The Chengdu International Motor Show is still an event to behold even though it does not have the heft and glitter of the Beijing and Shanghai presentations.
WHILE the Chengdu International Motor Show may not match the sheer scale of China’s flagship Beijing and Shanghai shows, it is still enormous by world standards.
This year’s 10-day event occupied 220,000sq m, gathered nearly 120 brands and about 1,600 vehicles, and recorded almost 928,000 visitor visits.
Opening day alone brought 71 global, national and Southwest-China premieres and new-model launches.
Chinese groups and brands were, unsurprisingly, everywhere, with BYD, Chery, GWM and Huawei’s HIMA operation among the most prominent exhibitors.
Their stands were packed with new EVs, plug-in hybrids and range-extender models, underlining just how intensely Chinese brands are competing across almost every segment.
SkyNomad N90 and N70
Among the more striking newcomers were Xiaomi’s SkyNomad N90 and N70 range-extender SUVs.
The boxy N90 stretches to 5.285m, while the smaller five-seat N70 measures 4.96m; both use a 1.5-litre petrol engine as a generator for electric drive.
More memorable was the packaging: both allow their front seats to swivel backwards to face the rear occupants, turning the flat-floored cabins into lounge-like spaces when stationary.
Freelander 8
The reborn Freelander name also made a strong showing.
Developed by the Chery-JLR joint venture, the Freelander 8 is a large five- or six-seat range-extender SUV using an 800V electrical architecture, dual-motor four-wheel drive and Huawei ADS 5 driver assistance.
The Freelander 8 combines a 60.3kWh battery with a 1.5-litre turbocharged range extender, providing 310km of CLTC electric range and up to 1,200km combined.
Mercedes-Benz GLE L
Mercedes-Benz used Chengdu for the global premiere of its first China-built long-wheelbase GLE.
The wheelbase grows to 3,115mm, with much of the attention directed at rear-seat space, comfort and China-developed digital features.
Petrol four- and six-cylinder engines remain, making this one of the show’s notable new combustion-powered vehicles.
Maextro V800
At the top end of JAC’s display sat the Maextro V800, developed with Huawei.
The 5.495m luxury MPV had been launched earlier in August, with Chengdu marking its first public appearance following the launch.
It combines Huawei ADS 5 with an 800V active suspension system and targets the increasingly crowded ultra-luxury MPV segment.
BYD Dahan EV
BYD opened pre-sales for the Dahan EV at Chengdu, positioning the 5,256mm-long saloon as the new flagship of its Dynasty range.
It is also known as Great Han.
Rear- and all-wheel-drive versions are offered with a 102.3kWh battery, with up to 1,008km of CLTC range claimed for the rear-drive model, while the AWD flagship produces 570kW combined and reaches 100kph in 3.3 seconds.
Pre-sale prices started from 249,900 yuan (RM151,000).
JAC RF8 PHEV
JAC’s RF8 PHEV was not new to Chengdu, but the latest Yuexiang series showed how the company is refining its large MPV.
Launched in March, it retains a 310kW/745Nm plug-in hybrid system and 150km CLTC electric range, while placing more emphasis on second-row comfort, cabin quietness and ride refinement.
The older DEFINE-X six-seat SUV prototype was also on display, offering a glimpse of JAC’s future passenger-vehicle direction.
BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase
The Neue Klasse BMW iX3 Long Wheelbase had already made its world debut in Beijing, but Chengdu marked the start of pre-sales.
Its wheelbase is stretched by 108mm to 3,005mm, while claimed CLTC range exceeds 900km.
Of particular interest to Malaysian readers and customers, BMW Group says the China-built version is planned for sale in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India.
