Beijing bytes

May the auto industry live in interesting times

Beijing played host to Auto China 2012. Major international manufacturers staked their claims among the Beijing Expo Centre's nine cavernous halls, alongside literally dozens of local operations – some with recognisable names, others without.

The world's largest automotive market – and tipped to grow another 12-18 per cent in 2013 depending on who you listen too – China is seen by some as the pot of gold at the end of the automotive rainbow. But to believe you can simply turn up and understand the motor show, let along the market as a whole, is a fool's errand...


Export not a priority
Though no doubt some Chinese manufacturers eventually want to make their mark on the world stage, most are in no rush – at least in terms of delivering passenger cars games to developed markets. Indeed, of the myriad brands (many in joint ventures with established European or Asian Marques), only a handful look ready to even start to market to car and quality savvy consumers.

If nothing else this was evinced by a complete dearth of English language information from most Chinese brands at Auto China 2012. Indeed, though most manufacturers were happy to discuss their models and concepts, equally they were non-committal on specifications and any plans to export any production.

Quality of the local cars is improving, but there was a wide spectrum of expertise exhibited at Auto China 2012.

Crash test results are not necessarily the hold-up they once were (Chinese brands have famously failed to score or scored poorly in Euro NCAP testing in the past) but rather emission regs. Many Chinese brands are still well behind European market requirements as the country's legislators have continually postponed the introduction of Euro 4 and higher emission standards.


Brilliance on show
Brilliance is, however, one of the brands that could lead the charge. Though it hasn't had the most impressive past, with cars withdrawn from overseas markets after appalling crash test results, its latest crop of domestic Chinese models are certainly out to impress.

Though the compact V5 SUV (image 1) is very much a BMW X1 'tribute', it looks like a very fair effort, with good levels of fit and finish and an interior that exhibits a high degree of professionalism.

At Beijing the company also showed its Zhonghua Concept (image 2). Looking to be at the large end of the medium sedan crop, it was attractive in a truly European sense, though the concept car itself was not finished to the high standard of European showcars.

Again the BMW influence showed through. No prizes for guessing the identity of Brillance's key European JV partner.


BAIC goes Italian
Beijing Auto Group which partners with Mercedes and Hyundai in China is also one of the 'most likely to' of the domestic brands.

At Auto China 2012 it displayed an impressive line-up including new C50E and C60F models. Reportedly underpinned by an ex-SAAB platform purchased by BAIC, the cars were genuinely attractive.

The C50E (3) had a distinctly AMG 'air' to its sporty add ons though there are no details to suggest it is a true performance variant.

BAIC's C family will stretch up and down the scale to encompass the same sort of product portfolio as Mercedes -- from small to limousine. There's even an attractive compact SUV in the mix.

So serious is BAIC about striking out in its own direction that it is rumoured the company has engaged a small standalone Italian styling outfit exclusively to create the 'template' for the range.

Centerpiece of the BAIC line-up was the huge range-topping C90L sedan that was at least the size of a long-wheelbase S-Class Benz. Though it's overall shape was attractive, the detailing was super fussy (4). See below to understand why there may be a race to be the first local brand to 'nail' big cars.


Jaguar unveils top XJ, more engines
Jaguar unveiled a new super luxury version of its XJ rangetopper in Beijing. With individual rear seats and an ultra-high level of equipment the XJ Ultimate (5) will no doubt appeal to elite buyers who wish to escape the S-Class/7 Series dilemma.

Of much more importance to Jaguar was the appearance of new petrol engines -- a turbo inline four and a new supercharged V6. Based on the brand's current V8, the V6 will be eventually be offered in all of the rear wheel Jags but will take centre stage in the new F-Type sportscar.


Big is beautiful
SAIC is China's largest automotive manufacturing group. Partnering GM and Volkswagen in passenger car JVs (as well as IVECO and others in the commercial marketplace) plus its own brands, last year the Shanghai-based giant built over 4.0m vehicles to become the world's eighth largest auto operation.

Its pride and joy is MG and its partner brand, Roewe (6). Though both operations have in the past been consider by some (especially the UK press) to be somewhat of a joke, each is carving out its own following in China's burgeoning car market. And they are doing so with cars that are increasingly attractively styled and executed.

So what happened with MG's showcar, Icon (7). Looking like a badly drawn MINI on camera, it was a complete botch job in the metal. Fail!


Geely looks to Englon
Geely, now owner of Volvo, is less convincing in terms of establishing a cohesive style all of its own. Currently the brand has three sub-brands in China -- Gleagle, Emgrand (8) and Englon -- and a more ragtag group of cars you'll rarely see. Indeed, Geely's new design mentor, ex-Volvo styling chief Peter Horbury, has a job ahead of him it seems.

That said, it's arguably Englon that is the most interesting from the outside looking in. Established off the back of Geely's stake in the company that builds London's unique taxis, Englon is looking to establish a range of cars with styling that (believe it or not) draws inspiration from the Old Dart.

It had three concept cars on hand at Beijing, the SX6 SUV (10) and the SC7-RS sedan and SC7-RV hatch. To say their styling is challenging to western tastes is probably being kind. Nonetheless, in proof positive that Chinese tastes can be (and are) unique, Geely staffers told us models very close to the showcars' execution would go into production in 2013.


DS splits with Citroen
How serious is Citroen about separating its DS sub-brand from its mainstream models? Deadly serious in China it seems. Not only were the DS models on a separate DS branded stand in Beijing, they were actually in an entirely different hall.

DS is being pitched at the high end of the market in China and the brand formalized this with a luxury-themed show presence alongside Mercedes, Lexus and co in a premium hall.

All three French brands see China as a key marketplace. Peugeot debuted what surely will become the 2008 in the form of a concept compact SUV at Beijing, while Renault had a new production car, the Talisman. Australian Renault 'fans' would recognize it as the Korean sourced and Nissan Maxima-based Latitude.


Zil ain't seen nothing yet
The prize for the most outrageous limousine didn't go to Rolls Royce's Six Senses limited edition Ghost, nor any of the established European brands. Instead it was the domain of the domestic Hongqi (Red Flag) L7.

Of huge proportions, the car looks like a recreation of the state limousines leaders of both Red China and the USSR favoured in the bad old days. That's because it is...

While a standard wheelbase L7 (11) was on the main FAW stand for all to peruse -- at a polite distance -- an even more outrageous and even longer wheelbase model (essentially the real state limousine) was locked away in a glass showroom and available via invitation only. Without our little red book, we couldn't get close.

The Red Flag is not available for sale to members of the public (FAW hopes to tempt upscale patriots with its H7 executive model) but the new model will be built in numbers for faithful Chinese communist party members to use.

The next 'in' car for rich rappers? Don't bet against it...


Sincere flattery
There were again no shortage of 'tribute' cars at this year's Auto China -- many of them SUVs, befitting the segment's status as the 'in' thing in China. Mazda's CX-5 (14) came in for the cloning treatment from Changan, brilliance had an X1 knock-off, Geely's EX6 was a badly drawn Dualis (12), we spotted an oddly proportioned Subaru Forester that wasn’t (13) and ZXAuto had a car that was part Skoda Fabia and part Yeti... At least to our eyes and lens.

Hawtai took the process one step further, scaling down a Porsche Cayenne around 20 per cent (9) to produce a compact SUV that was more Zuffenhausen than Zhengzhou. Even the interior had Porsche queues -- though clearly not Porsche quality control.


Dragon the chain
If you're going to build a limited edition model in China, here's a tip... Call it the Dragon -- the Beijing'll punters love it. There were no shortage of Dragon models at Auto China 2012. Aston was among the shameless and even Jeep and smart were getting into the act.


Girls, girls, girls
The other thing Auto China boasted plenty of was promotional models -- of the biological kind. Indeed, Cold Chisel would have been in their element -- teenage Chinese princesses aplenty. Tacky with a capital T...

It seems the messages regarding political correctness haven't quite made it to the Chinese brands, nor the Chinese offshoots of the Euros and Japanese brands. Toyota for example had a Great Wall of hostesses!

Regular international showgoers would also have readily noted the difference in the type and length of speeches brands used to introduce new models. At a European show it's all about facts, figures and... fancy that we've run out of time. The Auto China speeches were flowery, full of references to Chinese proverbs and poetry and in many case had not one but multiple musical interludes.

Part of the reason is cultural for sure, but there's also less time pressure. At Auto China all halls run concurrent launch unveilings. Great if you're a punter -- somewhat challenging if you have to be five places at once.


Not just T-shirts
Beijing's opening media and industry day attracted a crowd way beyond what this writer has experienced at any motor show... Especially given the fact there were nine huge halls across which to spread the estimated 50,000-plus 'experts'.

Part of the reason, it's suggested, was that a substantial number of forged press passes were being sold to members of the public. It seems it's not only T-shirts that are made available as "genuine copies" in the Chinese capital.

On exit from the show, real press passes were worth $A200 or more. Why the scrabble to get one, we asked locals?

It's alleged that press handouts for Chinese media and industry analysts sometimes include a few extra sweetners to help predispose showgoers to certain brands.


Buy local prompts prestige push
It wasn't just imposters grabbing their press kits that was worrying Mercedes, Audi and BMW execs at Beijing -- rather a push fostered by public opinion to get China's fat-cat public servants out of name badge imported cars into locally-built and locally-branded cars.

The move has allegedly prompted record sales of high-end Europeans in March and April as high-ranking officials get in quick before the rules are changed. The other effect has been the acceleration of prestige car programs from local Chinese brands.