The New York motor show might not be the biggest on the global calendar, but its location mens that it always attracts from of the biggest names in the car industry. You can check out all the new launches from the show here. Meanwhile, Autocar has been on the ground to check out all the new cars that are on display, chat to the industry experts in attendance – and to find out what’s really happening on the show stands. Here, our reporters empty their notebooks to bring you the behind-the-scenes info from the New York show. Nissan downsizing Stepping into the NY show, you’re instantly greeted by one of the biggest trends of recent years – downsizing. Whether we’re talking powertrains or vehicle dimensions, Nissan’s stand was the perfect example of the downsizing we so often see these days. The 370Z 50th Anniversary model sits alongside its forebear, the Datsun 240Z. Unsurprisingly, the latter looks positively dinky by comparison. The birthplace of the Speedster There’s no better place for Porsche to launch its 991 swansong, the 911 Speedster, than New York. The original 356 Speedster was created at the request of New York dealer Max Hoffman who wanted a ‘stripped-down’ version of the 356 to sell on the West Coast. The new machines uses the same 4.0-litre flat six as the current 911 GT3 but is heavily modified with a revised fuel system, different revs and more. It’s a lot of work for just 1948 examples, so there’s every chance this unit will make its way into more mainstream models… This Electric start-up only rose to prominence last year (despite being around for a decade). Its stand, featuring its R1S SUV and R1T pick-up, took pride of place alongside prominent car makers such as Audi and Mercedes. Its presence is likely a statement of intent as much as anything else, but shows how serious founder RJ Scaringe is. He told Autocar earlier this year that he believes he has now found a niche with Rivian, and can build something different and lasting. New York is new home for Genesis Genesis is still finding its feet in America, having launched as a stand-alone brand four years ago. Brand boss Manfred Fitzgerald said, at the unveil of its Mint Concept, that New York had become Genesis’s “second home” and is where it chooses to premiere concepts year after year. The Mint Concept – probably the best looking car this year’s show in my opinion – is perfectly suited to New York. It’s not confirmed for production but Genesis says it doesn’t create concepts without having an interest in making it a fully fledged car. We can but hope. Merc-AMG B-Class, anyone? The Mercedes-AMG range now spans an incredible number of models, but boss Tobias Moers can namecheck one Merc model that doesn’t have an AMG version – the B-Class! Meanwhile, he confirmed that the new GLS luxury seven-seater will get an AMG model in time. On show here is the revised GLC63 and new CLA35. So which 2019 model is Moers most excited about? The new A45 hot hatch. He says it’s dramatically improved in terms of driving dynamics. Kia’s SUV focus Kia America’s COO, Brit Michael Cole, told us that traditionally the maker has been well known for its saloons in America. Given that trucks and SUVs now account for 70% of vehicle sales in the US, that’s a perception it’s trying to change. The recently launched Telluride, a Ford Explorer rival, is helping that cause for the brand. Meanwhile, we’re more excited for the special-edition Stinger with a drift mode… Keep on truckin’ It’d be easy to miss the trucks and mods hall if you weren’t careful. Here, you’re reminded of the sheer hulk of many vehicles on US roads. Personal favourites included the Ram 2500 Power Wagon with a mere 6.4-litre V8 and 429lb ft of torque and the bright orange Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.
Origin: New York motor show 2019 notes: news, updates and oddities
show
2019 Shanghai motor show: full report and all the new cars
At the Shanghai motor show, some of the biggest manufacturers you’ve never heard of displayed their newest models alongside familiar Western brands keen to crack the world’s most lucrative automotive market. Long gone are the days when Shanghai was an exhibition of the most blatant copycat cars, and the impressive quality of new Chinese creations is beginning to pose a very real threat to more established manufacturers. The 2019 edition was especially significant, with an increasing number of Chinese models being prepared for European launches and global manufacturers such as Volkswagen adding to their range of models adapted specifically for sale in China. Shanghai 2019: Full show report China’s car sales fell for the tenth consecutive month in March, pitching the country’s growing ranks of car makers face-first into an unprecedented headwind whipped up, in part, by on-going trade frictions with the US and a continued slowing of the global economy, stymying their dramatic growth of the past two decades and threatening new model plans along the way. But if there were concerns for the long-term health of the Chinese car industry in what has been described as its biggest crisis yet, it certainly wasn’t showing as the 2019 Shanghai motor show opened its doors. With business confidence in the world’s largest car market showing heartening signs of a rebound, owing to a timely reduction in sales tax ordered by the Chinese central government effective from the beginning of April, the mood within the vast halls of the international convention centre, where the country’s biggest motor show takes place every two years, was cautiously upbeat. While China’s car sales have fallen for the good part of the past year, they continue to far outstrip those of any other country. The overall figure for March, at 2.52 million, showed the smallest decrease year-on-year in over seven months, at 5.2 per cent. With many car makers reducing prices to boost sales in light of the tax break, expectations are total car sales for 2019 will be roughly in line with those of 2018 at around 22.5 million. Predictably given the importance now placed on Shanghai motor show as an automotive showcase with international reach, every key Chinese car maker, including the five state-owned heavyweights SAIC, FAW, BAIC, Dongfeng and Changan, all presented new or improved production models this year. They were kept honest by an ever more competitive list of private own rivals headed by the likes of Geely, GAC, Great Wall Motors and BYD as well as key introductions by joint venture operations such as those operated by Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota and Honda. It was the concept cars from established western car makers, including the clever new Audi AI:ME, versatile Volkswagen Roomzz and rugged looking Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB, that grabbed the headlines in the days leading up to Shanghai motor show. However, it was China’s growing number of increasingly well funded electric vehicle start-ups that stole the limelight once the veils went up. With China’s electric car sales showing no sign of a slow down despite a recent reduction in government subsidies, the competition for the attention of buyers is now intense. Zero local emission compatibility and other key technology solutions play a big part in the attraction of new cars for Chinese buyers and it was being laid on thick by the likes of Nio, XPeng, Weltmeister, Singulato, Byton, Aiways, Bordrin Motor and Leap Motors, along with many other newly-created electric vehicle start-ups, several of which are based in and around the sprawling metropolis of Shanghai itself. With promises of ranges of up to 373 miles and charging times of less than 15 minutes, China’s latest electric cars have, it seems, now breached the point where they can compete head to head with those from Tesla and perhaps, more importantly, more traditional combustion engine rivals. From advanced 5G connectivity solutions to smart holographic augmented reality head-up displays, the latest in autonomous driving functions and new hydrogen-fuelled power units, this year’s Shanghai motor show proved without any doubt that China has once and for all arrived as an automotive force – and not only for domestic consumption but with truly global credentials. As one seasoned automotive industry official opined as BYD’s design boss, Wolfgang Egger, presented the stylish electric-powered e-SEED GT: “Shanghai, it’s the new Detroit”. One solid theme evident in Shanghai this year was a surprise swing away from SUVs towards contemporary new sedans, the most notable of which, the Nio ET, Enovate ME-S, Xpeng P7 and Qoros Mile II, all boasted newly developed platforms with pure electric drive systems in a direct Aware at the threat China’s electric vehicle start-ups pose to their business, many of the country’s established car makers have also begun to create their own electric vehicle sub-brands to attract new customers, as
Origin: 2019 Shanghai motor show: full report and all the new cars
Mercedes-Benz unveils its smallest seven-seater at Shanghai Auto Show
Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB 2019Mercedes-Benz Automakers are hitting every possible slot in the SUV market, which might explain Mercedes-Benz’s latest unveiling, the Concept GLB. Thought built on the company’s compact-car platform, it’s designed to hold up to seven people. It’s being called a concept, but the model that rolled out onstage at the Shanghai Auto Show looks closer-than-close to production. It’s essentially a boxier, more rugged-looking version of the current GLA. “We asked ourselves whether there is still space between the GLA and GLC in our successful SUV range,” said Britta Seeger, responsible for Mercedes-Benz Car Sales. “The Concept GLB is the answer to this question. With it, we are demonstrating the creative ideas we have for this segment too.” No wonder it’s being demonstrated: SUVs are currently the top-selling bracket for the company, with more than 820,000 sold globally in 2018. The concept’s interior is tricked out more than a production model would be, with leather-wrapped dash and specially-stitched seats, but it’s unmistakably the CLA/GLA under all the bling. Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB 2019 Mercedes-Benz The third-row seats, a first for a Mercedes-Benz compact model, fold flat for extra cargo space, and offer “comfortable seating for two medium-sized occupants,” the company said. The second row can be slid ahead or back to maximize legroom as needed. The concept uses a 224-horsepower gasoline engine with eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and has 4Matic all-wheel drive. It’s not the first time Mercedes-Benz has sent out a concept for its world debut in China. In April of 2013, it introduced the Concept GLA at the Shanghai show, and started delivering the production model to customers by the following
Origin: Mercedes-Benz unveils its smallest seven-seater at Shanghai Auto Show
2019 Shanghai motor show: all the new cars revealed
At the Shanghai motor show, some of the biggest manufacturers you’ve never heard of are displaying their newest models alongside familiar Western brands keen to crack the world’s most lucrative automotive market. Long gone are the days when Shanghai was an exhibition of the most blatant copycat cars, and the impressive quality of new Chinese creations is beginning to pose a very real threat to more established manufacturers. The 2019 edition is especially significant, with an increasing number of Chinese models being prepared for European launches and global manufacturers such as Volkswagen adding to their range of models adapted specifically for sale in China. Here, we take a look at the most important unveilings. Aston Martin Rapide E Aston Martin is aiming the new Rapide E electric performance saloon squarely at the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan. A claimed torque output of 738lb ft will help the Rapide E to sprint from 50mph-70mph in under 1.6 seconds, and the model can cruise at its 155mph top speed for 10 straight minutes. Audi AI:ME concept Audi Q2 L e-tron Audi’s China-only long-wheelbase Q2 L is the latest model to receive the e-tron treatment. Badged the Q2 L e-tron, the electric compact SUV will be built in Foshan, alongside Chinese variants of the A3 Sportback and A3 Saloon, by Volkswagen Group partner First Automotive Works (FAW). The model is the first of ten planned for launch by Audi and FAW in China by 2022 and the first electric Audi tailored specifically for the Chinese market. BMW 3 Series LWB Audi isn’t the only German brand taking an extended version of one of its newest models to China. The new BMW 3 Series has been adapted for the Chinese market, and will be on display in long-wheelbase 3 Series L form. Almost as long as the 5 Series available in Europe, the new model has been developed alongside the standard 3 Series, and will be built by BMW’s Chinese partner company Brilliance Automotive. BYD hybrid supercar A preview image released by Chinese company BYD shows off a sleek, low sports car with a prominent greenhouse-style cabin and performance-inspired design elements. Little is known about the model’s powertrain, but Chinese media reports that a four-wheel drive variant would likely use a 2.0-litre petrol engine coupled to an electric motor for a combined output of 469bhp. Faraday Future MPV EV start-up Faraday Future has yet to launch its first effort, the FF91, but will be previewing a second production model in Shanghai. Previewed in silhouette form, the V9 is a China-only electric MPV being developed in partnership with a Chinese mobile gaming company. Geely GE11 Karma-Pininfarina concept Karma, born out of the 2014 collapse of Fisker Automotive, will unveil an as-yet-unnamed luxury model designed in association with Italian design house Pininfarina. The Chinese-funded, US-based electric car manufacutrer is remaining tight-lipped about the model’s specifications and performance, but a recently released preview image shows off an angular, streamlined front end and a prominent lower grille like that of the original Fisker Karma. Karma Revero Joining the new Pininfarina-designed concept on Karma’s Shanghai stand will be the updated-for-2020 version of the brand’s Revero luxury saloon. The four-door range-extender electric car will use a three-cylinder petrol engine from BMW. It’s tipped to receive styling revisions but retain an overarching resemblance to the Fisker Karma, from which is was developed. Karma has plans to launch the new Revero in Europe as a competitor to the Polestar 1 performance hybrid. Karma Vision Rounding off Karma’s ‘Shanghai Big Three’ will be the Vision concept. Little is known about what form the Vision will take, but Karma said it will play a role in the brand’s transformation from a traditional car manufacturer into “an open-platform luxury high-tech automotive incubator”, like the Italdesign DaVinci electric supercar revealed earlier this year at the Geneva motor show. Landwind E315 Codenamed E315, the latest effort from Jiangling Motors brand Landwind is a stylish compact SUV that will go up against the likes of the Volvo XC60, LynkCo 01 and Haval H6. Details remain scarce, but the E315 is expected to have five seats and make use of the same 1.5-litre Ford-derived unit that powered Landwind’s Range Rover Evoque copycat, the X7, which has just been forcibly discontinued. LynkCo 05 Taking the form of an SUV-coupé, the Geely-owned LynkCo brand’s fifth model is a BMW X6 rival based on its 01. It will sit atop the Volvo-developed CMA platform and will likely use the Swedish company’s range of 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines. A European launch is likely but unconfirmed. Mercedes-Benz GLB Mercedes’ new small SUV will sit between the current GLC and GLA models, and will take on rivals like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. Styling across the GLB range
Origin: 2019 Shanghai motor show: all the new cars revealed
VW ID Roomzz launched at Shanghai show
VW ID. Roomzz launched at Shanghai show The latest pure electric concept from VW will arrive in 2021 Volkswagen has unveiled the ID. Roomzz at the Shanghai Motor Show, its latest model set to join the ID. all-electric sub-brand. A production version of the large SUV is due to go on sale in 2021 to rival the likes of Tesla’s Model X. Based on the VW Group’s MEB architecture – a platform designed specifically for electric vehicles – the ID. Roomzz is part full-size SUV, part lounge on wheels. Three rows of seats are possible thanks to the opened up packaging possibilities provided by the skateboard-style platform, and fully autonomous driving systems – on this concept at least – means that three different seating configurations are possible. ID. Drive mode sees a conventional forward facing arrangement for all occupants, with the driver controlling everything via a steering wheel and pedals. When the driver puts their hand on the VW logo on the steering wheel for longer than five seconds, ID. Pilot is engaged, setting the car into autonomous driving mode. All seats angle inwards by 25 degrees for a more sociable seating area, or ID. Pilot Relax mode enables each passenger to create their individual seating position, including a reclined setting. Twin electric motors power the ID. Roomzz, providing a combined 225 kW for the all-wheel drive system. A 75 kW motor sits on the front axle, and a 150 kW motor on the rear, providing a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds. Power comes from an 82 kWh battery, which gives the ID. Roomzz a range of 280 miles on a charge, based on WLTP tests. Charging can either be carried out wirelessly via induction charging, or through a conventional plug. Rapid charging can be carried out at up to 150 kW. Other features showcased on the concept model include ID. Light, which provides passengers with information such as assistance systems, navigation, and air quality displayed via light effects from an LED strip along the bottom of the windscreen, or doors and roof in the rear. Augmented reality (AR) is used for the driver to display navigation instructions projected ahead of the driver, and the interior is trimmed with AppleSkin artificial leather, which contains 20% vegetable matter. The ID. Roomzz will be the sixth model to join the ID. family, after the ID., ID. Crozz, ID. Buzz, ID. Vizzion, and ID. Buggy. It is confirmed to go into production, launching in China initially in a couple of years’ time.
Origin: VW ID Roomzz launched at Shanghai show
All about car 