It’s electric! EV stars of the Beijing auto show
The covers have come off and the lights have gone up on plenty of new electrified automotive reveals in the Chinese capital Beijing.
The first auto show of international significance since the coronavirus struck, it is predictably dominated by the local brands. They have come out in force while many of the international brands we know better in Australia have stayed away or left it to their local partners to get on with it.
And they certainly are doing that. Here’s some of the most memorable reveals we’ve come across. See what you make of them.
Great Walls Motors Futurist
This might seem to be a bit of a strange name for a car that looks decidedly retro. Indeed, something evoking this three-box sedan could even have come out of an Australian studio with a Holden, Ford or Chrysler badge on it in the 1960s or ’70s.
But chief designer Phil Simmons, an Englishman who worked at Jaguar Land Rover before shifting to GWM, explained the thought process.
“[Futurist] is aimed at exploring an all-new design language that’s retro, high-tech and time travel; evoking retro with technology,” he said.
Styling highlights include the pillarless window opening and suicide doors. Inside there is a single large dial behind the steering wheel to evoke the past and a touchscreen on the dash to return us to the 21st century.
The Futurist is based on GWM’s unfortunately named new Lemon platform that can be used for ICE hybrid and electric vehicles.
The Futurist is electrified and claims a 700km range from its cobalt-free battery pack.
There seems an expectation this car will go into the production. But the question is under which brand. Ora is Great Wall Motors’ EV specialist, Wey makes luxury SUVs, Haval is an SUV brand and GWM is for pickups.
Qoros Milestone
This amazing looking concept is intended to preview the look Qoros will push for in its vehicles heading out over the next three- to five-years.
More specific to our interests, Qoros is promising to launch two new electric sedans in 2021 inspired by the Milestone’s look.
This new design language is called ‘quadrant aesthetics’. Qoros says the headlights and taillights acting Like the corners of a picture frame.
You may recall Qoros launched with a bang back in 2007 and declared bold ambitions to break into the global market. Part-owned by China’s Chery Automobile Co it has struggled in recent years. Milestone is clearly intended as a reboot.
Bestune E01
Here’s something a little more down to earth to complete our Beijing run-through. It’s not a concept, in fact it’s actually on sale in China now.
Bestune (formerly Besturn) is a division of the state-owned FAW (First Auto Works) Group and has traditionally based its vehicles on Mazda technology.
The E01 is a five-seater SUV that features a new AI assistant called Yomi who can be communicated with via a 3D figurine on the top of the dashboard. You can even decide what Yomi looks like.
Power comes from a single electric motor with 141kW and 320Nm powering the front wheels. The battery is 61kWh and provides 450km (NEDC) range.
GAC Trumpchi Enpulse
GAC is the Guangzhou Automobile Group and Trumpchi is one of its brands that mostly focusses on mainstream passengers cars, SUVs and people-movers.
The Enpulse is an electrified concept that is not tipped to see production. Instead some design elements including a restyled ‘G’ that will be the new GAC logo are prominent.
Styling highlights of this hardtop convertible include its scissor doors, blade alloy wheels and minimalist interior. By the way this car’s Chinese name is Yingdong, or shadow.
Dongfeng Voyah iFree
As reported previously as part of our Beijing preview, Yoyah is a new luxury EV brand launched by state-owned Dongfeng Motor only a couple of months ago.
In Beijing it showed off the iFree SUV concept, which previews a production model that will be launched later in 2020.
Like the iLand concept shown when the brand was launched, the iFree rolls on Voyah’s new platform dubbed ESSA ((Electric Smart & Secure Architecture) and has lots of tricky bits.
For instance, when the driver approaches the car it will automatically turn on its lights, pop out the doorhandles and adjust its height.
No mention of the powertrain for the iFree at this stage though.
By the way, the iFree’s face is styled after a mythical Chinese bird called the Kun Peng about to spread its wings. Just thought you’d like to know that.
The press release did produce one of those funny translation moments, when it bragged the iFree will showcase “cutting-edge trend of the Interaction between man and elbow in 5G era”.
For more from Beijing, check out our stories on the GWM Poer EV, Polestar Precept, Honda e:concept, Hyundai RM20e, Lynk & Co Zero and the Human Horizons HiPhi X.
