BMW is set become the next brand to offer an all-electric SUV rivaling the Jaguar i-Pace and Audi's pending e-tron.
BMW Concept iX3
Rather than building a bespoke all-electric car, BMW will use today’s X3 to house pure electric power when sales start before the end of the decade. The iX3 comes with 270hp of CO2-less power driving all four wheels and can travel for 400km under the new WLTP driving cycle.
Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury
The exotic sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz is exploring sales feasibility of a gargantuan SUV to take on the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce’s pending Cullinan. But rather than boasting a traditional SUV profile, the Maybach show car has a three-box silhouette in the form of a saloon.
MG X-Motion
The Chinese-owned British brand is set to add a third SUV to its model lineup after the GS and ZS. The production-ready model is rumoured to come with a 2.0-litre petrol-turbo engine producing around 220hp. A three-row seating matrix is also likely in the new range-topping SUV.
Lexus ES
Toyota’s luxury nameplate has taken the wraps off the seventh-generation ES executive saloon. Two versions have been announced initially including the ES350 with 3.5-litre V6 and ES300h with 2.5-litre hybrid. Despite the familiar credentials, the ES300h comes with a new engine, electric motors and smaller nickel metal-hydride battery.
BMW M2 Competition
BMW has turned up the heat on the M2 by slotting the twin-turbo inline-six engine from the M3/M4. Detuned to 410hp, the M2 Competition is 40hp more powerful than the stock model and is faster from 0-100kph by 0.1sec at 4.2sec. BMW says the chassis has been beefed up, as well as the engine sound.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan
After showing a concept car last year, Mercedes-Benz has followed up this year’s Chinese car show with the production-ready model of the four-door A-Class. The new entry-level saloon is being shown in long wheelbase form, although Mercedes freely admits that other global markets will have a 60mm shorter length.
Volvo XC40 T5
The much-awaited semi-electric version of Volvo’s smallest SUV takes a bow in Beijing featuring 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid with plug-in facility. Volvo has yet to divulge the technical details, although sources are pointing to a circa-250hp combined power rating and 50km-plus all-electric range.
ONLY FOR CHINA: Meet some new cars that still bear a global brand
Ford Escort
After launching the all-new Focus earlier this month, Ford has debut the Escort mid-size saloon. Despite the emergence of EVs, mainstream models with conventional power is still big business in the world’s largest car market.
Honda Everus
Like several other global carmakers, Honda will join hands with a Chinese firm in developing an all-electric car. The Everus is based on the HR-V compact SUV with a drivetrain expected to be shared with the pending global Urban EV.
Nissan Sylphy Zero Emission
As Nissan wants to strengthen its leadership in sales of EVs, it has extended the electric know-how from the Leaf hatchback to its Sylphy C-segment saloon. Based on China’s driving cycle, the Sylphy Zero Emission can drive for 338km.
Skoda Kamiq
Volkswagen’s Czech car arm is on the roll with SUVs in China. The Kamiq joins the Karoq and Kodiaq, two other models that are available globally, in hunting down Chinese car buyers needing a high-riding crossover for the urban crawl.
Volkswagen Lavida
Like Ford, Volkswagen finds it a lucrative business to continue offering a traditional saloon with conventional power. The German car giant has a China-only electric crossover called E20X but is badged SOL.
