Chinese carmakers Anhui Jianghuai Automobile and Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Automotive will debut three cars destined for sale in Europe at the Beijing auto show. All three cars - a hatchback, a sedan and a station wagon – were designed and engineered by the Italian design and engineering company Pininfarina.
Anhui Jianghuai will debut a five-door hatchback code-named A107, and a four-door sedan code-named A108 at the show, which takes place April 20 to 28.
BMW’s Chinese partner Brilliance will unveil a BS4 station wagon that was designed and engineered by Pininfarina. The BS4 station wagon has the same 1.8- and 2.0-liter gasoline engines offered on the BS4 large-segment sedan, which went in production in China in August 2007. Pininfarina also designed the BS4 sedan.
Chery unveiled the Pininfarina designed A3 lower-medium sedan and its A3 Sport hatchback variant in 2006. At the Beijing show, Chery will unveil gasoline and diesel hybrid powertrains for its A3 range.
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.
Citroën unveiled a new model, the C-Elysée, in Beijing on 8 April 2008. Based on the Elysée, the newcomer benefits from numerous upgrades in terms of styling, quality and technology.
The C-Elysée strengthens the range of models produced in China by Dong Feng Peugeot Citroën Automobiles (DPCA), consisting of the C2, Fukang, Xsara Picasso and C-Triomphe. The range is rounded out by the C4 Coupé, C5 saloon and C6, imported from Europe.
The C-Elysée is immediately recognisable as a new-generation Citroën with its expressive, modern-looking front end.
At the reveal press conference, Yves Moulin, Managing Director of Dongfeng Citroën, said that 300 improvements had been made to the C-Elysée, all of which can be perceived by the customer.
The new range features three trim levels and five versions, fitted with the 1.6i 16V engine. The C-Elysée will be launched following its public debut at the Beijing Motor Show on 24 April.
GM has released a new teaser image with the Buick Invicta Concept Car that will make its world debut at the Auto China Show, which runs from April 20 through April 28 in Beijing.
Invicta draws inspiration from the Riviera concept with a modern and graceful exterior design matched by a sumptuous interior. Invicta pays homage to Buicks of the 1940s through the 1970s with its nostalgic sweepspear design cue, a curved line running the length of the car.
The exterior also features Buick’s signature vertical chrome waterfall grille and a new look to its portholes. The Invicta interior will share Riviera’s ambient lighting feature and lavish design.
Jaguar will unveil the XF-C Coupe Concept at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show on April 20. The XF-c Coupe is a preview of the coupe version of the 2009 XF sedan.
Based on the new XF sedan, the XF-C is powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine that develops more than 500 Hp.
Stay tuned, more details will follow!
Update: Actually Not. Just another joke on April Fools’ Day.
Nissan will unveil the production version of the Intima Concept unveiled last year at the Tokyo Motor Show in just a few days at the Beijing Motor Show.
As you can see from this spy shots the production version will follow the same design philosophy as the concept version; Intima being an attempt to convey the maximum number of indoor comfort.
