UAE desert testing aids the second coming of famed carmaker Borgward

You may not know the name, but the company was once Germany's third-largest car manufacturer

The Borgward BX7 has been tested in the UAE. Courtesy Borgward

The revival of storied German car brand Borgward, which originally went out of business in the 1960s, has been gathering momentum, aided by testing of one of its new models in the UAE.

The Stuttgart-based manufacturer is set to launch the first cars of its second chapter in the Emirates later this year, one of which is its BX7 intermediate/mid-sized SUV, which was put through its paces this month on our roads to test its mettle during the heat of summer.

The criteria including air-conditioning performance while static and moving, thermal protection of its supercharger and temperature of its vital liquids (coolant, oil).

The new Borgward BX7 was put through its paces in the desert. Courtesy Borgward

Philipp Schimitt, Borgward’s chief electrical engineer, said: “The engineering team has conducted numerous tests covering the length and breadth of the UAE, testing the BX7 on different road conditions, environment and temperatures. Checking on key performance under the August sun has been an ideal opportunity for us to demonstrate the capabilities of the vehicle under local conditions.

“The BX7 was tested in the desert by Al Aweer, showing [it was] indifferent to the scorching heat. Whether it’s cruising from Dubai to Al Ain, or powering up hills in Jebel Jais, the BX7 stays perfectly cool.”

At one point during its 20th-century heyday, Borgward was Germany’s third-largest car manufacturer and ran a successful motorsport division.

More than half a century on, Borgward’s other new model, the BX5, a compact SUV model, is the second half of attempts to regain its lofty status. The new company, set up by a team led by Christian Borgward, the grandson of founder Carl Borgward, is marketing its “intelligent” SUVs as “accessible premium” vehicles.

Both models will be launched and available for pre-bookings at the Dubai International Motor Show, which runs from November 14 to 18 at Dubai World Trade Centre, and will be available from local dealers towards the end of this year.

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