Beijing is China’s premier international motor show – which means cars debuting on a scale not seen anywhere else in the world.
The Auto China exhibition – which opened on Friday – spans two venues and 380,000 square feet which equates to 50 football pitches: there’s a reason it’s the world’s largest auto show.
More than 1,400 vehicles from hundreds of foreign and domestic companies will make their presence known over the course of the show.
Chinese brands fight to deliver the future of autonomous driving, battery tech and even robotics, while foreign car makers debut their collaborations with local companies and future product lines.
Some of the features Chinese car makers are revealing are light years ahead.
One premium SUV, for instance, has a side collision prevention system that actively lifts up to protect passengers if another vehicle ploughs into it.
So, what has come out of China’s auto extravaganza so far? Here are just a few of the unveilings that have caught our eye so far – and some of the countries they represent.
Zeekr 8X – the safest SUV on the planet?
The Zeekr 8X has a number of ground-breaking features. Not least its ability to tilt to one side to protect passengers in a side-on collision and to be waved out of tight parking spaces
The auto show isn’t just about the models themselves, it’s also about the ground-breaking technology coming down the road.
And the Zeekr 8X is an example of Chinese advancement leading the way and outpacing European rivals.
The Zeekr 8X is a large, long-range plug-in hybrid SUV challenging the upmarket German brands for a fraction of the price. Think of it as a Volvo XC90 packed with gadgets.
The circa £40k SUV threaten the likes of Porsche and BMW in the large SUV segment with a far lower start price but also a raft of gadgets that none of the European rivals offer.
This technology includes a parking feature which sees the 8X drive itself out of a tight space if the owner just waves at it.
And it also boasts a state-of-the-art safety feature. The SUV tilts upwards up to 80mm before a side collision to protect passengers. People are saying the 8X could be the safest SUV on the road thanks to features like this.
Denza Z – electric GT that hits 62mph in under 2secs
The Denza Z is an electric GT coupe with more than 1,000bhp and a 0-62mph time of less than two seconds
Denza is the new, luxury sub-brand of China’s EV powerhouse BYD.
It’s only just brought its headline-stealing flagship model to the UK, the Denza Z9GT shooting brake, but already it has debuted its new ‘flagship’ model at the auto show.
The Denza Z concept was previously revealed, but now the production model has been shown, which comes with a more than 1000bhp and a 0-62mph time of less than two seconds.
This is supercar performance: we’ve already expressed our concern at how safe the Z9GT’s 1,140bhp and 0-62 of 2.7 seconds is for your typical driver – and this again raises those questions in our minds.
The four-seater electric supercar GT has smooth lines, a cab-forward design and a very bright interior with turquoise and yellow upholstery and some physical buttons.
The Z will debut in Europe first before going back to China.
While prices haven’t been announced, it will cost more than the Z9GT, so expect north of £100,000 and even as much as £200,000.
Smart #2 – return of the iconic Smart ForTwo
Smart’s new #2 concept electric city car will bring some Nineties nostalgia back. It will be a successor to the Fortwo model from 1998
Technically Smart is joint owned by Geely (Chinese) and Mercedes-Benz AG (German) but we’re putting it in the China category for these purposes.
Smart’s new #2 concept is able to be viewed by the world, and the electric city car is determined to bring some noughties nostalgia back.
It will be a successor to the Fortwo model that debuted in Britain in 2000, and it will indeed be a tiny city car.
Smart is doubling down on the Fortwo heritage as well ‘preserving the DNA’ but offering a ‘complete reinvention’ at the same time.
Expect the electric-only car to have wheels pushed out to maximise space, a 186-mile range, 10 to 80 per cent charging in 20 minutes and bi-directional charging, as well as a tiny turning circle of 6.95 metres.
A production version will land at the Paris motor show in September, and potentially an early 2027 sale date could arise.
Peugeot – a pair of super-stylish concepts
Peugeot has brought out two concept cars in Beijing: the Concept 6 and Concept 8. The 6 may bring electric estate cars to life while the 8 will become Peugeot’s largest SUV
Peugeot has brought out two concept cars in Beijing: the Concept 6 and Concept 8.
The French manufacturer has confirmed that these cars will ‘shape a new generation’ of Peugeot EVs, even if they are only concepts at the moment.
The Concept 6 is a large saloon meets shooting brake that leads the way for a new grand tourer kind of estate.
It is reported that the Concept 6 could be a successor to the 508, with Peugeot keen to offer more than its current segment line-up.
The 508 launched in 2010 in fastback and estate versions, but production stopped in 2015 due to slow sales.
As well as the potential that Peugeot could make an electric estate car, it has also previewed its largest SUV to date: The Concept 8.
‘The next chapter of Peugeot’s SUV ambition’ will launch above the current flagship 5008 SUV and will offer a look into the future of efficiency, aerodynamic performance and French flair.
As Peugeot wants to grow its China market, these cars are expected to go on sale in China first as part of the French brand’s partnership with Dongfeng – they could share platforms and be built there.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe – super-fast SUV with style
The Porsche Cayenne Electric Coupe is now here and can be purchased for over £82,000
We’ve recently reviewed the new Porsche Cayenne SUV, and now its sexier Coupe cousin is here.
The Cayenne Electric Coupe is both sportier and more efficient than the Cayenne, with a lower roofline and less drag.
This is why, despite using the same 108kW battery, the Coupe has a longer range than the Cayenne – 415 miles for the Cayenne S Coupe. Thanks to 390kW charging you can add 200 miles in 10 minutes.
The Turbo model has slightly less range but the most impressive performance figures; 1,156h and a 0-62mph of 2.5 seconds. Again, this kind of performance we’ve questioned – it’s a luxury SUV for daily driving after all.
Inside you get all the same Porsche luxuriousness as you do in the Cayenne standard: a large OLED curved screen, passenger display, supple leather, ambient lighting, wide head-up display, but you get a smaller boot – only 454 litres compared to 506 in the standard Cayenne Electric.
It will cost from £86,200.