Arcfox to Zeekr: Star cars at the 2024 Beijing motor show
The electric Mercedes G-Class, BYD's first pick-up and Ora's 395bhp sports saloon are among the headliners
The Beijing motor show has returned for the first time since 2019, bringing a whole host of exciting unveilings from some of the world's most renowned names - plus some radical challengers you might never have heard of before.
Mercedes has launched the new electric G-Class, the long-awaited Mini Aceman has made its public debut and the covers have come off the Volkswagen Tiguan-rivalling Smart #5, to name but a few.
Chinese firms are out in force, with a wave of electric and hybrid cars expected to arrive on UK soil in the coming years and months. BYD is launching a new electric pick-up and GWM is be on the stands with the Ora 07 - a swooping, saloon-shaped stablemate to the 03 hatchback.
Stay tuned for all the latest from our team on the ground at the show.
*Arcfox Alpha S5*
BAIC-owned electric car maker Arcfox has detailed its latest saloon, the Alpha S5, ahead of its public debut.
It’s based on an 800V electrical architecture and packs two motors – one on each axle – that output a combined 523bhp and 509lb ft of torque.
It’s claimed to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in 3.7sec and it can drive 419 miles between charges, according to China’s CLTC test cycle.
*Audi Q6 L*
The Q6 L is a China-specific derivative of Audi's posh new electric SUV. Its wheelbase has been stretched by 105mm to meet the market's demand for lots of legroom, yet it'll still do 435 miles between charges, according to the CLTC test cycle.
*Audi Q6 E-tron brings 388 miles of range and up to 510bhp*
*Avatr 12*
This upmarket five-door liftback is the second production model from the Chinese EV manufacturer that's partnered with mobile phone company Huawei and battery manufacturer CATL. It will be based on the firm's EP1 EV platform, like the 11 SUV launched in 2022, with production of right-hand-drive models set to begin this year.
The 12 (pronounced 'one-two') is expected to make its show debut in Beijing before it goes global in the coming months.
*Avatr 12: CATL, Changan and Huawei create new electric saloon*
*BMW 4 Series facelift*
BMW’s popular coupé has been refreshed with a host of technological upgrades, including new LED lights and the iDrive 8.5 infotainment system.
*BMW 4 Series and i4 refreshed in new tech and design update*
*BYD Shark*
Having already become one of the world’s biggest car makers, BYD will enter the light commercial vehicle market with a new mid-sized pick-up truck to rival the Toyota Hilux.
Heavily camouflaged prototypes have been spotted already in China, sporting a dual-cab design and a slab-sided profile.
The Shark will be offered with a new off-road-focused plug-in hybrid powertrain.
*BYD confirms Shark name for first plug-in hybrid pick-up*
*Denza Z9 GT*
The flagship model for BYD’s joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, the Denza Z9 GT, has been revealed in Chinese patent filings.
It gets a tri-motor powertrain that pushes up to 952bhp through all four wheels, positioning it as a rival to the Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
*Exeed E08*
Chery-owned luxury brand Exeed’s entry into China’s burgeoning MPV segment will offer a range of battery-electric and range-extender powertrains.
It’s expected to major on in-car technology, swapping traditional side mirrors for cameras.
*Fangchengbao*
Nascent BYD-owned brand Fangchengbao will show three new cars at the Beijing motor show: the Super 3 and Bao 8 SUVs and the striking Super 9 speedster.
All use electrified powertrains and have been designed by Wolfgang Egger, who penned the Alfa Romeo 8C.
*BYD-owned Fangchengbao brings three new cars to Beijing show*
*GWM Ora 07*
Ora’s second UK model wears a swooping, retro-inspired shell that looks to have taken inspiration from both the Porsche Panamera and its smaller stablemate, the 03 (née Funky Cat).
It is expected to be offered with rear- or four-wheel drive, with up to 395bhp and 500lb ft for a 0-62mph time of 4.4sec. Electric range is not yet known, but in China - where it is sold as the Lighting Cat - it uses an 83kWh battery that delivers 373 miles of range.
*Honda Ye GT Concept*
Honda has launched a new model line with its Chinese joint-venture partners, Dongfeng and GAC, aimed at making headway in the country.
Called Ye, its flagship model is previewed by a sharp-edged, low-slung saloon focused on driver engagement.
A production version will go on sale in China next year.
*Honda Ye P7 and S7*
The first two arrivals from the Ye line-up are a pair of electric crossovers. They share the same underpinnings but are distinguished by their styling, with the S7 getting a three-pronged headlight design in line with the GT Concept.
*Honda unwraps new Ye series of EVs, including sleek GT*
*iCar V23*
Chery's nascent iCar sub-brand showed its second model, the V23. It's a battery-electric 4x4 aimed at young buyers, putting a futuristic twist on classic designs such as as the Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes G-Class and Land Rover Defender.
*iCar X25*
Bolstering iCar's 4x4 line-up is a type of car we haven't seen since the Renault Scenic RX4 – an off-road MPV. Local media reports it has a range-extender powertrain.
*Lamborghini Urus SE*
Lamborghini’s bold and brash SUV has gone exclusively electrified with a new plug-in hybrid powertrain that puts out a muscular 789bhp. It’ll crack 0-62mph in 3.4sec and its 25.9kWh battery delivers an electric-only range of 37 miles.
*Lamborghini Urus hybrid revealed as UK's most powerful ICE SUV*
*Lynk & Co 07*
Geely-owned firm Lynk & Co's new plug-in hybrid saloon, the 07, has made its debut at the Beijing show. Local media reports that the quickest versions of the sleek four-door get a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors, combining to produce 585bhp.
Mengshi M-Hunter
Dongfeng’s armoured car division Mengshi is aiming to take a slice of the growing 4x4 market with an open-sided dune buggy. It’s targeting the luxury market, with a limited production run and an emphasis on customisation.
*Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance*
The plug-in hybrid version of Mercedes-AMG’s new four-seat super-coupé will be Affalterbach’s sixth PHEV, armed with huge power and even more performance.
It gets the same engine as the top-rung, electrified SL roadster, which pairs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with a rear-mounted electric motor. The set-up gives combined outputs of 804bhp and 1047lb ft and pushes the car to 62mph in 2.9sec. Prices are expected to exceed £200,000.
*Mercedes-AMG GT hybrid revealed as firm's quickest car yet*
*Mercedes-Benz G580 With EQ Technology*
The electric G-Class is promised by Mercedes to be the best, with four motors combining to deliver a huge 859lb ft of torque. It sits on a modified version of the combustion G’s ladder-frame chassis, with battery cells mounted directly into the frame in specially designed packs.
*Electric Mercedes G-Class revealed as quad-motor luxury 4x4*
*MG EXE181*
The EXE181 is MG's vision of an electric hypercar, emphasising aerodynamic performance with a sleek long-tailed body and a drag coefficient of just 0.18Cd.
MG has yet to fully detail the EV, but its four electric motors are claimed to allow it to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in just 1.9sec. That's as quick as the Rimac Nevera.
*MG EXE181 concept previews Rimac-baiting electric hypercar*
*Mini Aceman*
The Aceman completes Mini’s all-new line-up, bridging the gap between the Cooper and Countryman SUV. It's the first Mini not to offer a combustion engine and its two battery options provide ranges of 193 and 252 miles. Prices start at £31,800.
*New Mini Aceman is electric Renault Clio rival*
*Smart #5 concept*
Smart’s largest model to date is a Volvo XC40-sized electric crossover with a chunky, square profile.
It's understood to use the same SEA platform as its smaller siblings, the the #1 and #3, but upgraded to run on an 800V electrical architecture rather than the 400V used by those EVs. That brings a signifcant boost to charging speeds.
It will be unveiled in production form later this year, ahead of a UK launch in early 2025.
*Smart #5 concept previews rapid-charging electric 4x4*
*Volkswagen ID Code*
VW's latest concept car represents an about-turn in its strategy for China, gearing up to develop new EVs specifically for the region. The ID Code majors on upcoming technologies, including level-four autonomy and AI-backed infotainment functions.
*Volkswagen rethinks EVs in China with bold ID Code concept*
*Zeekr Mix*
This or a Volkswagen ID Buzz? The Mix is one of a quintet of models that three-year-old Zeekr is set to launch in the UK as part of a broader push into right-hand-drive markets by parent firm Geely, which also owns Volvo and Lotus.
It will receive a battery developed in a partnership between CATL and Geely - likely the 86kWh pack used by the Zeekr 001, which is equipped with 800V hardware for 360kW charging. In engineering terms, it has been developed in tandem with the Smart #5, which will also be revealed at Beijing.
*Zeekr Mix: Volkswagen ID Buzz rival set for UK launch in 2026*