Lifan, headquartered in China, was able to announce the creation of a new type of SUV on its official website. This representative must occupy the market. The modification will be called Lifan X60. The car has many advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in more detail.
Dimensions (edit)
The car body is made universal, which implies the presence of five doors. The vehicle is 4.325 meters long, 1.79 meters wide and 1.69 meters high. As you might expect, the Chinese were unable to do the interior trim and to carry out a good assembly of the parts. Many experts in this aspect of the work of the company gave a score of "three" on a five-point scale. It should be noted that with a quick glance at the car, you can see striking discrepancies in individual structural details (for example, a decorative body kit). And the large number of gaps between the body panels will not give joy to the new owner. vehicle.
The salon itself looks quite impressive and respectable. Thanks to original design solutions, it can compete with many similar machines on automotive market... But an experienced car enthusiast will notice an obvious similarity with the Toyota RAV-4, which will certainly affect the price of the car. If desired, you can compare the front consoles of the two cars, as well as the panel elements. They point out that the Chinese managed to copy another car with an accuracy of almost 100%.... At the same time, you should not treat the representative of the Chinese automotive industry so harshly - the interior of the Toyota RAV-4 has established itself with the best side, therefore, those who want to purchase the Lifan X60 will be guaranteed the maximum level of comfort and reliability.
Appearance
The appearance of the car is significantly inferior to the quality of the interior trim. It was clear that the Chinese really wanted to see such a brainchild in the Lifan lineup. In this regard, the decorative elements were made simply amazing. Sound insulation is also at a good level, which does not allow penetration into the car interior. extraneous sounds and other squeaks that irritate the driver. But here, too, manufacturers decided to save on cheap plastic, fabric upholstery and primitive leather. So low level the quality of the elements used spoils the overall impression of the internal state of the vehicle. Yes there is Lifan equipment X60 SUV, which has leather seats, but some wrinkles can be found on them, which for new car just unacceptable.
Noteworthy is the updated suspension of the SUV. Certainly on appearance it appears to be very high quality. This is evidenced by the presence in the front of the McRherson struts, as well as a reliable independent suspension with three levers. But the technical side of the design is clearly not up to par: engineers from the Middle Kingdom made a significant mistake in selecting the rigidity and adjusting the suspension elements. The fact is that when cornering, the car begins to roll very noticeably, and if we are talking about sharp bends in the roadway, then the probability that the car will roll over is close to the maximum value. Therefore, many owners of Lifan The X60 can have a reflex to slow down on such roads in advance, which is very illogical for an SUV.
Chips
But the representatives of the concern have something that can attract the attention of a sophisticated public. First of all, it concerns reliable disc brakes provided on all four wheels (they do their job perfectly). Also the size of the impressive ground clearance, allowing to overcome curbs in the absence of parking spaces, will help Lifan to attract new customers. Steering column has a good setting - all wheels are able to respond to any rotation of the steering wheel, which makes it easier to control the vehicle and thereby creating comfort when driving.
The main advantage of the crossover is its low cost, available to most consumers. In particular, basic configuration The Lifan X60 for the Russian buyer will cost only 500,000 rubles, the improved LX model will imply the presence of a sum of money, equal to 560,000 rubles.
The standard modification of the machine has: central locking, EBD + ABS, two airbags, a modest audio system (2 speakers and a radio), electromechanical lifts, side mirrors with an automatic drive.
The XL version will be equipped with front fog lamps, air conditioning and an improved audio system (four speakers, a radio and a supported CD / mp3 format), as well as decorative type wheel covers.
Every year, representatives of the Chinese automotive industry are gaining new leadership positions in the market. With the growth of positions, there is also a strengthening of the confidence of motorists in SUVs and crossovers from the "Celestial Empire". Large private Lifan company one of the first to volunteer to dispel negative perceptions about the reliability and quality of products from China. In 2011 the company presented compact crossover, dubbed the Lifan X60. In a relatively short period of time, the car was able to hit the main car charts, including the list of the best Chinese crossovers.
Why did domestic drivers like the model? Everything is extremely simple. Lifan X60 is an inexpensive and affordable mid-size crossover with good dynamic characteristics... The car is quite simple in terms of construction: a 1.8-liter Toyota gasoline engine, a reliable manual 5-speed gearbox, front-wheel drive... It is pleasant to drive in such a car even in the city, and you can drive along a country road with relative comfort. But, before buying a crossover, it is best to immediately find out what the resource of the Lifan X60 engine is.
What engine is under the hood of Lifan X60?
Chinese engineers do not hide the fact that during the design of the car, their views were focused on bestsellers. automotive world- and Hyundai santa Fe. As a result of the Japanese-Korean symbiosis, something in between came out, but it should be said that the outwardly model turned out to be attractive. In addition to the design, the technical component was also borrowed: a 1.8-liter 1ZZ-FE engine was installed under the hood of the crossover, which has become legendary with operation on many Japanese cars, which have covered 500 thousand kilometers or more with great success. True, the motor underwent some changes before installation.
By optimizing the engine for chinese crossover the English company Ricardo was engaged. The engine was equipped with a variable valve timing system, the installation itself received a transverse arrangement. Index power unit- LFB479Q. The changes also affected the control unit - it was equipped with a different firmware - and the Chinese developed some of the layout elements on their own. At the output, the engine received 128 Horse power at 6000 rpm.
LFB479Q Specifications:
- type - four-cylinder, in-line engine;
- number of valves - 16:
- compression ratio - 10;
- preferred gasoline - AI-95;
- piston stroke - 91.5.
The uncontested front-wheel drive modification of the crossover suggests that the car is adapted to Russian operating conditions, but, nevertheless, not fully. If the "Chinese" overcomes bumps and small potholes without problems, then with heavy off-road he cannot cope. For urban use, the model is best suited. Thanks to electronic fuel injection, it was possible to reduce the level of fuel consumption of the unit by as much as 3%. At the same time, the motor is 8% more powerful than similar engine options thanks to Delphi and Bosch control systems.
Potential resource
The LFB479Q motor took over from the parent in the person of 1ZZ-FE not only the main advantages, but also the disadvantages. Chinese engineers, together with British designers, have done a lot of work in improving the engine, they really managed to increase the power and reduce the "appetite" of the unit. There are not so many chronic diseases in the Toyota engine. Motorists note a slight overconsumption of oil after 150 thousand kilometers. And this is really a fact, proven by the practice of operating a car with motors of the VVT-I series. It is almost impossible to influence this process, since the level of lubricant consumption is largely predetermined. design feature engine.
When LFB479Q starts to "eat" oil, many owners decide on not the cheapest procedure - replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester. Overrun engine oil failure of the catalytic converter is a matter of time. For this reason, the first problems with the engine can begin after 150-200 thousand kilometers. In China, car owners have found the following way out of the situation: switch from the recommended mineral lubricant to semi-synthetics.
LFB479Q maintenance operating rules:
- The first MOT pass after 3000 km of run - completely replace the engine oil;
- Do not exceed 3500 rpm crankshaft during the first 1000 kilometers;
- Do not drive long distances during the running-in period;
- Do not tow the car;
- Refuel with the recommended AI-95 fuel, otherwise there may be problems with the engine at an early stage;
- Adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines for engine oil selection and material change intervals.
A resource-intensive chain is installed on the LFB479Q as a drive. On average, it serves for 100 thousand kilometers. It is necessary to periodically check its condition, due to the unfavorable operating conditions of the car, early stretching of the product is possible. With timely and high-quality service, the lifespan of the Lifan X60 engine will be 300 - 350 thousand kilometers.
Car owners reviews
The Chinese are strong in the quality of the service and service provided, thanks to these advantages, compared to other representatives, today they are able to win an increasing number of buyers. There are plenty of parts and components in Russia for Lifan X60 in every city. Wherein Chinese manufacturers cars are largely focused not only on domestic market, but also external, in particular, Russian. Domestic buyers are available various configurations auto: from basic to luxury. What is the resource of the Lifan X60 engine in fact, the reviews of the owners will tell in detail.
- Egor, Taganrog. Lifan X60 acquired in 2012 in dealership... Served there the first time. The break-in period went smoothly and without incident. After passing the first 3,000 km, the engine oil was completely changed. The engine runs stably, the rpm does not float. I am also satisfied with the dynamics of the car. Many people complain about the lack of motor power. I disagree with that. The car feels confident on the track. When overtaking, it does not suffocate. I try not to overload the installation. Already passed 120 thousand kilometers. The oil does not "eat", I change it according to the regulations. There were no problems with the car. Of course, the "Chinese" does not reach the level and status of RAV-4 or Santa Fe, but it may well compete, for example, with the Kia Rio.
- Albert, Moscow. Before buying a crossover at an attractive price, I was interested in one question: "What engine is in the Leaf X60?" As a result, it turned out that the engine was Toyota. Without hesitation, he collected the required amount of money and went shopping. I bought a new car in the salon, it was in 2013. Since then, the car has covered 130 thousand km. Were there any problems with the engine? Absolutely none. I fill in the recommended lubricant G-Energy F Synth 0W-40. The oil is inexpensive, but sometimes it is not so easy to get it. As an alternative, I recommend Liqui Moly Longtime High Tech with a viscosity of 5W30.
- Sergey, Voronezh. The Lifan X60 crossover was presented to me by my parents. I am not a fan big cars, but I personally liked this model. I have been using the car for 5 years, the odometer now shows exactly 100 thousand kilometers. According to the manufacturer, the engine resource is at least 200 thousand kilometers. But, it is quite obvious that the figure varies up and down, depending on the timeliness of the maintenance. I monitor the condition of the motor, so there have never been any problems with it. I have not even changed the chain yet, but it may soon be necessary to do this work, since its service life is designed specifically for 100 tyk.
- Vyacheslav, Irkutsk. I got a car straight from China. For four years of driving the Lifan X60, I can say responsibly that the Chinese have seriously prepared for the release of this model, have spent a lot of effort and money on the implementation of the idea. It turned out to be a good product, and the motor is excellent. Something, but the engine in this car is reliable. Slightly other components of the vehicle suffer - the suspension, there are drawbacks in the cabin. But these are trifles when you consider the cost of the Lifan X60. Recently I was at the service station, the masters carried out diagnostics, they said that the engine was in excellent condition, and this was after 95 thousand kilometers. Also from their words: the resource LFB479Q is at least 300,000 km.
- Valery, St. Petersburg. I was personally convinced more than once that cars with a 1ZZ-FE engine run half a million kilometers. As we know, the LFB479Q is the prototype of the Toyota engine. We can safely assume that the lifespan of the Lifan X60 installation is at least 300 thousand km. I have a 2012 crossover in the maximum configuration. I'm surprised by the car in the positive sense of the word. The Chinese have really learned how to make decent SUVs and crossovers. Today the mileage is 160 thousand. Oil from replacement to replacement.
- Kirill, Rostov. Nice car that I have been using since 2015. I took the car to secondary market in excellent condition for a decent amount. At that time, the car's mileage was 50 thousand km. Today there are already 110 tyk. The powertrain is sensitive to the quality of fuel and engine oil. Refuel only at proven stations, and do not deviate from the manufacturer's recommendations in terms of choosing engine oil. At the very least, get worthy counterparts. Otherwise, the oil scraper will coke, the gaps will be broken, valve train will fly. Then problems cannot be avoided. Personally, there were no problems with my car. Starts in any weather, oil does not "eat", although the network writes that the engine is characterized by a "masloger". Who knows, perhaps the time has not come yet. But I am sure that with the right attitude and breakdowns of the "heart" of the car will not be.
The lifespan of the Lifan X60 engine is in strict correlation with the quality of service of the crossover. Many owners are trying to extend the lifespan power plant by using repair and restoration compounds. In practice, such manipulations often lead to the desired result: the compression is normalized, the engine noise level during operation is reduced, and the engine resource also increases by several tens of thousands of kilometers. The LFB479Q motor is designed for 300 - 350 thousand kilometers. It is very easy to develop the full potential of the manufacturer in the installation, but it is not so easy to extend the service life of the CPG parts.
Of course, the Lifanovites call the x60 their own development, but the genesis of the model is more prosaic - it is taken as a design basis. Toyota model RAV4 second generation. Apparently, unofficially: Lifan has no legal relationship with the Japanese company, and the Chinese are engaged in "imitation" at their own peril and risk. But it would be rash to call the x60 a copy of the RAV4. Rather, it is a "plot based on": the structural and layout scheme is similar to the RAV4, but the dimensions have been changed, as well as the overall aesthetics of the car.
Lifan x60 is a car with a monocoque body and a transverse power unit. The engine is new, with a volume of 1.8 liters (133 hp), with a variable valve timing system. In the Chinese version, the phase shifter is denoted by the abbreviation VVT (Variable Valve Timing), which also echoes the "Toyota" development VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence). The 1.8 VVT LFB479Q engine was made in cooperation with the English company RICARDO, which is even mentioned on the official website of the British. Many other design details are also taken from European manufacturers, in particular from Bosch and Valeo. The Chinese are even proud of this, emphasizing the "new level of quality."
The x60 design is quite typical for cars of this class: McPherson front suspension, rear - independent multi-link, disc brakes on all wheels with 4-channel ABS. Steering rack and pinion, with hydraulic booster. The supports of the power unit are selected correctly, no vibrations are transmitted to the body and controls. Even the air conditioner radiator is not rigidly fixed to the front beam, but through additional dampers and is separated from the engine radiator by foam rubber gaskets. A trifle - but nice.
Transmission - only a five-speed "mechanics", no variator, no automatic transmission is provided. Unfortunately, no all-wheel drive is envisaged either, they think about it, but there is no solution yet. It's expensive and goes beyond the concept of the x60 as an extremely cheap car. At the same time, the Chinese already have the design of the drive to the rear axle through a viscous coupling, it's only a matter of the economy of the project. Now the Lifan marketers think that the all-wheel drive version of the x60 may not withstand the competition.
From this it is easy to deduce the market framework of the model: an urban SUV or even just a station wagon with an increased ground clearance, in which there are more comfort, convenience and versatility than claims to conquer off-road. The salon is not made in Chinese with high quality, even, from good fabrics and plastics. There is a pungent smell in new cars, but this is not phenolic emissions, but the "aroma" of glue and sealants, which quickly evaporates. We got used to the smell after half an hour of getting to know the car.
The architecture of the front panel is simpler than "Toyota", for example, the Chinese did not begin to reproduce the spectacular "glove compartment" with a sliding lid, located in Toyota between the passenger airbag and the main glove compartment. The center console and dashboard are different here. The RAV4 is only reminiscent of a similar arrangement of deflectors and climate control "krutilok". The transformation of the cabin is beyond praise: backseat can be folded separately and completely, with the pillows recline forward, and the backrests lie on the floor, forming an almost level platform. For rear passengers, there is a large folding armrest with two cup holders. More of the little things: a 12-volt socket in the armrest box for the front riders, cup holders in all side doors, a small folding niche to the left of the driver.
So far, the Lifan x60 is offered in two trim levels - LX and EX. The first - basic - includes two front airbags and ABS + EBD. Various nice things are added to the EX, such as a two-din DVD audio system with a large screen, navigator and visual parking sensors, a key with a remote trunk opener, leather steering wheel, front seat belt pretensioners, climate control.
The Lifan Motors proving ground, where it was proposed to test new crossovers, is not very suitable for a full-fledged test drive, to put it mildly: it is extremely compact, representing only a road with three types of irregularities and one “driving” hairpin turn. Therefore, so far we can only speak approximately about what x60 is in motion.
The curb weight of the crossover is 1330 kg, which is comparable to a conventional C-class car. Therefore, the engine is 133 hp. "Lifan" is more or less enough. The Chinese have not yet shown the graph of the dependence of the torque on the rpm, but it is obvious that the motor reaches its maximum return at about 4500 rpm.
The first two gears are quite short and fast, and the third is long, with a claim to economy. With a sufficiently "sharp" steering wheel (a little more than 3 turns from lock to lock), the steering wheel lacks sensitivity. The position of the rudder at "zero" is indistinct and there is not enough feedback. This does not add confidence when maneuvering at high speed.
Third gear, revs of about 4000, "throttle to the floor" - and at the apex the engine starts to die down: it lacks traction. In general, Lifan x60 has a weak handling character, unsuitable for active driving. But economical urban movement is his element. Hence the excellent fuel consumption indicator: 8.2 liters per 100 km (according to the passport). The 1.8 VVT engine, the only one in the Lifan range, is driven by electronic pedal gas and complies with Euro-4 standards.
From April Lifan x60 will be produced in Russia at the Derways plant in Cherkessk. The scope of the project has not yet been determined, even the Chinese themselves do not know in what configurations the car will enter the Russian market and at what prices. The future name of the novelty is also unknown. Although the “Lifanovtsy” in Russia give their cars more poetic names than digital indices. The price will be more affordable than the main competitor - Vortex tingo... The latter in a mono-drive version is now sold for 500 thousand rubles.
WITH four-wheel drive for x60 there is no clarity yet, but the "automatic" for the car is not provided in principle. And this is a big marketing blunder of the Lifanovites. It will be very difficult to sell the planned 25 thousand cars without the "automatic machine". It is this amount of x60, according to the Chinese, that the Derweiss conveyor is capable of providing. In China itself, by the end of this year, only 10 thousand cars will be assembled, half of which will be exported.
The whole photo session The idea of a perpetual motion machine has been around for many hundreds of years. But so far there is not a single working model - the law of conservation of energy cannot be fooled!
Four of us comfortably loaded into the cherry X60, we also filled the trunk to the eyeballs, and now we are slowly rolling towards Mount Akhun. The fuel gauge flashes and subtly hints that our crossover is about to stall. But we have already driven about thirty kilometers along the mountain serpentines in the vicinity of Sochi and have never even turned off the air conditioner!
Have they finally built a working model of a perpetual motion machine in China? The float is designed to be easily damaged during assembly. fuel tank... And it’s not clear who is to blame - the Chinese, who designed such a fragile part, or the workers of the Russian Derways plant, who showed negligence during assembly.
With an eye on the best
The X60 has a classic suspension design - McPherson at the front and an independent three-link at the rear. But they are not tuned in the best way, when cornering with good asphalt, the crossover rolls heavily, and its rear wheels while "walking" left and right in the transverse direction. Although on straight sections, the car is quite stable. Is that a little harshly overcomes the joints and pits. But if you are a supporter of the saying "the quieter you drive, the further you will be", you will not find anything particularly negative in the habits and manners of the X60.
Most importantly, in the bustle of the city, the X60 feels like a completely compact car, which, due to huge mirrors and a large glass area, makes it easy to rebuild and park even on the narrowest streets.
"To sail in full sail"
Imagine this situation: you need to get somewhere by sea, while the time allotted for the trip is not limited. What will you do? Raise the sail and, due to the energy of the wind, you will float calmly, where your eyes are looking. Isn't it a perpetual motion machine? The main thing is to avoid storms and periodically patch up the sail when it gets worn out. Of course, it is possible to sail by land only in the deserts.
But on the whole, the essence is very clear - for free and for as long as you like today you can move only due to "free" wind energy ... and also due to solar energy, of course. But night happens much more often than absolute calm at sea.
So the Chinese company Lifan has chosen a "perpetual motion machine" as its logo - three stylized sails, symbolizing quality, innovative technologies and customer care.
True, we did not find exceptional innovations in the Lifan X60, and the quality of the car, despite the Circassian assembly, remained at a "typically Chinese" level. Plastic door sills in the area of the left back door it came off right in the process of a test drive, debris of peeling sound insulation was found under the arches, and traces of poor-quality casting and subsequent processing on the suspension arms.
At the same time, the gaps on the body are different in places, the tailgate can only be closed by a person with strong muscles, and the mechanism of the rocker arm of the manual gearbox crunches during switching.
What the Chinese are really strong at is customer care. They promise to present by next year specifically for Russian market the X60 version with dark leather interior and all-wheel drive.
At the same time, with the maintenance and service, for which the Chinese are traditionally scolded, Lifan is also doing well. Spare parts and consumables worth several million have already been delivered to the central warehouse in Moscow, and soon regional dealers will have their stocks, by the way, as many as 79.
But the segment available cars off-road is constantly expanding. And even now there is strong competition in it: you can buy the Chinese analogues of Chery Tiggo / Vortex Tingo, you can support the domestic manufacturer and get a Chevy-Niva, or do it easier and buy the best-seller - Renault Duster. How does the Lifan X60 stand out against the background of this fraternity? Its main advantages are rich equipment and spacious salon... Representatives of the company promised to stabilize the quality of the Circassian assembly and Chinese components.
The shocking truth about the Lifan X60!
I will try to help with this in order to avoid fatalities when buying a new combat friend.
When buying a new car, you need to answer 5 key questions:
1. Would I be overpaying for the brand?
2. How reliable is the apparatus?
3. Will I be happy to drive the car?
4. Is it expensive to maintain?
5. What are her CONS?
Let's start in order.
1. The cost of my maximum speed, taking into account the gifts from the New Era and my additional wishes, was not much more than 680,000, which, in comparison with the "hyped" crossovers, amounted to a direct benefit in a round sum, which was enough for a week with my wife in a 5 * hotel in Tunisia )
2. Driving a car every day for the past 8 months, the only thing I did with him was to come to the office. Dealer. Unlike many high-budget crossovers, which are born with crickets, squeaks, and visits to the seller under warranty become more frequent than watching football on weekends, the X60 has grown even more in my eyes as a REAL RELIABLE car.
3. With my height of 190 cm, and the fact that I like to eat a lot, I freely and comfortably fit in the driver's seat. The beloved and dear mother-in-law, who does not have the same height, but loves to eat even more than me, FINALLY, without grunting, gets out from behind and the trip to the dacha goes only to the music (I cannot but note the quality of the mafon in the car), and not to her eternal grumble ))
4. Since I did not do anything other than scheduled maintenance, and apparently in the next 3 years I will definitely not come across an oil change, then I have no experience with repairs .. HOWEVER!
Have you wondered how much it costs those services on Lifan's analogues ?! I will answer - 2 TO = good winter tires!! The cost for X 60 is, as I analyzed, by 30%! Percentages BELOW! Also, do not forget that the fuel consumption for a car is 4 liters. lower than that of classmates.
5. I will be critical. Without nuances, any car cannot be released from the assembly line. The question is who has more minuses, who has less. what did not like - the handbrake is located close to the gearshift lever. The hand will not go through. The steering wheel is only adjustable for departure. At the moment the engine spins up to 5.5-6000 rpm, it makes noise. True, this only happens during sharp overtakes.
Total: with the exception of those three points that I described in the line above, crossover Lifan The X60 is value for money. For real reliable car... I get real pleasure from driving it. I SAVE on maintenance of the car, both on MOT and on gasoline.
My advice: indulge yourselves! YOU Worthy of this machine!
