A surprising Beijing autoshow2008 showcased a collection of rather inspired Chinese manufacturers and large international brands trying to seduce the rich city dwellers by bringing a strange balance between polluting Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and models oriented towards environmental protection.

Beijing and China in general continues its cult admiration of the car, despite the city's horrific traffic jams and pollution problems. Autoshow2008 was thus held in Beijing from the 20^th to the 28^th of April, welcoming a compact crowd of some 600,000 people who made the journey to the new 160,000 sq. meter exhibition hall, located near the international airport.

This year, Chinese manufacturers largely dominated the scene, constituting 80% of the total 2,100 exhibitors, and bringing original cars, rather than pale copies of Western models.

The best in show award undoubtedly goes to Geely and its concept sports coupe car the Tiger, which looks just out of a Batman movie. The 100% electric GWKULLA by Greatwall is the size of a wasp and a dynamic allure also attracted some attention with its great performance figures: a top speed of up to 140 km/h with 130 km per charge. Greatwall showed off its London cab designs, having recently acquired the design rights. No one would have imagined having to come to China to find them!

The Chinese manufacturers followed the global trend at this show, with a rather extreme division between hybrid models and gasoline-greedy luxury sport utility vehicles. Longbo, a Chinese manufacturer with facilities in the United States, took the concept of "larger is better" the farthest with a large civilian version of a Chinese Army Hummer decorated with Lamborghini-styled doors. Ideal for a stroll in the narrow alleys of old Beijing neighborhoods...

Everyone's desires

Beijing, Longbo's compatriot, unveiled its new SUV, while Liebao showed off its model specially made for the next Paris-Dakar. But it was Hongqi, the official supplier of limousines for the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, who introduced the most beautiful model: a racy and original compact luxury SUV.

On the environment side of models, it was BYD and its flamboyant sports hydride model that was the most remarkable. "It's a car that I would like to have," says a young Chinese cadre. "It's beautiful and clean. It's perfect!" he adds.

Among the foreign brands, the major manufacturers agreed that the urban rich Chinese worshiped the compact and powerful SUV to show off on the broad avenues. Mercedes-Benz came out with a world exclusive look at its new GLK SUV class. It incorporates all the latest technological innovations for on and off-road driving. The German brand also introduced SMART car to China, going after the urban youth, hoping to attract them by the car's handling and its fashionable look.

Audi unveiled the Q5, a new compact SUV, with the intent of making rich Chinese's mouths water. Similarly, BMW brought for the first time in Asia its Activehybrid, an SUV that balances ecology and appearance and one of the most beautiful models at the show.

On the French manufacturers' side, Peugeot went the very classic route with its sober 307 and 407 models for the upper middle class. At the same time, Citroen aimed for the greater public with its new C-Elysée whose design is rather austere but which meets international standards, something that is rate with Chinese models...

In the end, the Chinese aren't likely to return to their legendary energy efficient bikes. And the car market of the middle kingdom promises to cater to everyone's desire for a long time.

Text: Nicolas Sridi
Photos: Wang Zhuo
May 2008