Motoring: Aston Martin hopes Shanghai Motor Show can add some acceleration
WITH the growing importance of China as a global car market none of the major manufacturers can afford to be without a presence in the country.
This explains why the Shanghai Motor Show – or the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition to give it its full title – is increasingly being seen as one of the major motoring showcases on the entire calendar.
Therefore it’s not really surprising that most of the big manufacturers – and some of the smaller ones – all have a presence at the show.
Aston Martin – complete with its Lagonda adjunct – has been very keen to stress its global ambitions in recent weeks. It has even hinted at developing a new factory in the UK for upcoming models.
Now in its 102nd year, the brand is confidently looking to the future. In Shanghai, CEO Andy Palmer was keen to demonstrate how the company is planning to move into an exciting new era reaching far into the next decade.
Making its Chinese debut at the event is the innovative DBX Concept and exclusive Lagonda Taraf.
The company’s display of handcrafted luxury sports cars in Shanghai is intended to define the way ahead for Aston Martin and its commitment to the market in China, with each model intended to help the company snare a slice of China’s burgeoning luxury car market.
The DBX Concept made its European debut in Geneva last month, where the company said the car signalled a key change in vision as it embarked on a new chapter of change and growth.
“With its unique fusion of high luxury and advanced technology along with its day-to-day practicality, the DBX Concept is a piece of fresh, bold thinking about how the high luxury GT sector may evolve,” said Dr Palmer.
“It is our first all-electric, all-wheel drive car, showcasing the brand’s world-class engineering and design capabilities, and we believe this type of product will be particularly appealing to customers in China.”
Aston Martin will focus on delivering a new wave of products that are being developed under the largest investment plan in its 102 year history. By the end of the decade, every model in the current line-up will be replaced and up to three new models lines will be added.
The strategic plan also encompasses the brand’s intention to enter the luxury sedan market in China. Strictly limited to a global production run of just 200 super-saloons, the Lagonda Taraf follows in the wake of other bespoke special projects by Aston Martin such as the creation of the extreme Aston Martin Vulcan supercar, Vantage GT12, One-77, V12 Zagato and the CC100 Speedster Concept.
The luxurious new super saloon draws inspiration from the highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976 and features many of the same cutting-edge engineering techniques seen in modern Aston Martin sports cars, such as the extensive use of carbon fibre body panels.
But Aston Martin isn’t the only manufacturer keen to show off its wares.
Volkswagen has presented the new C Coupé GTE at the show in a market where it has high hopes for the new car.
The four-door vehicle is currently a concept car for the Chinese market. The C Coupé GTE is powered by an innovative plug-in hybrid drive system, whose drive sources combine to produce an impressive 500 Newton metres of system torque.
The design is also intended to herald a new approach by VW to its future saloons. The body features long flowing curves with a low profile intended to enhance its presence on the road.
Underneath its skin, C Coupé GTE has one of the world’s most advanced plug-in hybrid drive systems. It consists of a turbocharged petrol direct-injection engine (TSI) with four cylinders, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, an electric motor integrated in the gearbox module and a lithium-ion battery. The TSI engine produces 210 PS, while the electric motor has a power output of 124 PS. The hybrid drive develops a system power of 245 PS and an impressive system torque of 500 Nm. The battery integrated at the rear can be charged while driving or while parked.
The C Coupé GTE can also be powered all-electrically (up to a speed of 81 mph); this mode enables driving with zero local emissions and a range of 31 miles. The car’s combined fuel consumption is 2.3 litres per 100 kilometres. This figure equates to CO2 emissions of just 55 g/km. The car’s total driving range is almost 500 miles.
But despite its excellent fuel efficiency, the C Coupé GTE also has sporty ambitions. VW claims the car accelerates to 62 mph in 8.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 144 mph.
VW’s brand portfolio also includes Bentley and the British marquee is keen to trump anything Aston Martin can muster. This is why it is giving Chinese motorists a glimpse of its new EXP 10 Speed 6, which was one of the stars of the recent show in Geneva.
Still a concept, the car is intended to showcase where the company could be heading in what is, it’s second largest market.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, said: “This concept showcases modern automotive design, highly skilled British handcrafting, the finest materials and advanced performance technology. This is not just a sports car concept, this is a Bentley sports car concept – a bold vision for a brand with a bold future.
“In China, Bentley is the leading luxury car brand. With the updated style, luxury and performance features across the Bentley range for 2015, we are confident that our Chinese customers will continue to demonstrate great passion for our brand.”
The show is also the first to take place since Jaguar Land Rover became a Chinese manufacturer, with the opening last autumn of its factory in Changshu, in the Jiangshu Province.
The factory, a joint venture with domestic company Chery, is rolling out versions of the best-selling Evoque. Although the launch of the car on the Chinese market has not been without incident with product recalls and lookalike controversy, JLR is still keen to demonstrate its clout in what remains a key market for its UK-manufactured product.
