in the heartbeat of Africa’s financial capital.

Much like a unique piece of motoring art, the BAIC b40 plus is sculptured and modernised to give you the best of what you enjoy in an off-roader while challenging the top dogs in the 4×4 arena, and still playing it cool with its removable roof and technologically advanced features.

Chrome accents, reverse camera and PDC are almost expected in most newcomers and it’s all accounted for in the B40 plus.

The bottom of the range is this B40 Plus Diesel which costs R549,500 and the top of the range is the 40 Plus Champion Petrol at R629,500. Now try and match that. My only complaint would be the sluggish take-off.

Nature and art and technology, they aren’t meant to compliment each other – yet they do – so effortlessly.

Features include:

• dual-zone air conditioning,
• a six-speaker audio system,
• a start/stop button,
• electric parking braker
• a colourful multi-information display that changes to your preference
• colour-coded interior trimming
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• ABS
• Dual airbags
• Central locking
• Reverse parking camera
• Parking sensors
• 10-inch central display
• Bluetooth/USB connectivity
• 6x speakers
• 60:40 rear folding seats
• LED daytime running lights
• Tyre pressure sensors

Price:

B40 Plus Diesel — R549,500

B40 Plus Petrol — R579,500

B40 Plus City Hunter Diesel — R579,500

B40 Plus City Hunter Petrol — R609,500

B40 Plus Champion Petrol — R629,500

Available in 2 litre Petrol Turbo or 2.0 Diesel Turbo. The petrol engine kicks out 160kW @ 5500 r/min while the diesel pushes out 110kW @ 4000 r/min and 350Nm of torque at 1800-2800 r/min.