EXCLUSIVE: Here's Your First Look At The Haima 8S SUV Ahead Of Auto Expo Debut

• The Haima 8S is a mid-size SUV currently sold in the Chinese market.
• Its rivals in India include the MG Hector, Tata Harrier, and Mahindra XUV500.
• Feature list includes a touchscreen infotainment system, climate control, and a sunroof.

FAW Haima, a Chinese car manufacturer, is all set to make its India debut at Auto Expo 2020. The manufacturer will be the third Chinese carmaker to step into India after SAIC-owned MG Motor and Great Wall Motors. The Chinese manufacturer has tied up with Delhi-based Bird Group for its Indian operations. Just ahead of Haima’s India debut, we have spotted the 8S, its mid-size SUV, in the country.  

The Haima brand finds its origins in a partnership between the Hainan province governnment (China) and Mazda. Hence the name Hai-ma. You can also see a tinge of Mazda design elements in the 8S. It is a mid-size SUV that rivals the MG Hector, 2020 Tata Harrier, and the Mahindra XUV500. Here’s a detailed size comparison between the 8S and its rivals:

The Haima 8S has an interesting design with plenty of creases and sharp lines. The grille and the split headlamp layout looks similar to the MG Hector. Then there’s a sharp crease that starts from the bonnet and flows cleanly through the front door. Like the Hector, the 8S gets a kink in its shoulder line right after the C-pillar. It sits on dual-tone alloy wheels which fill up the wheel arches quite nicely. At the rear, the 8S comes with sleek, connected LED taillamps and a sporty rear bumper. 

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On the inside, the Haima 8S' gets a premium looking floating infotainment system and digital instrument display. Other highlights include a chunky three-spoke steering wheel and hexagonal AC vents. In terms of features, the China-spec model comes with features like a touchscreen infotainment system, climate control,  a voice command system, powered tailgate, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection system, a 360-degree camera and more.

The China-spec Haima 8S is offered with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine that develops 195PS of power and 283Nm of torque. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic. If launched in India, the 8S could be offered with a BS6 diesel engine too.

In China, the Haima 8S is priced from RMB 79,900 to RMB 1,25,900 (around Rs 8.14 lakh to Rs 12.82 lakh). When launched in India, we expect the Haima 8S to have a competitive price tag to tackle its competitors - the MG Hector, 2020 Tata Harrier and the Mahindra XUV500.