Two of the greatest future rivals, the Mercedes GLK and the Audi Q5 will make their world debut this week-end at the Beijing Auto Show.
Audi will unveil its Q5 SUV in Beijing because it sees China as a key growth market. Last year, China became Audi’s second-biggest market after Germany as sales grew 24.8 percent to 101,996 units.
Like Audi, Mercedes wants to take advantage of the growing popularity of SUVs in China. After showing concepts for its new GLK class at the Geneva and Detroit auto shows this year, Mercedes will unveil the production version in Beijing.
Audi parent Volkswagen group will debut two models developed for the local market by its joint ventures in China. One will be a family-sized sedan code-named the Model X, based on the Jetta/Bora. The other will be a more upscale sedan called the Lavida that eventually will replace the Santana. Both cars are based on the fourth-generation Golf platform and will go into production in the summer.
Geely will unveil at the Beijing Auto Show (April 20 to 28) the NL SUV Concept, a compact-sized Crossover. Next to it the Chinese maker will also bring 22 new models.
According to the company the year 2008 holds great significance for Geely’s Internationalization, strategic transform and overall elevation of the competitiveness of Geely Brand.
We have to remind you that Geely will also unveil the GT Concept, a grand-tourer Geely CEO Li Shufu classed as a ’small Rolls-Royce’.
Hyundai will unveil at the Beijing Auto Show (April 20 to 28) the facelift version of the Elantra Sedan.
The Chinese Elantra features a completely restyled front end inspired from the i30 / Elantra Touring models while changes in the rear-end include the new bumper, taillights and the slightly redesigned trunk.
No news about a North American debut at the moment, but will follow soon for sure!
The Q5 will make its official debut on 19 April at the Beijing Auto Show, Until then OmniAuto released a few official images with the upcoming SUV. Or are they just another photoshop?
The Q5 will be spacious enough for five people and Audi has expressed no intentions on a seven-seater version. The Q5 will probably be the first model to be equipped with the in-house seven speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG Audi S-Tronic). Four cylinder engines, V6s, and TDI engines borrowed from the A4 will power this mini-SUV.
The Q5 is based on the company’s Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) found on the A4 and A5. MLP allows Audi to place the longitudinally-mounted engine and transmission further back behind the front axle and helps elongate the wheelbase without modifying the car’s exterior dimensions.
Ford S-MAX owners appreciate the safety and convenience of three rows of seating for seven passengers. However, for some potential Ford S-MAX customers, seven seats is two too many.
Today, Ford releases details of the five-seat S-MAX Trend that joins the S-MAX model range for 2008. Ford will debut the new five-seat S-MAX Trend at Auto China 2008 in Beijing alongside the seven-seat S-MAX Flagship.
“The S-MAX is spacious, safe and convenient but not everyone needs seven seats. Introducing a five-seat variant to the S-MAX range makes perfect sense and illustrates Ford’s ability to provide Chinese customers with cars and features they want," said Nigel Harris, General Manager of Changan Ford Sales Company.
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