Geely has released more details of its B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA), its first modular platform designed fully in-house. The Chinese conglomerate says that BMA shares the flexibility and scalability of the larger Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which was developed in partnership with Volvo.
Developed over four years with nearly 100 modular architecture experts from over 20 countries, the BMA platform uses standardised interfaces between power, electrical, chassis and body modules to enable the creation of various vehicles such as sedans, MPVs and SUVs. Geely says it was developed to meet the needs of younger users who demand more spacious, enjoyable and personalised vehicles.
The BMA platform can accommodate wheelbases of between 2,550 and 2,700 mm and track widths of between 1,500 and 1,600 mm. This scalability allows production to be optimised for speed, while the optimisation of powertrain, suspension, seating position, ergonomics and component layout maximises interior space. Geely claims class-leading space utilisation for models built on the BMA platform.
At the same time, the platform allows models to achieve up to 70% commonality in parts and components, ensuring strong economies of scale. It also shortens the development time for new vehicles from the usual 36 months to between 18 and 24 months. With this, Geely says it will be able to stay at the forefront of the market and quickly respond to customer demands and provide users with the vehicles they require.
Safety is another key feature, with BMA being designed to exceed the criteria for a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating. It utilises 70% high-strength steel and 20% hot-formed steel in its construction, and has been designed to accommodate active safety features as well as Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous driving.
As we previously reported, BMA was designed to be able to fit various powertrain options, including 1.0 litre, 1.4 litre and 1.5 litre turbocharged engines (the latter has been co-developed with Volvo and will also be fitted to the Volvo XC40 crossover), as well as plug-in hybrid, regular hybrid and mild hybrid electric configurations as part of the brand’s Multi-Power system.
The new SX11 crossover will be the first BMA-based model
Geely’s new B-segment SUV, codenamed SX11, will be the first model built on the BMA platform. Expected to be launched in the second half of 2018, it will be powered by the 1.5 litre direct-injected turbo engine producing 177 hp and 255 Nm of torque. Chinese automotive portal Gasgoo reports that the model will be called Xingyue, following a naming convention set by the Boyue.
Will national carmaker Proton be a recipient of the BMA platform? Geely has dropped a few hints before, saying that the architecture will be applied to the company’s overseas subsidiary brands, and that production of BMA-based models will be launched in Southeast Asia. Other production sites that will build these models include those in Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, South America and the Middle East.