CHINA’S automotive market is the largest, fastest growing and one of the most unusual in the world with an enormous variety of brands on offer, from the suspiciously affordable all the way up to models that cater for recently-made billionaires.
With such a lucrative industry, you would be right to assume any motor show on Chinese turf is a fairly big deal, and this year’s Beijing event was no exception, with a significant number of new vehicles unveiled from one extreme to the other.
But despite the variety, China’s insular market and unique requirements, many of the cars that made their debut at the show are unlikely to ever be seen in Australian showrooms. Is that a good or a bad thing?
Generally speaking, Australians like to drive themselves places, but being chauffeured in China is an expression of wealth and status. As a result, vehicles that offer a more comfortable place to be in the second row of seating tend to do well.
In standard form, a Bentley could not exactly be regarded as an unpleasant place to spend time, but for China’s super rich the English brand presented its Mulsanne First Edition, which will be limited to just 50 examples.
The special edition gets an extra dose of luxury with almost absurdly opulent features such as a sterling silver vanity kit and champagne cooler, while the extensive wood veneer is crafted from a 350-year old oak that fetched a record undisclosed price at auction.
The French brands were well represented this year in Beijing, with Citroen revealing three new cars. The C6 sedan will go straight to the top of the line-up as Citroen’s flagship, the DS 4S is an updated version of the stylish small hatchback, while an electrified version of the company’s C-Elysee – the E-Elysee – was also revealed.
Sister-brand Peugeot used the show to announce that it was planning to take on a larger portion of the Chinese market with 18 new models due for release over the next five years.
Becoming one of the top-10 most popular brands on the world's biggest market is the car-maker’s goal, by “aiming higher in terms of customer experience, technologies and products”. The strategy kicked off with the launch of a new 308 S sedan and updated 3008 MPV/crossover.
Renault weighed in with an early look at its new Koleos SUV, after a leaked picture prompted the French brand to release shots ahead of its planned debut.
SUVs are fast becoming big business in China and the Japanese brands were represented by a trio of new high-riders.
Honda’s Avancier is the company’s new flagship model and is the toned-down production version of the outlandish Concept D show car that debuted a year earlier at the Shanghai show Its smaller CDX sibling rolled out wearing Acura badges.
Mazda made an appearance with its CX-4 with which it plans to attract a more youthful audience to the brand with a coupe-like profile, similar to other SUVs such as the BMW X4 and forthcoming Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.
From Germany, Volkswagen revealed a large SUV that, for now, is being referred to as a concept, but looks suspiciously like a replacement for the Touareg. The theory that the T-Prime Concept GTE is a Touareg successor is all the more compelling when you consider the current version is nudging five years old.
Last but certainly not least, Audi chose the Beijing show to top its TT line-up with a new performance flagship that wears the coveted RS moniker.
Yes, the TT RS is great news for fans of the four-ringed badge, but it is even better news for lovers of the five-cylinder engine, because the new TT has an all new donk under its pretty nose that has safeguarded the unorthodox five-pot layout for the immediate future.
Crafted in all alloy, the next-generation inline five continues the legacy of Audi’s iconic engine that cut its teeth embarrassing everything in the 1980s Group B rally championship. How does 294kW/480Nm sound from just 2.5-litres? Well with five pistons and a naughty exhaust, it should sound very good.
But don’t get too excited about all of the above models because, with the exception of the Bentley, Audi and Renault, none of them will be offered for sale in Australia. The Beijing show is all about the Chinese market.
One of the better-known Chinese car-makers, and owner of Volvo Cars, Geely uncovered its Emgrand GS crossover, the first SUV from the brand, while another Chinese brand known to Australia, Haval, showed off its H7 SUV that will slip in between the H6 and H8.
Chery is not known for its sportscars but, nonetheless, the car-maker debuted the FV2030 sportscar concept that features gullwing doors, a more SUV-like ride height, a 3D holographic screen and driverless technology.
If the show cars are not quite ludicrous enough for you yet then the IAT Kalman SUV gets the award for the most outrageous and ridiculous car to roll-out at Beijing, but even more surprising than the way the zombie apocalypse SUV looks is that you can actually buy it in China.
Stump the equivalent of $2.4 million and Chinese customers can own one of the 10 examples of the unapologetic SUV that uses the 2014 Ford F-150 pick-up as its basis.
And finally, residents of the world’s largest new-car market that aspire to own a BMW i8 but don’t want to wait can opt for the Arcfox-7, which borrows more than just a suggestion of the German hybrid sportscar’s styling.
The Beijing motor show is an extraordinary insight into an automotive industry that is not largely known to the rest of the world, but could Australia benefit from a few more of the eclectic models showcased in China?
Daniel Gardner GoAuto.com.au
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