GREATER LEAPS FORWARD IN QUALITY

China’s show raised the curtain — and standard — on innovation and design

carryover 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbo engines. Inside and out the vehicle looks a class above what’s previously worn the Chinese manufacturer’s badge. MG’s Pavel Meck says MG isn’t looking to move upmarket “but the product offering will be considerably evolutionary”. The new model will arrive in Australia late this year or early 2020. LDV took the wraps off its D60 SUV, which has seating options for two, six or seven. It’s not yet confirmed for right-hand drive markets. Driving is overrated in China. Most buyers don’t get behind the wheel, they’re chauffeured. That’s why BMW revealed a longwheelbase version of the new 3 Series sedan exclusively for the local market. It’s been extended to 4650mm and is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. All the dual-cab big guns have brought out hardcore models, now Great Wall is joining in. Expected to arrive Down Under next year, the Adventure adopts the company’s “tough truck” design philosophy. There is also an urban specification release. The Adventure comes with built-in winch, triple diff locks, off-road selector with seven settings and, Great Wall claims, 900mm wading depth. It will also come with LED headlights and black wheel arches. The tailgate is designed to ease loading of trail bikes. Wraps also came off an all-electric version of the dual-cab with range of 500km. SAIC’s workhorse and off-roader marque LDV revealed what it regards as a game-changer for the brand — the V90 van. Inside, the V90 has an enticing cabin design with a large central tablet on the dash. It aims to build on the reputation of the V80, a watershed vehicle for the brand in Australia. Its new 2.0-litre diesel, the first to be completely built in-house, will also feature in the D90 large SUV with twin turbos and outputs of 130kW/400Nm. Fitted with a single turbocharger, it will power the T60 dual-cab ute and V80.