The recent 2021 Shanghai Auto Show marked the first major car show since the pandemic, and it did not disappoint. However, it wasn’t established automakers that stole the show but rather the domestic Chinese brands that made their mark for the first time.
A case in point was a new “supercar” from the luxury brand Hongqi. The supercar is named S9 and features a plug-in hybrid V-8-based powertrain reaching 1,400 horsepower. Only 99 units are expected to be built.
Hongqi also used the Shanghai Auto Show to unveil its flagship. Named Hongqi L-Concept, the show car is a striking sedan with a fastback profile, suicide-style doors, and, reportedly, ambient lighting with crystal elements.
The Xpeng brand introduced its P5 model, a small electric sedan with world-first autonomous driving technology. The P5 is the first production vehicle equipped with technology that allows it to detect a much broader environment than if it relied solely on radar and camera systems.
An electric vehicle startup named Hengchi unveiled a total of nine vehicles, one of which was a direct rival to the Tesla Model S. Hengchi, planning to begin production of its first model in 2022, is the parent company of NEVS, the company that attempted to save Saab.
On the other hand, MG, while not a Chinese brand, is one of the country’s major automakers. MG presented a surprising concept that teases electric sports cars like the Tesla Roadster. The eye-catching two-door, two-seater MG Cyberster Concept seamlessly integrates mechanical performance and smart technology, equipped with a 100% electric intelligent architecture that provides a range of 800 km and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds.
But what about non-Chinese automakers? Audi surprised everyone with its impressive A6 E-Tron Concept. The stunning electric sedan is one of the 20 electric vehicles Audi plans to have in its lineup by 2025, and it is expected to be on sale in 2023.
Finally, Toyota used the auto show to preview its first volume EV, also with a slightly veiled concept. It’s called the BZ4X, and its production counterpart should be in dealerships in 2022.
