Beijing Auto Show

Audi first began production of the compact Q5 luxury crossover in 2008, with the latest second-generation model dropping in 2016 at the Paris Motor Show. Now, there’s a new long-wheelbase iteration, which just debuted at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show to offer Chinese buyers enhanced cabin space and more comfort.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Audi Q5 L.

Hyundai first introduced the i20 in 2008 at the Paris Motor Show and brought the second generation to market in 2014. Framed as a B-segment, FWD supermini, the i20 is an affordable, small, practical transportation solution, offering decent gear and loads of space inside. Now there’s a refreshed model, and it’s bringing an updated line of gas-powered engines and some of the latest safety tech features.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 Hyundai i20.

Discontinued in 2010 after only five years on the market, Jeep’s seven-seat SUV, the Commander, makes a comeback in 2018. But unlike its predecessor, which was a global model, the new SUV is only available in China. Production also shifted to the Asian country, while the nameplate was updated to the Grand Commander. The midsize hauler was unveiled at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show.

The new SUV is heavily based on the Grand Cherokee design-wise, and it appears to be focused more on hauling people rather than off-roading. While the Grand Commander won’t make it to the United States, a three-row SUV will be offered here, but under the Wagoneer name. Jeep plans to build both Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models, which will be based on the body-on-frame platform of the latest Ram 1500 truck.

Does the Grand Commander provide hints as to what we will get from the Wagoneer? It’s difficult to say given that the latter is still a couple of years away, but let’s take a closer look at the China-spec SUV for now.

Continue reading to learn more about the Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

Citroen has a reputation in the auto industry for designing some of the most extreme concept cars in the business. The Survolt and the Cxperience are two that come to mind. Since the company launched the DS sub-brand in 2009, that design creativity has extended to give us creations like the Divine DS and the E-Tense concept vehicles. Today, DS takes us on another wild ride with the arrival of its latest brainchild, the DS X E-Tense concept, a car that the company describes as “a vision of what a dream car might resemble in the year 2035.”

One of the most iconic sedans ever produced, the Jaguar XJ is celebrating 50 years in 2018. And the British firm launched a special anniversary model at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Introduced in 2009, the current XJ is the eighth generation of the sedan that served as luxury transportation for many VIPs over the years. Jaguar is celebrating this special event with a handful of add-ons to the vehicle’s exterior and cabin. It also modified its badge for the event, renaming it the XJ50.

The XJ goes back all the way to 1968 when it was launched to replace the S-Type and the Mark 2. The first XJ was produced until 1992 with significant upgrades in 1973 and 1979. A complete redesign followed in 1986, with new updates in 1994 and 1997. The previous-generation XJ was unveiled in 2003 and received a facelift in 2007, two years before it was discontinued in 2009. The current model is already nine years old, and a new generation is about to be released. Until that happens, let’s take a closer look at this anniversary special edition.

Continue reading to learn more about the Jaguar XJ50.

The Pininfarina K350 concept finally broke cover at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Designed for Hong Kong-based automaker Hybrid Kinetic Group (HKG), the K350 is a fully electric SUV concept that the automaker is preparing to develop with the H600 and H500 electric sedan concepts. It’s still not confirmed if HKG is giving the green light to build any of these concepts, but if it does, look for the K350 SUV to be the most prominent of the three. Not only is it an EV, but it’s also an SUV, which, as we all know, is a segment that’s selling like hotcakes these days.

Much like any mainstream automaker out there, Skoda also jumped on the SUV bandwagon, launching two crossovers over the last two years. Following the introduction of the midsize Kodiaq in 2016, Skoda unveiled the compact Karoq in 2017. Come 2018, and the Czech automaker is adding a third crossover to the lineup. It’s called the Kamiq, it was unveiled in China, and you won’t be able to buy it unless you move to the Asian country.

Honda may be late to the electrification revolution, but it’s not wasting its time catching up to the party. The Japanese automaker is bringing its first mass-produced electric car to the Beijing Motor Show. It’s called the Everus concept, and it serves as a sign of things to come for Honda as it starts aggressively pushing its own EV agenda for the future.

I know we usually hand out awards for the best and worst of the auto industry at the end of the year, but I’m going to start early in 2018 and give Mercedes-Maybach a medal for the worst car design of the year. And the award goes to the Vision Ultimate Luxury, which made its debut among a handful of China-exclusive vehicles at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Yes, it’s that ugly!

Continue reading for the full story.

The Escort was once a fun compact car that even had its place in the rally world. But, like all good things, the Escort eventually had to come to an end. It was even discontinued in Europe years ago as well. In 2014, Ford quietly introduced the name to the Chinese market, and it’s apparently been very well received. So much so, in fact, that Ford just ushered in a new-gen model built around the brands new global midsize car platform. Could the Escort come back to the States and Europe someday?

Whoa, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Until gas prices spike and SUVs lose popularity, we’re never going to see the Escort this side of the Asian market again. In fact, Ford just announced it’s downsizing to just two passenger cars in its whole U.S. Lineup. But, if it makes you feel better, the new Escort in China comes with an eight-inch touchscreen display, an attractive instrument cluster, and there’s even a little bit of fastback and Focus DNA in there as well.

It is offered with a 1.0-liter or 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, but power figures have been kept secret for now. I wouldn’t expect to see it deliver over 130 horsepower in its most potent form – after all; it’s for the Chinese market. Either way, if you’re going to be in China and you miss the Escort of the old days (God I miss my hatchback), you could move to China and procure yourself a 1.5-liter model with a manual transmission.

Revived in 1997 after more than 50 years of absence, the Maybach brand didn’t make much of an impact on the luxury market, with its S-Class-based models failing to impress against the Rolls-Royces and the Bentleys. As a result, Mercedes-Benz discontinued the name in 2012. The brand returned as Mercedes-Maybach in 2015, and although it still delivers revised S-Class sedans with longer wheelbases and more luxury features, it aims to offer other Mercedes vehicles too. Unlike its predecessor, Mercedes-Maybach also produced concept cars, with a pair of Vision 6 two-door models showcasing spectacular designs. Come 2018 and Maybach unveiled its third concept car, this time around design to preview an upcoming SUV.

Called the Vision Ultimate Luxury, this new concept vehicle is said to preview the Maybach version of the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. However, the concept itself isn’t exactly an SUV, but a hybrid design that combines the features of a utility vehicle with the rear end of a notchback sedan. Inside the cabin, the Ultimate Luxury is actually more production friendly than the Vision 6 coupe, while its all-electric drivetrain is identical with the other two Maybach concept cars. It definitely won’t make it into production in this form, but it previews a few interesting design cues and technologies. Let’s find out more in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-Maybach Vision Ultimate Luxury

BMW has eased into the electric future, starting with the BMW X5 I Performance – it’s first plug-in hybrid – back in 2015. Fast forward a few years and here we are looking at the BMW iX3 Concept, an X3-based, all-electric SUV (or SAV as BMW likes to call it) that features the brand’s fifth-gen electric drive system, modular batteries, and some i-specific design cues that we’ll surely see when the iX3 goes into production. As a concept that’s practically ready to roll off the production line, there’s a lot to talk about, so let’s get to it.

Jeep’s commitment to the Chinese market is now on display at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Taking up a lot of space is the Jeep Grand Commander, a massive three-row, seven-seater, full-sized SUV that’s itching to take a bite out of the luxury SUV pie in the world’s biggest auto market. The Grand Commander is the latest in a long line of Jeep models that are available in China, including the Compass, Renegade, and the iconic Cherokee.

Hyundai is present at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show, and it brought a small sedan that will be sold exclusively in the Chinese market. Called “Lafesta,” the sedan is primarily aimed at younger buyers in the Chinese market, a lot of whom should come to appreciate the sedan’s sporty styling and all the decked-out features that come with it.

Mercedes’ booth at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show may be dominated by the imposing presence of the Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury SUV, but another model, presumably sitting on the sidelines, is also making some noise. You’ve probably noticed it as a Mercedes C-Class, which it is. But it also has one unique characteristic that no other C-Class has: it’s really long. That’s because the model you’re looking at is the C-Class L, an updated version of the stretched-wheelbase C-Class sedan that the German automaker is already selling in record numbers in China.

Polestar has finally put a figure on the Polestar 1. Volvo’s new performance sub-brand has listed the Polestar 1 with a price tag of $155,000 in the U.S. The car will also sell for €155,000 in Europe. Those who are interested in the car will have to deposit $2,500 or €2,500 to secure a spot on the company’s reservation list. Pre-orders are now open for the Polestar in 18 different countries, including a number of European nations, China, and North America.

Pininfarina has pulled the covers off of the K350 SUV, giving us our first look at the electric SUV concept in all its glory. The concept is the latest indication that Pininfarina, together with Hong Kong-based electric automaker Hybrid Kinetic Group, is on its way to becoming a legitimate presence in the electric car industry in the future.