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  • 16 noteworthy production models at the 2026 Auto Beijing!

    26 Apr 2026

    |

    13,247 views

    We bring you some of our favourites from this year's show, ranging from models relevant to Singapore, all the way to those that are simply just intriguing.

    China is the new superpower of the automotive world; there's no fighting it. Held from 24 April 2026 to 3 May 2026, this year's 19th Beijing Motor Show (also called Auto Beijing) is resultantly nothing short of magnificent. 

    Themed "Future of Intelligence", the monumental bi-annual event is even bigger than its previous iteration. For 2026, the Show - for the first time - fully utilises all exhibition spaces at both the China International Exhibition Centre and the Capital International Exhibition Centre of China (CIECC). That has enabled it to achieve a record-breaking total exhibition area of 380,000 square meters!

    A whopping total of 1,451 vehicles and 181 premieres have taken to the CIECC this year

    As such, the event is now seeing a whopping total of 1,451 vehicles on display, which includes 181 premieres and 71 concept cars. To put things into perspective, its previous iteration had already achieved tremendous success, with 117 world premieres, including 30 global debuts, 41 concept cars, and 278 new energy vehicles.

    Spanning the likes of Changan Automobile, Chery, Leapmotor and Zeekr, some of these models are from brands that have grown a sizable presence in Singapore - thus also serving as interesting displays of what their parent brands are up to, and could potentially bring to our shores.

    Others, however, are downright intriguing (and not always for the best reasons). In alphabetical order, here are 16 noteworthy models that were at this year's show!

    The E7X is a five-metre long, 500kW electric SUV from Audi's China-only AUDI sub-brand 

    1. AUDI E7X

    To refresh your memory slightly, Audi was one of the first legacy players to come up with an entire sub-brand dedicated to the Chinese market – one that still sounds like the Audi we know, but is branded simply as 'AUDI', the four-letter (rather than four-ringed) brand, led in collaboration with SAIC Motor.

    In Beijing, it pulled the covers off the all-new AUDI E7X, a premium electric SUV that once more promises the best of both worlds - "engineering excellence from Audi and deep integration into China's digital ecosystem".

    Don't let the images fool you - this is quite the large SUV, at 5,049mm long, 1,997mm wide, 1,710mm tall, and with an incredible wheelbase of 3,060mm. If you know the E5 Sportback already, the E7X's still-intriguing, alien-like face shouldn't look too foreign either. System output stands at either 300kW or 500kW, while the longest-ranged variants get a 109kWh battery that's good for up to 750km of CLTC-rated range.

    We'll never get this in Singapore, but the E7X is nonetheless an intriguing and impressive display of tech - one that feels worthy of Ingolstadt's motto of Vorsprung durch Technik. 

    Changan's CS75 Plus isn't just a bestseller for the Chongqing-based carmaker, but a visual homage to the city too

    2. Changan CS75 Plus

    On the outside, the CS75 Plus may seem like an unassuming and nondescript SUV; devoid of surprises. But peel the layers back further, and you'll find Changan Automobile's best-selling car: A true value champion.

    Mass market appeal aside, what is truly charming about the CS75 Plus is its design. In particular, the slanted grilles up front apparently mimic the way sun rays cut through the clouds, casting a soft glow onto Chongqing where Changan Automobile is head-quartered.

    On the other hand, the rear lights of the CS75 Plus are said to mirror the unevenness of buildings on the skyline of Chongqing: Almost jagged like the chaotic urban sprawl up and down the slopes of Chongqing. Arguably, the car's charm lies in the fact that it is one of the rare few out there to showcase its heritage so clearly through its marks and lines. 

    Don't be fooled - the DENZA Z isn't a mid-engined roadster, but an electric supercar with the equivalent of over 1,000bhp

    3. DENZA Z

    BYD’s impossibly large booth at Auto Beijing - basically the entirety of its hall – was already an event in itself. Yet within it, you'd be hard-pressed to deny that the Denza Z is the indisputable and all-consuming showstopper.

    Painted in a striking shade of blue, the Denza Z captivates with its low-slung, open-top, mid-engine supercar-esque silhouette. However, here's the catch: The Z doesn't actually have an engine. Instead, this is an electric vehicle expected to put out over 1,000bhp and capable of completing the century sprint in around two seconds. Oh, and it even has four seats within! 

    While its lineage might trace back to the FangChengBao Super 9 concept from 2024, the brand says that the Denza Z is production-ready, and headed towards Europe in the near future. 

    The E8 PHEV could well be the answer to those who want an under-the-radar luxe-MPV that can go the distance

    4. GAC Trumpchi E8 PHEV

    While the GAC E9 we know in Singapore embraces excess with its flashy chrome-slatted grille, meet what is branded as the GAC Trumpchi E8 PHEV - freshly launched in Beijing - that pursues a vision of subtlety instead. You can imagine this appealing more to those who want to zip around under the radar, with its minimalist light bar, rounded and smooth snout, and its slab-like body.

    Don't mistake this for a lack of luxury, though; the E8 is offered as a seven seater with resplendent captain's chairs with massage, heating and ventilation functions in the second row; a 17.3-inch drop-down screen; and even a three-zone fridge.

    It's also powered in combination by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and an electric motor, and can apparently do up to 205km on pure electric power with its 38.883kWh battery. GAC currently still has the monopoly over plug-in hybrid luxury MPVs in Singapore, and if this makes it to our shores, that monopoly could very well be amplified further.

    Haval's Menglong Plus is yet another plug-in hybrid SUV that's brawny and chunky, yet also powerful and practical

    5. Haval Menglong Plus

    The Haval Menglong Plus is a family-oriented seven-seater plug-in hybrid that's good for about 1,000km of combined range.

    Equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and two electric motors, this big SUV is capable of 443bhp and 660Nm of twisting force, allowing it to smash the century sprint in just 5.9 seconds. With its 44.7kWh battery pack, the car will travel some 252km on pure electric power too.

    On the inside, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen takes centre stage while space remains to be the royal order of the day. Speaking of which, there's up to 1,549 litres worth of hauling capacity – an incredible sum. Elsewhere, from what we can see, the car offers a 2+3+2 seating configuration.

    According to sources, there's a possibility the Haval Menglong Plus will be coming to Singapore either at end of the 2026 or in early 2027.

    Inspired by classic Land Cruisers and older Land Rovers, the V27 is bound for Singapore's shores - fittingly - in 2027

    6. ICAUR V27

    The ICAUR V27 is the elder brother of the V23 that we've already seen and still loved. While the V23 has round head lights and looks to be inspired by the Toyota FJ Cruiser, the V27 sports a boxier front-end with squarish headlights.

    Design influences by past Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are clear to see, which makes the V27 a really attractive homage to legendary off-roaders. The ICAUR V27 is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that works hand-in-hand with an electric motor (dual motors for AWD variant) to put out impressive performance while offering an incredible range of 1,200km and above.

    The ICAUR V27 is expected to make its way onto our shores late next year - keep your eyes peeled!

    Unlike the IM5 and IM6, the IM LS8 sports a boxier exterior and boasts three rows of seats, while keeping to the brand's techy sheen

    7. IM LS8

    In Singapore, IM Motors has been quick to accumulate accolades attesting to the brand's general design direction, as well as the comfort, handling, and tech of its cars. Within a fairly short span of time, both the IM5 and IM6 have arguably won quite the fanbase over, and made names for themselves even amidst a rather crowded electric crowd from China.

    So imagine if those same traits applied to a three-row SUV. Enter: The IM LS8, a comfortable, spacious and practical larger sibling to the IM5 and IM6. Its three-row seating capacity is the real highlight here; there are just certain situations where something smaller won't cut it.

    Offered as both a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) in China, the IM LS8 is apparently due to arrive in Singapore sometime in H2. If both powertrain types do make the swim over to our shores, this techy barge could soon be the first range-extended electric vehicle to hit the Singapore market.

    The Lafa 5 Ultra is a rear-wheel driven performance electric hatch with a tidy 241bhp

    8. Leapmotor Lafa 5 Ultra (or B05)

    Announcing its presence with a front splitter, side skirts, a rear diffuser, as well as a rear wing, Leapmotor's Lafa 5 Ultra is a performance compact electric hatchback that also celebrated its launch at Beijing, and which stood out as a real eye-catcher at the brand's booth.

    Let's talk dimensions first. Measuring 4,490mm long, 1,880mm wide, and 1,510mm tall, the Lafa 5 Ultra comes with a generous 2,735mm wheelbase while maintaining a relatively compact size. Compared to the regular Lafa 5, the Ultra variant is also capable of pushing out 241bhp - a bump of approximately 25bhp over the standard car. It's rear-wheel driven too, and apparently has 50:50 weight distribution.

    Leapmotor is targeting this at a younger and sportier audience, so it should come as no surprise that the Lafa 5 Ultra was showcased with matte gun-grey logos and wheel caps and matte dark grey brake callipers. These, coupled with its lowered ride height, giving it a very aggressive appearance indeed.

    While it's still unclear if the car will be coming to Singapore, what's definitely coming to us at the end of the year are the Leapmotor A10 as well as B10 compact SUVs. Stay tuned!

    The ES9, NIO's newest flagship SUV, comes with interesting goodies such as steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering

    9. NIO ES9

    This year's Auto China show is seeing a large amount of luxury flagship SUVs take to the stands, and among them, NIO is joining the ranks too with its new ES9.

    The latest flagship SUV from NIO features a bold and impressive design, along with lots of high-tech systems. Like the XPENG GX you’ll see in a bit, the ES9 is also equipped with steer by wire and rear-wheel steering.

    Additionally, the ES9 rides on an advanced SkyRide active suspension system that is capable of instantaneously adjusting stiffness, damping and ride height thousands of times per second to ensure exceptional ride stability. 

    Performance is similarly staggering: The dual motor variant puts out almost 700 horsepower, allowing an impressive century sprint of 4.3 seconds. What's more, the ES9 is also equipped with a high-level ADAS system with use of LiDAR and NIO's self-developed chip.

    The handsome NX8 is offered as either a full BEV or as a plug-in hybrid, both of which boast an 800V electrical architecture

    10. Nissan NX8

    For China's market, Nissan is rolling out the NX8 SUV, which will be offered in two electrified powertrains here: A full electric and a plug-in hybrid. It will be based on an 800V silicon carbide platform across both powertrain options.

    More relevantly for those keen on pure electric power, the battery electric version uses a single motor setup with outputs of either 288bhp or 335bhp that will be paired to an 81kWh battery pack. This enables the car to have approximately 650km of range on a full charge.

    The plug-in hybrid, on the other hand, combines a 1.5-litre turbo petrol powerplant with a 250kW electric motor. On pure EV mode, the car is good for 310km of range while a combined driving range will see enable you to travel up to 1,450km.

    Impressive as all this may sound, however, whether or not the Nissan NX8 eventually makes it to Singapore remains to be seen.

    The 04's head-turning 'Cyber Mecha' design draws charming inspiration from Gundam 

    11. Omoda 04

    Originally unveiled as the C3, the Omoda 04 (or Omoda 4) is a crossover with a revolutionary design made up of crisp lines and even sharper edges a design language that the brand calls 'Cyber Mecha'.

    While we have been seeing this Gundam-inspired crossover a fair bit in the past year, it was still in a conceptual stage each time. This time round, however, the Omoda 04 is finally production-ready, with the first production rollout slated to happen within this couple of days at Omoda's factory in Wuhu, Anhui, China.

    The Omoda 04 will be available in EV and ICE variants, with the EV version slated to reach Singapore's shores around the middle of next year.

    The Z7 is a new four-door electric coupe from SAIC that looks uncannily similar to the Porsche Taycan

    12. SAIC Shangjie Z7

    Nope. Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.

    This isn't another mid-life refresh for the Taycan from Porsche, but rather, an all-new sporty EV from Huawei-backed HIMA. It's called the SAIC Shangjie Z7, and from its swooping lines, down to its Mission E-reminiscent rims and Rubystar-like paintcoat… let's just say we're surprised that Porsche hasn't pressed for copyright charges yet.

    While it's hard to beat Porsche in the driving dynamics department, the Z7 does pack a punch when it comes to sheer output. Twin motors here on the range-topping variant send 434kW and over 700Nm of torque to all four wheels, enabling it to crack the century sprint in under 3.5 seconds. There's an impressive level of tech too, with an intelligent chassis, air suspension, LiDAR sensors, and Huawei’s own Qiankun ADS 4.1 self-driving system.

    Most impressive is the affordability; prices started at under S$50,000 at launch back in March (RMB228,800).

    Though slated for China only currently, the bZ7 is a gorgeous electric sedan that pushes past what one would conventionally expect from Toyota

    13. Toyota bZ7

    This one's up there among the best-looking sedans we know of today. In fact, it's made us wonder: At what point does a Toyota stop being, well, like the Toyotas of old we expect, to surpass the likes of the resplendent Crown, or even a Lexus?

    Launched for sale only in China currently, the Toyota bZ7 is a beautiful machine that exudes grace and presence; a car of flagship-like proportions that now sits at the throne of the Toyota's Beyond Zero electric-only series. 

    In the bZ7, front passengers are treated to features worthy of luxury cabin interiors, including fluffy headrest supports that used to be found on ultra-luxe makes. The rear, on the other hand, feels like it could be transformed into a luxe lounge with its limousine-style centre armrest.

    Again, the bZ7 feels like such a handsome piece of machinery, that it makes you question: At what point should such grandness be reserved for a proper flagship model or another brand? Because it sure does look the part of something greater.

    Wey's G9 packs 440bhp and 642Nm of torque thanks to its plug-in hybrid powertrain, while boasting more than 1,000km of range

    14. Wey G9 

    Sitting proudly and loudly on display at Wey's booth is the G9 seven-seater MPV - which you might have caught at Suntec City back in January.

    Though reminiscent of the fully-electric Denza D9 we have in Singapore, Wey’s G9 is a plug-in hybrid that features a 1.5-litre turbocharged system that's mated to a dual motor setup and a 44.2kWh battery pack. Thus, the car is good for about 440bhp and 642Nm of torque, with an all-electric range of 170km. A total range of 1,000km is to be expected.

    As you would come to expect from Wey, the cabin of the G9 will be nicely wrapped in Nappa leather and soft touch materials, ensuring comfort and cosiness for all seven occupants on board.

    XPENG has also pulled the covers off its new flagship six-seater SUV, which is powered by four proprietary Turing AI chips to support the brand's cutting-edge autonomous driving system

    15. XPENG GX

    XPENG has packed a ton of tech into its latest flagship six-seater SUV, the GX, which was also introduced to the public for the first time at the show.

    The GX features cutting-edge technology including a Bosch steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering and four proprietary Turing AI chips to support the brand's second-generation VLA autonomous driving system.

    Notably, steer-by-wire systems are especially important to the integration of autonomous driving systems as they allow the steering to be precisely and efficiently controlled by the car with minimal response time.

    Measuring 5,265mm long along with a wheelbase of 3,115mm the GX also offers plenty of room within, even for third row passengers. Additionally, with a bold design that reminds of the Range Rover, XPENG's latest flagship sure is an attention-grabbing luxury vehicle.

    The 1,381bhp Zeekr 8X Yaoying Edition is claimed to be the world's fastest-accelerating hybrid SUV, with a century sprint timing of under three seconds

    16. Zeekr 8X Yaoying Edition

    Zeekr is doubling down on its ambition to become a global leader in the premium sector, and following hot on the (w)heels of the 9X, the all-new 8X is making that vision manifest.

    Despite the similarities in tech and platform to its larger sibling, the newer 8X is actually quite easy to distinguish once you've seen it in person, thanks to its more sculpted front and rear ends and its tapered roofline. It's slightly smaller too, stretching out at 5.1 metres long, and just under two metres on the standard variants. (The 9X, for context, is more than 5.2 metres long and over two metres wide.)

    Specifically, however, it’s the Yaoying Edition (or Shadow Edition) of the 8X that’s caught our attention. Thanks to a tri-motor setup paired to a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, this particular 8X boasts a whopping system output of 1,030kW (1,381bhp). That's allowed it to clinch the title of the fastest-accelerating hybrid SUV in the world; it's also one of the rare few production SUVs in the sub three-second club for 0-100km/h timings.

    There's no word yet on whether the 8X is headed to Singapore - we've only heard for now that that the larger 9X will arrive in 2027 - but if it does, this one might make not just the Germans, but even Bentley and Aston Martin break out in cold sweat.

    Don't forget to check out these other stories! 

    The best new car debuts at Auto Shanghai 2025

    13 new cars you can buy (soon) at Singapore Motor Show 2026

    10 noteworthy production-ready cars at JMS 2025

    Freelancer
    Story by Media Team in Beijing, China
    I've been writing about cars for many years, and I wonder if I'm getting any better at it.
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    auto beijing beijing motorshow beijing motor show auto china motorshow feature commentary audi e7x changan cs75 plus changan automobile denza z gac trumpchi e8 phev haval menglong plus

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    16 noteworthy production models at the 2026 Auto Beijing!

    26 Apr 2026

    |

    13,247 views

    We bring you some of our favourites from this year's show, ranging from models relevant to Singapore, all the way to those that are simply just intriguing.

    China is the new superpower of the automotive world; there's no fighting it. Held from 24 April 2026 to 3 May 2026, this year's 19th Beijing Motor Show (also called Auto Beijing) is resultantly nothing short of magnificent. 

    Themed "Future of Intelligence", the monumental bi-annual event is even bigger than its previous iteration. For 2026, the Show - for the first time - fully utilises all exhibition spaces at both the China International Exhibition Centre and the Capital International Exhibition Centre of China (CIECC). That has enabled it to achieve a record-breaking total exhibition area of 380,000 square meters!

    A whopping total of 1,451 vehicles and 181 premieres have taken to the CIECC this year

    As such, the event is now seeing a whopping total of 1,451 vehicles on display, which includes 181 premieres and 71 concept cars. To put things into perspective, its previous iteration had already achieved tremendous success, with 117 world premieres, including 30 global debuts, 41 concept cars, and 278 new energy vehicles.

    Spanning the likes of Changan Automobile, Chery, Leapmotor and Zeekr, some of these models are from brands that have grown a sizable presence in Singapore - thus also serving as interesting displays of what their parent brands are up to, and could potentially bring to our shores.

    Others, however, are downright intriguing (and not always for the best reasons). In alphabetical order, here are 16 noteworthy models that were at this year's show!

    The E7X is a five-metre long, 500kW electric SUV from Audi's China-only AUDI sub-brand 

    1. AUDI E7X

    To refresh your memory slightly, Audi was one of the first legacy players to come up with an entire sub-brand dedicated to the Chinese market – one that still sounds like the Audi we know, but is branded simply as 'AUDI', the four-letter (rather than four-ringed) brand, led in collaboration with SAIC Motor.

    In Beijing, it pulled the covers off the all-new AUDI E7X, a premium electric SUV that once more promises the best of both worlds - "engineering excellence from Audi and deep integration into China's digital ecosystem".

    Don't let the images fool you - this is quite the large SUV, at 5,049mm long, 1,997mm wide, 1,710mm tall, and with an incredible wheelbase of 3,060mm. If you know the E5 Sportback already, the E7X's still-intriguing, alien-like face shouldn't look too foreign either. System output stands at either 300kW or 500kW, while the longest-ranged variants get a 109kWh battery that's good for up to 750km of CLTC-rated range.

    We'll never get this in Singapore, but the E7X is nonetheless an intriguing and impressive display of tech - one that feels worthy of Ingolstadt's motto of Vorsprung durch Technik. 

    Changan's CS75 Plus isn't just a bestseller for the Chongqing-based carmaker, but a visual homage to the city too

    2. Changan CS75 Plus

    On the outside, the CS75 Plus may seem like an unassuming and nondescript SUV; devoid of surprises. But peel the layers back further, and you'll find Changan Automobile's best-selling car: A true value champion.

    Mass market appeal aside, what is truly charming about the CS75 Plus is its design. In particular, the slanted grilles up front apparently mimic the way sun rays cut through the clouds, casting a soft glow onto Chongqing where Changan Automobile is head-quartered.

    On the other hand, the rear lights of the CS75 Plus are said to mirror the unevenness of buildings on the skyline of Chongqing: Almost jagged like the chaotic urban sprawl up and down the slopes of Chongqing. Arguably, the car's charm lies in the fact that it is one of the rare few out there to showcase its heritage so clearly through its marks and lines. 

    Don't be fooled - the DENZA Z isn't a mid-engined roadster, but an electric supercar with the equivalent of over 1,000bhp

    3. DENZA Z

    BYD’s impossibly large booth at Auto Beijing - basically the entirety of its hall – was already an event in itself. Yet within it, you'd be hard-pressed to deny that the Denza Z is the indisputable and all-consuming showstopper.

    Painted in a striking shade of blue, the Denza Z captivates with its low-slung, open-top, mid-engine supercar-esque silhouette. However, here's the catch: The Z doesn't actually have an engine. Instead, this is an electric vehicle expected to put out over 1,000bhp and capable of completing the century sprint in around two seconds. Oh, and it even has four seats within! 

    While its lineage might trace back to the FangChengBao Super 9 concept from 2024, the brand says that the Denza Z is production-ready, and headed towards Europe in the near future. 

    The E8 PHEV could well be the answer to those who want an under-the-radar luxe-MPV that can go the distance

    4. GAC Trumpchi E8 PHEV

    While the GAC E9 we know in Singapore embraces excess with its flashy chrome-slatted grille, meet what is branded as the GAC Trumpchi E8 PHEV - freshly launched in Beijing - that pursues a vision of subtlety instead. You can imagine this appealing more to those who want to zip around under the radar, with its minimalist light bar, rounded and smooth snout, and its slab-like body.

    Don't mistake this for a lack of luxury, though; the E8 is offered as a seven seater with resplendent captain's chairs with massage, heating and ventilation functions in the second row; a 17.3-inch drop-down screen; and even a three-zone fridge.

    It's also powered in combination by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and an electric motor, and can apparently do up to 205km on pure electric power with its 38.883kWh battery. GAC currently still has the monopoly over plug-in hybrid luxury MPVs in Singapore, and if this makes it to our shores, that monopoly could very well be amplified further.

    Haval's Menglong Plus is yet another plug-in hybrid SUV that's brawny and chunky, yet also powerful and practical

    5. Haval Menglong Plus

    The Haval Menglong Plus is a family-oriented seven-seater plug-in hybrid that's good for about 1,000km of combined range.

    Equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and two electric motors, this big SUV is capable of 443bhp and 660Nm of twisting force, allowing it to smash the century sprint in just 5.9 seconds. With its 44.7kWh battery pack, the car will travel some 252km on pure electric power too.

    On the inside, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen takes centre stage while space remains to be the royal order of the day. Speaking of which, there's up to 1,549 litres worth of hauling capacity – an incredible sum. Elsewhere, from what we can see, the car offers a 2+3+2 seating configuration.

    According to sources, there's a possibility the Haval Menglong Plus will be coming to Singapore either at end of the 2026 or in early 2027.

    Inspired by classic Land Cruisers and older Land Rovers, the V27 is bound for Singapore's shores - fittingly - in 2027

    6. ICAUR V27

    The ICAUR V27 is the elder brother of the V23 that we've already seen and still loved. While the V23 has round head lights and looks to be inspired by the Toyota FJ Cruiser, the V27 sports a boxier front-end with squarish headlights.

    Design influences by past Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are clear to see, which makes the V27 a really attractive homage to legendary off-roaders. The ICAUR V27 is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that works hand-in-hand with an electric motor (dual motors for AWD variant) to put out impressive performance while offering an incredible range of 1,200km and above.

    The ICAUR V27 is expected to make its way onto our shores late next year - keep your eyes peeled!

    Unlike the IM5 and IM6, the IM LS8 sports a boxier exterior and boasts three rows of seats, while keeping to the brand's techy sheen

    7. IM LS8

    In Singapore, IM Motors has been quick to accumulate accolades attesting to the brand's general design direction, as well as the comfort, handling, and tech of its cars. Within a fairly short span of time, both the IM5 and IM6 have arguably won quite the fanbase over, and made names for themselves even amidst a rather crowded electric crowd from China.

    So imagine if those same traits applied to a three-row SUV. Enter: The IM LS8, a comfortable, spacious and practical larger sibling to the IM5 and IM6. Its three-row seating capacity is the real highlight here; there are just certain situations where something smaller won't cut it.

    Offered as both a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) in China, the IM LS8 is apparently due to arrive in Singapore sometime in H2. If both powertrain types do make the swim over to our shores, this techy barge could soon be the first range-extended electric vehicle to hit the Singapore market.

    The Lafa 5 Ultra is a rear-wheel driven performance electric hatch with a tidy 241bhp

    8. Leapmotor Lafa 5 Ultra (or B05)

    Announcing its presence with a front splitter, side skirts, a rear diffuser, as well as a rear wing, Leapmotor's Lafa 5 Ultra is a performance compact electric hatchback that also celebrated its launch at Beijing, and which stood out as a real eye-catcher at the brand's booth.

    Let's talk dimensions first. Measuring 4,490mm long, 1,880mm wide, and 1,510mm tall, the Lafa 5 Ultra comes with a generous 2,735mm wheelbase while maintaining a relatively compact size. Compared to the regular Lafa 5, the Ultra variant is also capable of pushing out 241bhp - a bump of approximately 25bhp over the standard car. It's rear-wheel driven too, and apparently has 50:50 weight distribution.

    Leapmotor is targeting this at a younger and sportier audience, so it should come as no surprise that the Lafa 5 Ultra was showcased with matte gun-grey logos and wheel caps and matte dark grey brake callipers. These, coupled with its lowered ride height, giving it a very aggressive appearance indeed.

    While it's still unclear if the car will be coming to Singapore, what's definitely coming to us at the end of the year are the Leapmotor A10 as well as B10 compact SUVs. Stay tuned!

    The ES9, NIO's newest flagship SUV, comes with interesting goodies such as steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering

    9. NIO ES9

    This year's Auto China show is seeing a large amount of luxury flagship SUVs take to the stands, and among them, NIO is joining the ranks too with its new ES9.

    The latest flagship SUV from NIO features a bold and impressive design, along with lots of high-tech systems. Like the XPENG GX you’ll see in a bit, the ES9 is also equipped with steer by wire and rear-wheel steering.

    Additionally, the ES9 rides on an advanced SkyRide active suspension system that is capable of instantaneously adjusting stiffness, damping and ride height thousands of times per second to ensure exceptional ride stability. 

    Performance is similarly staggering: The dual motor variant puts out almost 700 horsepower, allowing an impressive century sprint of 4.3 seconds. What's more, the ES9 is also equipped with a high-level ADAS system with use of LiDAR and NIO's self-developed chip.

    The handsome NX8 is offered as either a full BEV or as a plug-in hybrid, both of which boast an 800V electrical architecture

    10. Nissan NX8

    For China's market, Nissan is rolling out the NX8 SUV, which will be offered in two electrified powertrains here: A full electric and a plug-in hybrid. It will be based on an 800V silicon carbide platform across both powertrain options.

    More relevantly for those keen on pure electric power, the battery electric version uses a single motor setup with outputs of either 288bhp or 335bhp that will be paired to an 81kWh battery pack. This enables the car to have approximately 650km of range on a full charge.

    The plug-in hybrid, on the other hand, combines a 1.5-litre turbo petrol powerplant with a 250kW electric motor. On pure EV mode, the car is good for 310km of range while a combined driving range will see enable you to travel up to 1,450km.

    Impressive as all this may sound, however, whether or not the Nissan NX8 eventually makes it to Singapore remains to be seen.

    The 04's head-turning 'Cyber Mecha' design draws charming inspiration from Gundam 

    11. Omoda 04

    Originally unveiled as the C3, the Omoda 04 (or Omoda 4) is a crossover with a revolutionary design made up of crisp lines and even sharper edges a design language that the brand calls 'Cyber Mecha'.

    While we have been seeing this Gundam-inspired crossover a fair bit in the past year, it was still in a conceptual stage each time. This time round, however, the Omoda 04 is finally production-ready, with the first production rollout slated to happen within this couple of days at Omoda's factory in Wuhu, Anhui, China.

    The Omoda 04 will be available in EV and ICE variants, with the EV version slated to reach Singapore's shores around the middle of next year.

    The Z7 is a new four-door electric coupe from SAIC that looks uncannily similar to the Porsche Taycan

    12. SAIC Shangjie Z7

    Nope. Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.

    This isn't another mid-life refresh for the Taycan from Porsche, but rather, an all-new sporty EV from Huawei-backed HIMA. It's called the SAIC Shangjie Z7, and from its swooping lines, down to its Mission E-reminiscent rims and Rubystar-like paintcoat… let's just say we're surprised that Porsche hasn't pressed for copyright charges yet.

    While it's hard to beat Porsche in the driving dynamics department, the Z7 does pack a punch when it comes to sheer output. Twin motors here on the range-topping variant send 434kW and over 700Nm of torque to all four wheels, enabling it to crack the century sprint in under 3.5 seconds. There's an impressive level of tech too, with an intelligent chassis, air suspension, LiDAR sensors, and Huawei’s own Qiankun ADS 4.1 self-driving system.

    Most impressive is the affordability; prices started at under S$50,000 at launch back in March (RMB228,800).

    Though slated for China only currently, the bZ7 is a gorgeous electric sedan that pushes past what one would conventionally expect from Toyota

    13. Toyota bZ7

    This one's up there among the best-looking sedans we know of today. In fact, it's made us wonder: At what point does a Toyota stop being, well, like the Toyotas of old we expect, to surpass the likes of the resplendent Crown, or even a Lexus?

    Launched for sale only in China currently, the Toyota bZ7 is a beautiful machine that exudes grace and presence; a car of flagship-like proportions that now sits at the throne of the Toyota's Beyond Zero electric-only series. 

    In the bZ7, front passengers are treated to features worthy of luxury cabin interiors, including fluffy headrest supports that used to be found on ultra-luxe makes. The rear, on the other hand, feels like it could be transformed into a luxe lounge with its limousine-style centre armrest.

    Again, the bZ7 feels like such a handsome piece of machinery, that it makes you question: At what point should such grandness be reserved for a proper flagship model or another brand? Because it sure does look the part of something greater.

    Wey's G9 packs 440bhp and 642Nm of torque thanks to its plug-in hybrid powertrain, while boasting more than 1,000km of range

    14. Wey G9 

    Sitting proudly and loudly on display at Wey's booth is the G9 seven-seater MPV - which you might have caught at Suntec City back in January.

    Though reminiscent of the fully-electric Denza D9 we have in Singapore, Wey’s G9 is a plug-in hybrid that features a 1.5-litre turbocharged system that's mated to a dual motor setup and a 44.2kWh battery pack. Thus, the car is good for about 440bhp and 642Nm of torque, with an all-electric range of 170km. A total range of 1,000km is to be expected.

    As you would come to expect from Wey, the cabin of the G9 will be nicely wrapped in Nappa leather and soft touch materials, ensuring comfort and cosiness for all seven occupants on board.

    XPENG has also pulled the covers off its new flagship six-seater SUV, which is powered by four proprietary Turing AI chips to support the brand's cutting-edge autonomous driving system

    15. XPENG GX

    XPENG has packed a ton of tech into its latest flagship six-seater SUV, the GX, which was also introduced to the public for the first time at the show.

    The GX features cutting-edge technology including a Bosch steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering and four proprietary Turing AI chips to support the brand's second-generation VLA autonomous driving system.

    Notably, steer-by-wire systems are especially important to the integration of autonomous driving systems as they allow the steering to be precisely and efficiently controlled by the car with minimal response time.

    Measuring 5,265mm long along with a wheelbase of 3,115mm the GX also offers plenty of room within, even for third row passengers. Additionally, with a bold design that reminds of the Range Rover, XPENG's latest flagship sure is an attention-grabbing luxury vehicle.

    The 1,381bhp Zeekr 8X Yaoying Edition is claimed to be the world's fastest-accelerating hybrid SUV, with a century sprint timing of under three seconds

    16. Zeekr 8X Yaoying Edition

    Zeekr is doubling down on its ambition to become a global leader in the premium sector, and following hot on the (w)heels of the 9X, the all-new 8X is making that vision manifest.

    Despite the similarities in tech and platform to its larger sibling, the newer 8X is actually quite easy to distinguish once you've seen it in person, thanks to its more sculpted front and rear ends and its tapered roofline. It's slightly smaller too, stretching out at 5.1 metres long, and just under two metres on the standard variants. (The 9X, for context, is more than 5.2 metres long and over two metres wide.)

    Specifically, however, it’s the Yaoying Edition (or Shadow Edition) of the 8X that’s caught our attention. Thanks to a tri-motor setup paired to a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, this particular 8X boasts a whopping system output of 1,030kW (1,381bhp). That's allowed it to clinch the title of the fastest-accelerating hybrid SUV in the world; it's also one of the rare few production SUVs in the sub three-second club for 0-100km/h timings.

    There's no word yet on whether the 8X is headed to Singapore - we've only heard for now that that the larger 9X will arrive in 2027 - but if it does, this one might make not just the Germans, but even Bentley and Aston Martin break out in cold sweat.

    Don't forget to check out these other stories! 

    The best new car debuts at Auto Shanghai 2025

    13 new cars you can buy (soon) at Singapore Motor Show 2026

    10 noteworthy production-ready cars at JMS 2025

    Freelancer
    Story by Media Team in Beijing, China
    I've been writing about cars for many years, and I wonder if I'm getting any better at it.
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