If you choose one of the most influential models in the last 30 years, many models can be selected for the first round, including Jetta, Santana, Accord, Haval H6 and Wuling Hongguang.
But if we extend the time frame to 60 years and we select one of the most influential models in 60 years, there are only two models that can really be shortlisted, because these two models have dominated the Chinese auto market for almost three decades. One of the two models is Hongqi and the other is BJ212. Because in the nearly three decades before the 1990s, there were almost three models in the Chinese auto market: "Hongqi" was high above the top, it was the leader's car, the real national car; the "Shanghai" brand car was the car of senior cadres at the department and bureau level, and its influence was slightly worse; the "212" was the standard configuration at the county and regiment level, and it was the model with the highest cumulative output, the highest sales volume and the most popular model in China from 1960 to 1990, and many people's enlightenment began with 212.
At the same time, the 212 is also the world's longest single car production time model, 50 years without replacement, until 2021 is still in production, also known as the living fossil of China's automotive industry.
Living fossils are discontinued and will soon be replaced
But now, two major events have happened to this living fossil: the first thing is to stop production, and in September 2021, the official announcement of BJ212 officially stopped production, which is not the first time in the history of 212 to stop production, but it is likely to be the last.
Of course, the suspension of production is not an end, but a means, and the real purpose of the 212 suspension of production lies in the second thing "complete replacement". This classic 212, which has been produced for more than fifty years, will be completely replaced. At present, various news information about the new generation of 212 has appeared on the Internet, and it is reported that the new car will be released in 2022 and will be listed in 2023.
The replacement of a living fossil that has been produced for more than fifty years is a big deal, whether it is for industry, for society, or for 212 itself, and of course, there is a reason for all of this.
The most fundamental reason is that the current 212 has completely adapted to this era, which needs to start from the product strength of 212. This is a model with very distinct advantages and disadvantages, with few advantages and many disadvantages.
Let's first analyze the advantages of 212.
First: 212 has a long history and high popularity. BJ212 began to be developed in 1964, officially rolled off the production line in 1965, and then over the past fifty years, more than one million units have been produced. From 1965 to 1990, the 212 was the highest-selling model in China, known to women and children, and extremely well-known, and the common name "Jeep" has almost become synonymous with SUVs.
Second: is good passability, 212 belongs to the typical hard-school off-road vehicle, non-load-bearing body, structure with girder, time-sharing four-wheel drive, short wheelbase, high clearance, approach angle 45 °, departure angle 35 °, minimum ground clearance 215mm, passability can be compared with million-level off-road vehicles.
Third: the price is cheap, the current 212 entry guide price is only more than 70,000 yuan, the actual more than 60,000 can be taken, the top model is only 104,000 yuan, almost the cheapest hardcore off-road vehicle in the market, basically no obstacles to purchase.
The quality of the products that cannot be looked back
Speaking of advantages, let alone disadvantages, 212's shortcomings are obviously much more than advantages, and it can even be said that in addition to the advantages, almost all of them are shortcomings, some people call it "useless", and even once insulted by a small number of media as "industrial garbage".
In fact, 212 does have many disadvantages, and we briefly summarize a few points:
1. The technology is too old; 212 from 1965 production to 2021, the cumulative production of more than fifty years, has never been replaced, the platform structure and technology has been completely old, security architecture and performance architecture is completely outdated.
2. The configuration is too poor; 212 low-end no air conditioning, no airbags, no body stability, no reversing radar, no LCD screen, as for the power seat, voice control, automatic driving, intelligent interconnection and other scientific and technological configurations do not even think about it, the most modern configuration is a radio.
3. The power is too poor; the current 212 is equipped with two old Mitsubishi engines, the model is 4A91T 1.5T and the model 4K22D4T 2.4T engine, these two engines are noisy, poor power, high fuel consumption, in addition to leather durable and cheap price, almost no advantages at all, the performance in most environments is very stretched.
Although the above shortcomings are fatal shortcomings, the biggest shortcomings of 212 are not the above points. The biggest problem with the current 212 is that the quality is too poor, too loose, too loose, too open, more than 100 kilometers per hour to shake, noise like driving a tractor, in the winter when the air leaks on all sides, in the summer like an oven. After driving for a year, there will be all kinds of problems and problems, engines, gearboxes, chassis, windows, suspensions, rearview mirrors, four-wheel drive, fans, seats, tires, door locks, etc., in addition to the radio, as long as you can think of any problem can happen, you can not think of problems will also occur, bringing endless troubles to the owner. However, this also brings a benefit, that is, generally open 212 three years, you can teach yourself to become a "maintenance expert".
Therefore, this is destined to be a car that people love and hate. Of course, there are more people who hate it, fewer people who love it, and even those who fall in love with it often turn from love to hate after a few years. As a result, when 212 announced the discontinuation of the 1314 commemorative editions produced before, it has not been sold out to this day. And consumers who buy a car are certainly not moved by the 212 product force, perhaps more of a collection and commemoration of past feelings.
The full evolution of the new generation 212
Of course, the most precious value of 212 is also feelings, which is also where manufacturers have the courage to launch a new generation of 212. Compared with the current 212 that has been discontinued, the core content of the new generation of 212 is to retain the previous emotional classics, completely make up for the shortcomings of product strength, and describe it in the official language, that is, "inheriting the classic shape and integrating modern technology".
According to the news announced so far, we have seen the evolution of the new generation of 212's product power.
From the appearance point of view, the new generation of 212 inherits and continues the classic van design of the previous 212, and even includes the classic lines of the old model. The new car still maintains a hard-hitting boxy look, and then redesigned the parts and details on this basis. Typical cases of final design ideas, such as car lights, the shape of the headlights is still round, but the shape of the light group has been redesigned, respecting the tradition at the same time, bringing a refreshing feeling.
At the same time, the new generation 212 still adopts a non-load-bearing design with girders, and will still be a hardcore off-road vehicle.
In terms of body size, the new generation of 212 length, width and height 4325/1830/1910mm, wheelbase of 2460mm, compared to the old model, the shape is slightly larger, the wheelbase remains consistent, meaning that the actual space will not change much.
The interior of the new generation 212 has undergone a huge evolution. According to online information, the new model provides two design styles, one is a full LCD dashboard + embedded central control multimedia display + three-spoke multi-function steering wheel design, the overall structure of the center console is clearly layered, and the functional area is clearly divided. The other style is more technological and simple, the steering wheel shape is conservative and retro, and the central control LCD screen adopts a style that is integrated with the center console, and the sense of technology is stronger.
The most important powertrain, the new generation of the 212 is completely innovative, the new car offers 2.0 liters of naturally aspirated, 2.0T turbocharged and 2.4T turbocharged three engines, the drivetrain will be matched with 5-speed manual and 8-speed automatic transmission options, but also with a mechanical four-wheel drive system. Among them, the 2.0L engine has a maximum power of 106kW and a peak torque of 200 Nm, which meets the National VIB emission standards.
In terms of chassis, the longitudinal leaf spring-type non-independent rear suspension of the current model may be replaced by a four-link independent suspension, which means that the chassis has better vibration filtering effect and better riding comfort.
Write at the end
In short, compared with the old and new 212 models, we have a sense of surprise that we have traveled from the 60s of the last century to the 21st century overnight.
The classic sentiment is still retained, and the product force is fully evolved, but in the future, the new generation of 212 will be launched at what price, and whether the market can accept the new generation of 212, everything is unknown, we will wait and see, and will continue to pay attention.