Geely Says Its New Bin Yue Crossover Has A Star Wars Inspired Interior

Following a leak earlier this year, Geely has officially launched the Bin Yue in China.

Set to become the company’s first compact crossover to ride on the new BMA architecture, the Bin Yue is a stylish looking model which has a prominent “cosmos” grille that is flanked by angular headlights. Further below, we can see sporty air intakes and silver accents.

The sides of the crossover feature plastic body cladding, strong character lines and a relatively compact greenhouse. The model also has a ‘floating’ roof which tapers down to meet a large tailgate-mounted spoiler.

Overall, the Bin Yue measures 170.4 inches (4330mm) long, 74 inches (1800mm) wide and 63.3 inches (1609mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 102.3 inches (2600mm). This means the crossover is a tad smaller than the BMW X1, but slightly wider.

The stylish design continues in the cabin and Geely says the cockpit has been designed to resemble that of a jet. The company went on to say “many parts have also been inspired by sci-fi elements such as supersonic fighters and Star Wars.”

We’re not buying that, but the cabin looks pretty good as it features a stylish design and premium materials. Highlights include a digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with an 8:3 aspect ratio.

Drivers will also find a leather-wrapped steering wheel, matte metal trim and chrome accents. Other niceties include voice recognition technology, 4G/Wi-Fi connectivity and over-the-air updates.

Under the hood, two different engines will be available. The first was jointly developed with Volvo and it’s a turbocharged 1.5-liter that produces 174 hp (130 kW / 176 PS) and 188 lb-ft (255 Nm) of torque. It is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which enables the crossover to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 7.9 seconds. In terms of fuel efficiency, drivers can expect to average 38.5 mpg US (46.3 mpg UK / 6.1L/100km).

Customers will also be able to order a turbocharged 1.0-liter engine producing 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS) and 151 lb-ft (205 Nm) of torque. It is paired to a six-speed manual transmission which enables the Bin Yue to return 44.3 mpg US (53.3 mpg UK / 5.3L/100km).

On the safety front, the Bin Yue features a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system which uses millimeter wave radar and high-definition cameras. Thanks to this technology, the crossover can follow vehicles at speeds up to 93 mph (150 km/h) and automatically change lanes. Other highlights include an automatic parking system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian recognition and a blind spot warning system.