AI and intelligent softwares are one of the biggest talking points at this year’s auto show in Shanghai
by DANNY LEE, LINDA LEW & NICHOLAS TAKAHASHI
ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) and other forms of intelligent software were one of the biggest talking points at this year’s auto show in Shanghai, but there were still plenty of shiny new vehicles on display.
China’s No 1 selling brand BYD Co Ltd predictably had one of the largest footprints, but the European automakers were out in force too — determined not to cede any more share to local incumbents.
Now that the throngs of influencers have cleared, here’s a look at some of the standouts from the vast event.
Leapmotor’s B01
The second sedan from Stellantis’s Chinese partner, the all-electric B01 is based on the new LEAP3.5 platform and is slated for launch in mid-2025. Priced at a budget 100,000 yuan (RM61,000) to 150,000 yuan, the B01 comes with an optional roof-mounted Lidar system for smart-driving capabilities and sunroof.
Lotus’s Theory 1 Concept Car
Lotus’s new hypercar concept, which first broke cover late last year, was on display. The Theory 1, with its pop of golden orange and sharp-edged front end, is geared toward a future powered by automation and autonomous driving features.
Hongqi’s Off-Road Concept Car
This is the first off-road concept SUV by Hongqi and it joins a growing crowd of Chinese automakers making a tilt for the types of vehicles kitted out to explore China’s great expanse of land beyond its urban streets. It’s also a popular choice for weekend camping trips.
Mercedes’ Vision V
In keeping with the free-form shape of the Mercedes EQS, the automaker has transplanted a similar design direction into its concept Vision V vans, which aim to be multi-purpose as well as luxurious. Think of it more like a private lounge on wheels than a vehicle. The van has the distinctive Merc grille, but adds a light bar running around the front in a nod to its electric vision.
BMW’s Skytop
Just 50 of the open-topped two-seaters were made and all have already been snapped up for around €500,000 (RM2.48 million) each. All parts, including the headlights, crystals and seats, were handcrafted, while under the hood, the roadster packs a 4.4L V8 engine that accelerates from 0-100km/h in just over 3.3 seconds.
Zeekr’s 9X
Geely’s premium electric car brand Zeekr unveiled its first plug-in hybrid flagship SUV, the 9X. The large SUV, with its distinctive front grill, will hit the market in the third quarter, with pricing that could reach 1 million yuan. It comes with a roof-mounted Lidar system for advanced driver-assistance, a battery that offers around 380kms of range, a 2L hybrid engine and is capable of hitting 100km/h in just 3 seconds.
Buick’s Electra-GS Concept Car
GM’s Buick is reviving the classic GS name for the China market as it ushers in a new set of vehicles — electric ones. Introducing the striking sporty Electra-GS sedan, a concept for now, but it does give a glimpse of what’s coming.
Toyota’s bZ7
The Japanese giant unveiled the bZ7, a large electric sedan developed specifically for the Chinese market, where foreign automakers have steadily been losing market share to local rivals. Expected to hit the market later this year, it’ll utilise the same Level 2 assisted-driving system featured in other bZ models (the clunky nomenclature stands for “Beyond Zero”) and take on Tesla’s Model S and BYD’s popular Han sedan.
BYD’s Dynasty-D
BYD is showing what a revamp of a key family of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids might look like. The Dynasty-D SUV, with a 5.3m (17.4ft)-long body, is more than just a new concept. The styling is a deliberate nod to BYD’s premium push, with butterfly doors and a near gapless, seamless look. The interiors draw inspiration from imperial Chinese architecture, with the dashboard mimicking the ridgelines of Beijing’s Forbidden City’s roofs. The Dynasty-D is set to cost more than 400,000 yuan.
Lexus’ ES
Toyota’s luxury division has updated the ES sedan — one of its core models — with a new angular look and two variants: Hybrid and fully electric. Inside, there are few buttons, but a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch infotainment touch screen (and if that’s not enough, some models have a second screen on the passenger side). While Toyota didn’t specify where or when it will be sold, or at what price, the carmaker’s push to build a wholly owned Lexus factory in Shanghai provides a hint of its target audience.
Nissan’s Frontier Pro
The Frontier Pro is Nissan’s first plug-in hybrid pickup and will initially target the Chinese market – competing with BYD’s Shark 6 — then be exported abroad. It’s all part of the struggling Japanese automaker’s bullish plan to invest an additional US$1.4 billion (RM6.15 billion) in China and develop 10 new cars there by mid-2027, as it seeks to make up lost ground and refresh its ageing lineup.
BYD’s Tang L
Equipped with BYD’s new ultra-fast charging platform, the Tang L can power up to 400kms (248 miles) of range in just five minutes. The seven-seat all-wheel drive SUV comes in three variants, with the top-of-the-range all-wheel drive model (289,800 yuan or US$39,700) capable of going from 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds, around the same as a Porsche 911.
The Yangwang U8L
The monster-sized luxury six-seat off-roader is BYD’s answer to the Land Rover Range Rover and Cadillac Escalade. Measuring 5.4m, it’s an upsized version of Yangwang’s first model, the U8, and can turn through 360 degrees on its wheels and wade through deep water. No price was given, but expect it to come in significantly more than the U8’s 1.1 million yuan price tag. — Bloomberg
- This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
The post The wild and wonderful new cars on show in China right now appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.
