Auto Shanghai: Next generation shines

STAUNCH rivalry between the European and Chinese automotive brands was apparent at China’s largest automobile show, the biennial Auto Shanghai, with a futuristic electric theme throughout the event.

 

Unsurprisingly, the countless Chinese brands stole the limelight in terms of sheer volume and presence, but European and Japanese marques also got plenty of exposure.

 

Here are our favourite models from across the nine-day mega show in no particular order.

 

Want some people mover with that grille?

 

The second-generation Lexus LM made its global debut at the show – half minivan, half grille. The Mercedes-Benz V-Class rival is the flagship of Lexus’ L-series range, designed for “connoisseurs of true luxury”, according to the Japanese manufacturer.

 

Lexus says it has reimagined “the concept of chauffeur-driven personal mobility”, which from the outside looks like an appropriate way to describe the LM.

 

Luxury car styling on a van, alongside high levels of comfort, quietness and rear-seat amenity make the LM a serious competitor in the MPV segment.

 

Lexus offers the LM in four, six or seven-seat configurations, although the four-seat ‘lounge’ layout flagship is the most luxurious of all.

 

Passengers have access to a 48-inch widescreen display in the top-spec model, behind a plate of smoked glass for privacy, which can be used for work or play.

 

The limousine treatment continues with retractable ottoman seating for the top model and thermal matrix sensor temperature control, offering cooling or heating across four occupant body areas: face, chest, thigh and lower leg.

 

Two powertrain options are available for the new LM, with three-row versions equipped with a 2.5-litre hybrid and the flagship four-seat grade with a more powerful 2.4-litre turbocharged hybrid system.

 

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but Lexus Australia chief executive, John Pappas, confirmed the LM will make its way Down Under.

 

Road trip, anyone?

 

Benchmark Beemer

 

BMW showed off its most powerful EV yet, the ultra-luxurious i7 M70, for crowds in Shanghai – in all its two-tone glory.

 

The bronze and black two-tone paint job gives the fancy 7 Series a Jekyll and Hyde feel, which makes sense given it offers immense luxury and menacing performance in equal quantities. 

 

The range-topping 7 Series is the most powerful electric BMW ever, delivering what the brand calls a “unique performance experience in the luxury segment”, with dual motors generating a combined 485kW/1100Nm.

 

BMW claims a 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds but, despite its gargantuan grunt and compelling performance, it also offers an impressive driving range of between 488 and 560km.

 

With M-specific chassis technology like adaptive two-axle air suspension with electronically controlled dampers, and a substantial increase in body rigidity, BMW says the i7 has an “appetite for corners”.

 

Automatic opening and closing doors offer a contact-free experience, and owners can option the opulent interior in no less than nine colour schemes.

 

The electric bahnstormer is expected Down Under later this year, but all that luxury and performance doesn’t come cheap with a price tag of nearly $344,900 +ORCs.

 

Big bang for Yangwang

 

BYD luxury spin-off, Yangwang, caused a big bang (of sorts) as it wowed crowds with its mental quad-motor U9 electric hypercar.

 

The U9 will hit triple digits in a claimed two seconds, helped along by a not-so-lazy 820kW/1680Nm.

 

The feature that had us double-taking is a unique air suspension trick, as bizarre as it is genius, which lifts one corner in the case of a tyre failure to prevent brake rotor/hub damage.

 

While we still don’t know much about the U9, overseas reports suggest it rides on BYD’s Yisigang EV platform and may even offer a driving range up to 700km.

 

Local media have reported a price of around ¥1 million, which converts to a very enticing $A215,000 – around $262 per kW – grossly undercutting similarly spec’d hypercars.

 

Sadly, there has been no mention of whether mother company BYD will bring the U9 to Australia. Regardless, the spate of budget-friendly electric hypercars coming out of China is refreshing news for those that don’t have a cool million laying around.

 

Baby got ‘bach

 

Mercedes-Maybach unveiled its EQS ultra-luxury SUV, the first all-electric model from the sub-brand, focused on rear-seat comfort and use of “natural materials”.

 

Essentially a reworked Mercedes EQS, with lashings of luxury added, Mercedes-Maybach says it aims to redefine automotive excellence in the age of electro mobility.

 

The Maybach credo, “what is good must also be beautiful”, clearly rings true on the EQS – inside and out.

 

The cabin has been redesigned to incorporate a “cocooning effect” built around a sophisticated array of ultra-premium materials, comfort and technology.

 

Rear-seat passengers score the same array of technology and luxury as front-seat occupants, with two 11.6-inch displays in the seat backs, an MBUX rear tablet, and cameras even recognise hand movement requests for things like turning on the reading lights.

 

The natural material focus includes leather and wood, for an earthy cabin feel that screams ‘mahogany and leather-bound books’, and the leather is tanned using coffee bean shells.

 

The powertrain features two electric motors, producing 484kW/950Nm, with a range of up to 600km.

 

“The very first all-electric vehicle from Mercedes-Maybach complements the best technologies from Mercedes‑Benz with the extra comfort and individual details that are only available from Mercedes‑Maybach,” said Mercedes-Benz Group AG chairman of the board of management, Ola Källenius.

 

“At Mercedes-Maybach we strive to add the shine of the extraordinary to the beautiful.”

 

Ster of the show

 

MG unveiled its Cyberster drop-top electric roadster, with scissor doors and all-electric power, beating Tesla to the punch while also paying homage to the convertibles that put the marque on the map.

 

The Cyberster appears to offer somewhat of an electric Mazda MX-5 experience, but with those Lamborghini-esque doors and plenty of trick technology, it is squarely aimed at more premium roadsters like the Porsche Boxster.

 

In likening it to the MX-5 and Boxster, it is indeed offered in rear-wheel drive configuration for maximum fun. However, a more powerful all-wheel drive option will also be released – with nearly twice the grunt.

 

The single-motor rear-wheel drive model will pack 231kW, while the dual-motor all-paw option will get a full 400kW.

 

While 0-100km/h times haven’t been released, we can assume the rear driver should get the job done in less than five seconds and the all-wheel drive model may even notch into three-second territory. 

 

Range hasn’t been disclosed, nor have battery details, so it is anyone’s guess there. Speculation is pointless here because the underlying platform is unknown, too.

 

Pricing is also yet to be disclosed, but it has been confirmed for Australia which is good news given MG’s propensity for bargain pricing.

 

Window-less 'star

 

Polestar debuted its latest numerically named model, in the 4, a midsize coupe-styled crossover that will be the fastest production car the brand has released to date…but, it doesn’t have a rear window.

 

That’s right, the Polestar 4 uses a rear camera mirror system, in place of glass, to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics. Although, it feels like more of a “look at what we did” statement.

 

Polestar chief executive, Thomas Ingenlath, described the 4 as a “four-door elevated GT”, taking the fight to the Tesla Model Y, Audi Q4 E-tron and BMW iX3.

 

The performance focus is evident, with 400kW on tap and a 0-100km/h time of just 3.8 seconds, thanks to permanent magnet, synchronous design motors. Both single- and dual-motor variants will be available, and the long-range single-motor variant will offer a range of up to 600km.

 

Sustainable materials have been used throughout, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a circular economy – staple principles of the Polestar ethos.

 

“With Polestar 4 we have taken a fundamental new approach to SUV coupé design,” said Mr Ingenlath.

 

“Rather than simply modifying an existing SUV, giving it a faster roofline and as a result, compromising elements like rear headroom and comfort, we have designed Polestar 4 from the ground up as a new breed of SUV coupé that celebrates rear occupant comfort and experience.”

 

The Polestar 4 has been green lighted for Australia, although local pricing hasn’t been confirmed.

 

More brawn for bahnstormer

 

Porsche’s popular Cayenne large SUV has been overhauled in what the Stuttgart-based marque is saying is “one of the most extensive product upgrades in the history of Porsche”.

 

It is a bold claim, but the new Cayenne debuted its revamped chassis system, and more technology features at Shanghai gaining global attention. Best of all, it gets more power across the board for 2024.

 

The Cayenne S moves to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 348kW/600Nm, the E-hybrid jumps to 346kW and the range-topping Turbo GT increases outputs by 14kW to 485kW – with a 3.3-second 0-100km/h time to boot.

 

Steel spring suspension, with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and new shocks keep the Cayenne planted and improve dynamic performance.

 

Of course, it also gets refinement and technology with a digitised cockpit built around the Porsche Driver Experience. A 12.6-inch curved instrument cluster handles driver data and a 12.3-inch central display takes car of infotainment duties.

 

The updated Cayenne is destined for Australia, due here in Q3 this year and it’s priced between $140,200 and $366,200 before ORCs.

 

New ID

 

Volkswagen revealed its midsize EV sedan, the ID.7, at the Shanghai show, sitting atop its ID range of electric passenger cars. 

 

Slotting into the range as an electric Passat equivalent, the ID.7 is an aerodynamic, efficient, long-range do-it-all car.

 

A range of 700km and reported price of around €60,000, which is around $A98,300, makes the ID.7 a convincing family hauler.

 

The ID.7 is the first MEB model with a new “drive generation”, featuring a 210kW motor aimed at squarely at offering efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

 

A massive 15-inch touchscreen, also new to MEB models, features inside and the entire cockpit is new for VW.

 

This is one of ten new models the brand will release by 2026, and it certainly feels less like an experimental electric endeavor and more like a genuine evolution of the Passat.

 

Australian launch plans have not been confirmed, but there is no denying it would likely be a hit Down Under – with our affinity for long distance travel and somewhat limited infrastructure.

 

That’s a wrap!

 

There were countless other reveals and eye catchers at the show, many of which won’t see the light of day Down Under for the foreseeable future, from the likes of Arcfox, FAW, Changan and countless others.

 

As brands like Zeekr and Xpeng prepare to launch in European markets, they showed off their model options at the show, but we are also unlikely to see them in Australia.

 

Among the smaller reveals was Haval’s new logo design, which was premiered at the show. However, the move simply utilises a different font and text style and we do not yet know when we will be seeing it on production models.

 

As was the case at the recent New York International Auto Show, and despite having a Gigafactory in Shanghai, Tesla was again absent. Whether a show of arrogance, confidence, or both, the electric pioneer watches on from the sideline as other traditional and emerging players show a renewed interest in motor shows.

 

If the Auto Shanghai 2023 was anything to go by, automotive shows are back in a big way!