This year’s Shanghai motor show will see many more forthcoming production cars and fewer pure fantasy concepts than in years past. As China’s indigenous manufacturers start to concentrate more on brand-building rather than simply chasing sheer sales volume, this makes sense.
The largest of the state-owned makers, First Automobile Works (FAW), is bringing two new models for its Bestern brand to AutoShanghai. The B90 will challenge the Toyota Camry and Chery Auto’s Riich G5, while the Bestern ‘SUV concept’ is intended to take on the Honda CR-V. Both are due on sale in the second half of 2011.
A production version of the Haval H6, the first vehicle to be built at Great Wall’s new Tianjin plant, will debut at AutoShanghai
Of the other major home brands, Chery will as per usual display a vast array of proposed new models, yet only some of these are likely to reach production. The Riich Z5 looks set to be the first local brand coupe/convertible, while the Chery Cowin 5 will be the production version of the B12. The latter is the replacement for the big-selling Eastar, a mid-sized sedan that also does well in export markets.
Great Wall Motor (GMW) also continues to shine both at home and abroad, and new models for the Haval (Hover in countries outside China) sub-brand will improve things further. A production version of the former Haval H6 concept, a rival for the Hyundai Santa Fe, will debut at AutoShanghai and will also be the first model to be made at GWM’s new Tianjin plant (from June). The Haval H4, a small crossover, will also premiere at the show, as will a larger pick-up, the Great Wall Wingle CL concept.
Geely continues its push upmarket and has been enjoying some success with the Emgrand brand in recent months. In Shanghai it will reveal the Emgrand EC6-RV, a sort of Mini-inspired curvy five-door hatchback, as well as the GS CC, a convertible concept based on the former GT and Tiger concepts. The Englon SC7-RV, meanwhile, is an update of the TXN taxi concept from the 2010 Beijing motor show.
The major foreign brands operating in China will of course also seek to grab the limelight at AutoShanghai. Jostling for the most headlines will be the world debuts of the Audi Q3, the BMW 6 Series Coupe and a concept version of the next M5, a plug-in BMW 5 Series, the Buick Envision concept and GM’s next Chevrolet Malibu.
Great Wall Motor (GMW) also continues to shine both at home and abroad, and new models for the Haval (Hover in countries outside China) sub-brand will improve things further.
Other new models from Western brands include the Citroen DS5, a crossover that will also be made in China from late 2011; the Volkswagen Beetle; the sedan version of the Kia Rio, which will be badged ‘K2’ in China (local production starts in July); and a concept version of the next Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Volvo will also pull the covers off its own concept, the Universe, which shows what an ‘S100’ sedan – a rival for the Audi A8 – would look like.
Finally, some of the smaller players will also have several world premiere models. Zotye, a partner of Fiat SpA, will reveal a city car concept, while Lifan, which continues to have particular success in Russia as well as at home, will show two new models, the X60, an SUV and the 720, a big sedan.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Automotive World Ltd.
Glenn Brooks is a regular contributor to AutomotiveWorld.com. A former editor and news editor for various specialist automotive titles and newswires, he now specialises in future vehicle programme research as well as OEM, production and product analysis. editorial@automotiveworld.com
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