Electric vehicles shine at Shanghai Auto Show
However, the attention was focused once more on luxury and sports segment especially the face- lifted Mercedes- Benz S- Class. BMW offered a long- wheel base 5 Series for the Chinese market while Audi looked further into the future with its Sportback e- tron.
Audi confirms that the new e- tron concept would be in production in 2019 and describes its design as “emotional and powerful with lights that communicate with their surroundings.” It will use Audi’s Quattro technology for an all- wheel drive via three electric motors. The e- tron would be capable of reaching 100 kilometers an hour in 4.5 seconds and cover 310 miles.
The e- tron represents an important milestone for Audi along the road to electric mobility. Rupert Stadler, Audi’s CEO confirmed: “Our Audi e tron will be starting out in 2018 – the first electric car in its competitive field that is fit for everyday use. With a range of over 310 miles and the special electric driving experience, we will make this sporty SUV the musthave product of the next decade. Following close on its heels, in 2019,
would be the production version of the Audi e tron Sportback – an emotional coupé version that is thrillingly identifiable as an electric car at the very first glance.”
Another promising prototype came from VW in the form of I. D. Crozz, a concept electric vehicle. VW Chairman Herbert Diess promises future production and global sales of up to a million cars by 2025. It follows two I. D. hatchback and I. D. Buzz electric concepts previously revealed by the company.
The Crozz will be running on two electric motors with a combined output of 302 brake horse power ( bhp). The high- riding four- seater is claimed to boast 0- 100 kilometers per hour in less than 6 seconds and an overall range of up to 311 miles.
In addition to zero emission, the I. D. Crozz also highlights autonomous driving features that are likely to begin appearing on the company’s more up-market models within the next decade. Other electric vehicles came from MG, which unveiled the E-Motion EV sports car that the company said is lined up for production. Using an allelectric powertrain that has been developed in-house, the concept is claimed to be capable of 0-100 kilometers per hour in less than 4 seconds. It has a range of over 310 miles. Skoda, part of the VW Group, revealed the Vision E-Skoda, an electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) concept. The company plans to begin its production by 2020. It runs on two electric motors with a total power output of 225 kilowatts (kW) with an all-wheel drive and a range of up to 500 kilometers, and its top speed reaches 180 kilometers per hour. The company confirms that autonomous driving at level-3 is possible. Many Chinese companies also displayed their electric ware. They included companies such as BAIC, Beiqi Foton, BYD, Changan, Chery, Dongfeng, FAW, Geely, Great Wall, Hafei and Haima.
Audi, Volkswagen (VW) and Skoda led the European onslaught of electric vehicles at this week’s Shanghai Auto Show while dozens of Chinese companies also unveiled their products in the same segment. China is actively encouraging using electric vehicles in order to mitigate air pollution in its megacities. Last year, Chinese companies sold 329,000 electric cars — an increase of 116 percent over the previous year.
One of the highlights of the Shanghai show this week is the new Mercedes S- Class which, in addition to its top luxury features, took a leap forward in enhancing autonomous driving. The company promises the next generation, due in 2020, will be capable of hands-free autonomous technology.
There are more self-driving features in this S-Class than in any other previ- ous model from the company. The car can now apply brakes around bends and speed up again. The model can also steer itself for up to 30 seconds but requires that drivers have their hands on the wheel at all times.
The product has impressive and advanced features like Distronic active distance assist, active lane- change assist, active emergency- stop assist, evasive steering assist and active parking assist. The car can also communicate with other equipped vehicles.
BMW featured the new long-wheel base 5 Series for the Chinese market, while Citroen introduced not one but two new SUVs. Citroen sold 250,000 vehicles in China last year. MINI revealed the Countryman JCW with 228 bhp and is due in the market this year.
Jaguar revealed a long- wheel base saloon called the XEL.