2021 Shanghai motor show: the weird and wonderful
Countless oddities were revealed for the Chinese market at this month's show; these are our favourites
Every motor show has its fair share of weird and wonderful concept cars, some of which are designed purely to grab your attention and others which defy the odds and make it to production.
Rarely are there more of these than at the Shanghai motor show in China, where the car culture is very different to what we’re used to in the west.
The 2021 Shanghai motor show has been no exception, with a number of newly revealed cars that give a whole new meaning to words like ‘quirky’ and ‘eclectic’.
We’ve rounded up a few of our favourites.
*SAIC Roewe Jing*
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the front end of SAIC Roewe’s new SUV looks like a whale, not least because that’s exactly where the car’s designers have got their inspiration from. ‘Jing’ directly translates from Chinese as ‘whale’, and the company says it follows a philosophy called ‘emotional rhythm’. This - whatever it is - is meant to rejuvenate the brand, according to its makers.
*Hongqi S9*
The Hongqi S9 is a new, luxury-focused hypercar designed by Walter De Silva, who worked for Alfa Romeo through the 1980s and 90s before moving to Volkswagen Group. “Beauty is the first thought when I start drawing,” explains De Silva, who now runs his own design house. Performance details are yet to be revealed, but the original concept car promised 1381bhp and Italian race cars are a major source of inspiration.
*Hengchi 2*
Founded in 2020, Hengchi is an electric-vehicle brand that allegedly has nine production models in the pipeline already. The 2 - a saloon measuring 4781mm in length - has been designed by former Mini and Borgward designer Anders Warming, and 444 miles of range is claimed. That’s 39 more than promised in the Tesla Model S Long Range, the longest-range electric car in production right now. The proof will be in the pudding…
*XPeng P5*
The XPeng P5 looks like the real deal, and with a rumoured 373 miles of range it could do very well when it goes on sale in China. Its creators also say they’ve cracked autonomous driving tech that works in the city, potentially a massive breakthrough if they can back up their claims. More worrying is the fact that the P5’s cabin can be transformed into a bedroom (see gallery), a feature that hopefully won’t be used at the same time as the autonomous driving mode.
*Zeekr 001*
Zeekr - a new brand launched by Geely - revealed the 001 in Shanghai, and intends to sell the electric shooting brake in markets outside of China from 2022. The figures are impressive: 435 miles of range from a 100kWh battery, charging speeds of up to 360kW, 536bhp and 0-62mph in 3.8sec. The platform underneath will be used in future Volvo and Polestar models too, possibly giving us a sign of things to come in Europe.
*BYD AE-1*
From certain angles the BYD AE-1 concept bears plenty of similarities to the Volkswagen ID 3. The powertrain on the other hand is something else: the firm claims that the platform within uses an 800-volt battery and that a range of up to 1000km (621mi) is possible. 0-62mph in 2.9sec is also promised. Not bad for a four-door hatchback.
*ORA Lightning Cat concept*
No it’s not a 911, this is the Lightning Cat concept by ORA, an electric vehicle manufacturer owned by China’s Great Wall Motors. ORA says it previews a production car that will be capable of 0-62mph in 3.5sec thanks to an electric motor on each axle and four-wheel drive. The exterior has a two-tone finish that’s matched by the cabin’s tan upholstery. There are screens aplenty too, with the digital instruments and cameras in place of wing mirrors to reduce drag.
*ORA Punk Cat concept*
Not satisfied with copying (read ‘taking inspiration from’) Porsche, another ORA concept has drawn heavily from the classic Volkswagen Beetle. A vote to decide on a name for the EV saw it christened Punk Cat, although there’s nothing punky about the green, red and cream interior (see gallery). At least we now know what it would look like if a guest room at Blenheim Palace was crossed with a branch of Cath Kidston.
*GMW Baja Snake*
This off-roading pick-up from Great Wall Motors is allegedly inspired by Shelby. Called the Baja Snake, the heavily fortified truck is based on GWM’s Cannon pick-up, bringing a raised ride height, bigger bumpers, a new suspension and even an air snorkel to the table. GMW says the Baja Snake is a production car that will be sold as a limited edition model in China, although quite how limited remains to be seen.
*Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio*
The Hongguang Mini EV has taken China by storm following its launch last year, helped by its price tag of just £3200 and a 100-mile range that makes it ideal for life in the city. A cabrio version is now in the pipeline, complete with a mechanically operated, soft-top roof that can retract and deploy in a matter of seconds. A production model is set to arrive next year, and given the hardtop is less than 3m long, it’ll be one of the smallest cars on sale.
*Haval X-Dog*
Haval revealed its Big Dog SUV not so long ago, and the X-Dog is a concept for a model that’s set to launch sometime in 2022. Part Suzuki Jimny, part Kia Soul EV in its design, the X-Dog has gone to town with screens inside, with no fewer than six in the front of the cabin alone: two on the extremes of the dashboard, one in the steering wheel, a digital instrument display, a central touchscreen and a further display in the centre console. There are physical buttons for the boot and fuel filler cap, but that’s about it.
*Read more*
*2019 Shanghai motor show revisited: full report and all the news*
*New cars 2021: what’s coming and when?*
*New electric cars 2021: what’s coming and when?*