What is the origin of the Geely Borui V6 engine?
2 Answers
Geely's V6 engine prototype is based on the Toyota V6 engine. Vehicles equipped with V6 engines are rare among domestic brands, with the most representative models being the following three: 1. Geely Borui equipped with a 3.5L-V6. 2. Hongqi H7 equipped with a 3.0L-V6. 3. Hongqi HS7 equipped with a 3.0S-V6. Below are additional reasons why leading domestic brands no longer produce V6 engines: 1. Product positioning and manufacturing costs: Taking the Borui as an example, its 3.5L-V6 engine uses multi-point fuel injection, a low-efficiency technology that was mainstream in 2015 but became obsolete by 2020. Upgrading this engine to high-efficiency direct injection would require redesigning almost everything, making the R&D and manufacturing costs equivalent to starting from scratch. 2. Fuel economy and emission reduction with dual-credit policy: Large-displacement engines inevitably have high fuel consumption. The air-fuel ratio of internal combustion engines is fixed, meaning higher intake leads to higher fuel injection, making it impossible to achieve low fuel consumption standards. 3. High-performance automotive technology no longer relies on large-displacement engines: China now mass-produces medium-displacement four-cylinder engines paired with electric motors boasting over 90% energy conversion efficiency, achieving performance comparable to 7.0-8.0 V12 engines but with combined energy consumption as low as a 1.8T gasoline car. With such technology enabling ultra-low energy consumption and ultra-high performance, large-displacement engines are destined to become obsolete.
That Geely Borui's V6 engine has quite an origin story. From what I know, it's one of Geely's self-developed achievements. In earlier years after acquiring Volvo, Geely absorbed considerable engine technology, but the Borui's V6 engine was primarily developed by the Chinese team at the Hangzhou R&D center, focusing on high power and low fuel consumption. The engine model is roughly called JL3.5V6, with a 3.5-liter displacement and impressive output power, delivering strong acceleration that's perfect for high-speed cruising. I've driven a friend's car, and the initial thrust is unforgettable. That said, the engine's origins are clear, labeled as 'Made in China' on the production line, and maintenance is straightforward—unlike some imported engines that cost a fortune to repair. Routine maintenance like changing the oil filter is all it takes, and it's quite reliable, rarely encountering issues even after 100,000 kilometers. It's truly a pride of domestic engines.
