The stars of the Shanghai Auto Show – from Audi to VW

Ten exciting, important models: The stars of the Shanghai Auto Show – from Audi to VW

China has long been one of the centers of the horsepower world, if not the most important one. And trade fairs like the Shanghai Auto Show show where the road is leading: toward greater size, greater range, more power—and perhaps soon from the streets to the skies. Here are ten noteworthy models that will be showcased there.

Not only do they buy more cars than any other nation, they have also long since become one of the leading players among manufacturers: Nowhere does the world of horsepower move faster than in China—even if it is now predominantly electric.

While motor shows in other countries are drifting into insignificance, the Shanghai Auto Show is a highly regarded industry summit attended by millions. However, it’s taking on a new role. Where the West dominated the scene for many years, domestic manufacturers like Nio and BYD now largely set the tone.

But at least the importers around Mercedes, Audi, and others have slowly overcome their shock of the pandemic years and are back this year with some promising premieres. Here are the ten most exciting and important models that were shown:

1. Mercedes Vision V: Germany’s biggest thing in Shanghai Auto Show

The days when the S-Class was the measure of all things are slowly coming to an end – at least in Asia. Here, space is the true luxury, and the elite prefers to be chauffeured in a minivan rather than a sedan. Mercedes has now understood this, and is preparing for the next generation of the V-Class with a concept car.

It’s called the Vision V and, at more than 5.50 meters long, it’s also Germany’s biggest thing at the show: with a cinema screen across the entire width of the vehicle, designer loungers and a minibar, a whisper-quiet electric drive from the next platform generation and so much decoration that it could also bear a Maybach logo.

Although Mercedes plans to upgrade the V-Class to the VLS and fully integrate it into the passenger car family, it will initially launch in 2026 with more bourgeois variants. These will then also be available in Stuttgart and Salzgitter, not just in Shanghai.

2. Nio Firefly: Fireflies in the urban jungle | Shanghai Auto Show

While Nio has made a big impression with cars like the ET9, the Chinese startup’s unit sales are still modest, especially in Europe. CEO William Li now wants to change that with a second brand, launching the electric Firefly.

The 4.01-meter-long four-door, which means “firefly” in German, is intended to compete in the urban jungle against models like the Mini or the Fiat 500. It will arrive in Germany in the next twelve months at prices starting at around 30,000 euros, according to the trade fair.

3. VW ID studies: Trio of hope | Shanghai Auto Show

VW was number one in China for a long time – until the Lower Saxony-based company was abruptly dethroned by BYD. Now they want to at least secure the top position among foreign brands and, to achieve this, launch over 30 new cars in the next two years alone. As a precursor to this, they are showing the three concept cars ID. Evo, ID. Aura, and ID. Era in Shanghai, which are intended to appeal to the tastes of very different Chinese customer groups.

Why should this interest us Europeans? Because these are the first electric VW models with 800-volt technology for fast charging, and because the Wolfsburg-based company is flirting with the idea of ​​a range extender for the first time in the ID. Era. A small combustion engine generates power for the electric motor while driving, supplementing the comparatively short electric range of 300 kilometers and enabling a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. Widely used in China, this technology has so far attracted little attention in Europe – something that is likely to change with the VW concept car.

4. Audi E5 Sportback: Into the ring without rings | Shanghai Auto Show

Just like its parent company VW, Audi has also been hit hard in China and has become rather dusty there. That’s why the Bavarian company, together with its cooperation partner SAIC, is reinventing itself and launching its own brand for the Middle Kingdom: written only in capital letters, with its own design—and for the first time, without the four rings.

The first model is a Sportback with the abbreviation E5. Thanks to the SAIC platform, it boasts a range of 750 kilometers, can recharge for almost 400 kilometers in ten minutes, and features a completely new interior design. While it won’t make it to Europe, the Bavarians are keen to import the pace of development and thus make their domestic range more future-proof.

5. Zeekr 9X: Called to Greater Things

So far, Volvo’s Chinese sister company, Zeekr, has made a name for itself in Germany primarily with the small car X and the large crossover 001. But now the newcomer feels called to greater heights and is presenting the 9X, an XXL off-road vehicle that can compete with a Mercedes GLS as well as a Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

At 5.30 meters long, it can be driven either fully electric or with a range extender, and despite its impressive size, it can accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in just over three seconds. Zeekr states the range as up to 900 kilometers, and Chinese observers estimate the price at the equivalent of well under 100,000 euros.

6. Denza Z: The 911 for Generation E

While at least European sports cars were previously immune to competitors from China, the elegant BYD sister Denza with the Z is now nipping at the Porsche 911’s podium. The two-door, four-seater coupe with its three engines delivers an almost insane 875 kW/1190 hp, completes the standard sprint to 100 km/h in less than three seconds, and reaches speeds of up to 300 km/h – at base prices estimated at less than 40,000 euros.

7. Maextro S800: A maneuverable luxury liner.

Compared to it, even a Rolls-Royce and a Maybach look dainty. At 5.48 meters, the Maextro S800 boasts the longest sedan from China. The luxury liner, a joint venture between telephone giant Huawei and car manufacturer JAC, scores points for more than just presence, ostentation, and space. For prices ranging from the equivalent of €132,000 to €198,000, it offers the same star-studded bling as the British, more comfort than the Swabians, and yet another gimmicky chassis.

Because the rear-axle steering is much more aggressive than in the S-Class and the like. The S800 in the advertising video literally waves around between parked Maybachs, leaving the sedans from Europe far behind.

8. Xiaomi SU7 Ultra: The electric high-flyer

No other car manufacturer is currently as popular in China as Xiaomi. Which actually made a name for itself as a Far Eastern alternative to Apple. But since the company started building the Gran Turismo SU7. Hardly anyone in the Middle Kingdom has been interested in competitors like the Porsche Taycan.

And now Xiaomi is upping the ante with the SU7 Ultra. In the top version, the three motors produce 1138 kW/1548 hp, enabling sub-two-second sprints. And a top speed of 350 km/h. And because the chassis engineers also clearly know their job, the Chinese are currently smashing all the lap records.

Given its key specifications. The flask is almost a bargain. Powerful like a Bugatti and fast like a Porsche 911. The top versions are sold in China for prices starting at the equivalent of around 75,000 euros.

9. Smart #5: Once small, now big

The days when Smart was once a city car are apparently finally over. Since the Chinese took over the former Mercedes sister company. They’ve been building crossovers and SUVs, and now, with the #5. They’re unleashing their biggest model. At 4.70 meters, almost twice as long as the discontinued For Two and always electric. It can be ordered in Germany for prices starting at €45,900. This puts it around ten percent higher than the #1, which launched the brand’s reorientation three years ago.

10. Chery Flying Car: The Aerials of the Future

And let someone say that the Chinese lack imagination And innovative strength. While one project after another is sliding into bankruptcy here. There are half a dozen new flying cars on the stands at the Shanghai Auto Show. Including those from the manufacturer Chery.

Conclusion of Shanghai Auto Show

While these are all still studies. And even most prototypes and technology demonstrations haven’t yet taken flight. At least in China, hardly anyone doubts that these pie-in-the-sky projects will soon take off. And the new business models will literally fly. It’s not for nothing that the government in Beijing has launched a multi-billion dollar funding program.

And for those who still have doubts about Auto China Shanghai. Observers like Beijing-based auto journalist Henry Yu remind them of Chinese Shanghai Auto Show 10 or 20 years ago. “Back then, no one would have thought that all these electric cars would go into series production. And today, hardly anyone here drives a combustion engine anymore.”

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Sources used:

• With material from the News agencies  dpa and AFP, ntv.de, Reuters news agency, BBC News and CNN reports. The content has been independently analyzed and rewritten to provide original insights.

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