MotorsFeature: Auto Shanghai 2007 Auto Shanghai looks set to join the ranks of world-class motor shows after this year's showcase, writes Shane O'Donoghue
As it stands, the most noteworthy international motor shows are held in Detroit, Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris and Tokyo. But if this year's Auto Shanghai is anything to go by, the largest city in the People's Republic of China will soon join that list.
Despite little previous recognition of the show's status on this side of the world from the media and public alike, BMW and Audi chose the 22nd running of the exhibition to debut a pair of significant new concept cars.
The undisputed show star was BMW's Concept CS, in essence an overtly sporting replacement for the current 7-Series.
It's no secret that Mercedes-Benz surprised BMW with the eye-catching CLS four-door coupé and BMW is set to return the favour, though on a larger scale. The presence of a 5-litre V10 under the sharply sculpted bonnet of the concept suggests that a sleeker version of the 7-Series could even rival the forthcoming Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide super-saloons.
Likely to be even closer to production is the Audi Cross Coupé quattro concept, which also received its world premiere in Shanghai. Audi has a very ambitious new model programme ahead, and the Cross Coupé is expected to be seen at the Frankfurt Show in September as a showroom-ready model.
As the name suggests, Audi believes that its new concept is more of a crossover than a traditional SUV; the sloping rear hatch certainly supports this claim, though the lower half of the car is unashamedly designed to have a rugged appearance.
It's probable that the production version will follow the nomenclature of the full-size Q7 rather than the "allroad" models. The concept is of similar size to the A3 Sportback, so it's expected to go on sale as the Audi Q3.
Rolls-Royce chose the Shanghai show to announce the opening of a new dealership in Chengdu, the fifth showroom of its kind in Greater China. Sales of Rolls-Royce models rose 60 per cent last year, making China the company's third largest market (behind the US and UK).
It's a sign of the extravagant times in the country and that feeling was prevalent throughout the show, with most of the prestigious marques putting on an extravagant display.
However, it was encouraging to note that the environment was not completely forgotten. Two domestic manufacturers displayed their own hybrid technology and General Motors brought along the latest iteration of the "E-flex" propulsion architecture. First seen at the Detroit Show in January in the Chevrolet Volt concept car, this modular technology mates a lithium-ion battery with a source of electrical power.
In the Volt, the power was provided by a highly efficient bio-fuel engine, but the latest development utilises GM's fifth-generation fuel cell system.
Not only is it lighter and smaller than the previous generation, it uses half the hydrogen for the same range. It will be interesting to see if this sort of vehicle is ever supported by a new "hydrogen economy".
Back in the here and now of reliance on fossil fuels, Volkswagen aired the Polo Bluemotion and Touran EcoFuel, along with a China-only version of the Passat (badged the Magotan).
The Polo Bluemotion is billed as "the most economical five-seater in the world", although VW was quick to point out that the quality of diesel fuel in China is not yet good enough to substantiate that claim.
It's very much a case of showing the Chinese people what they can have in the near future.
The show stars in our eyes may have come from familiar names, but the Chinese motoring industry is in an undeniable meteoric rise.
Nearly 180 domestic carmakers displayed their wares at Auto Shanghai and several of the larger players, such as Brilliance and Chery, have already put their sights on the global market.
A final warning shot across the bows of any complacent carmakers came in the form of the display of the new Chinese-built MGs from Nanjing Automotive and the "Roewe" (essentially the Rover 75) from SAIC.
These vehicles look to be built to as good, if not better, quality than Rover managed in Britain, presumably at a far more competitive cost.
There's no doubt that the 2008 Auto Shanghai will be eagerly awaited.