BAIC M20 is one of Ride n’ Seek host’s favorite rides

THE M20 is a one-of-a-kind MPV that combines all the features of an excellent family ride.

Photos by Charles E. Buban

Those with History on their cable or satellite television must be familiar with motorcycle rider Jaime Dempsey, host of the TV series Ride n’ Seek.

While Ride n’ Seek is a motorcycle travel documentary that features a country’s off-the-beaten-track destinations, Dempsey can be often seen trying other forms of wheeled vehicles including wooden race carts, all-terrain vehicles, and bicycles.

On the show’s fourth season, Dempsey announced she will be including among her rides the M20, exclusively imported for the Philippines by Bayan Auto Industries Corp. (BAIC Philippines), as she explores the Philippines once more. (Ride n’ Seek Season 4: Quest of the Priestess’ Cloak premieres on Aug. 28).

The M20 is BAIC’s latest multipurpose vehicle offering, and Dempsey said: “This is a fun vehicle. It’s compact yet spacious enough to accommodate a family.”

Dempsey added she will be featuring the M20 during the three-day History Convention event happening at the World Trade Center, Pasay City from Aug. 25 to 28.

On her next visit, she will again highlight the MPV in the upcoming 6th Philippine International Motor Show, happening from Sept. 14 to 18, also at the World Trade Center.

Adventurous lifestyle

According to George Chua, president and CEO of BAIC Philippines, the M20 matches Dempsey’s adventurous lifestyle.

“The M20’s rear-wheel-driven, body-on-frame construction is designed to survive the many bad roads in the markets where this vehicle is sold,” Chua said.

To give it a much comfortable ride, the M20 features a 2.79-meter wheelbase, which is much longer than the Toyota Avanza (2.655 m) or Innova (2.75 m).

The M20 uses MacPherson independent suspension in front and well as five-link spiral spring (Ultra Luxury variant) or leaf spring (Comfort variant) at the rear.

To give it power to carry seven (Ultra Luxury variant) to eight (Comfort variant) passengers, the M20 is equipped with a Euro IV-compliant 1.5-liter CVVT engine that delivers 113 hp and 150 Nm or torque.

“Unlike most MPVs, it offers three rows good for eight passengers (Comfort variant). In the Ultra Luxury variant, the second-row bucket seats (captain’s chairs) are offered. Best of all the M20 has a base price of P548,000, which makes it very attractive to many families or individuals that need to haul gears like mountain bikes,” said Chua.

CHUA and Dempsey during the presentation

BAIC Philippines is a subsidiary of Universal Motors Corp., the country’s largest and oldest 100 percent Filipino-owned automotive assembler and distributor.

BAIC Philippines is also the local arm of BAIC Group, the fourth largest automotive manufacturing group in China.

In 2014, the Beijing-based company (with styling center located in Turin, Italy) reached a sales volume of 2.4 million units, enabling the company to attain $50.4 billion (P235 billion) revenue.