Auto Shanghai 2013

The Chinese event’s latest edition was scheduled from April 21st to 29th and, like the Beijing event with which it’s alternated every year, received lots of important releases, specially the ones exclusively dedicated to the domestic market. This article brings quick introductions about some of them, but there will be links for the ones which have already received complete articles on this blog. You can browse them through the brand index and follow this link’s updates on our Twitter page.

Ford Maserati Mercedes-Benz MG Porsche Volkswagen

Ford

Complete articles: Fiesta ST, Mondeo.

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Maserati

Complete articles: Ghibli 3, Quattroporte 4.

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Mercedes-Benz

Complete articles: E-Class: 2-door, 4-door, AMG.

E-Class L: The Chinese preference of increasing the internal space by stretching the sedans’ wheelbase has reached the facelifted E-Class. The car dedicated an entire 5.5-inch wheelbase increase to the rear seats, now having 118.7 inches at that measure and 197.6 inches of overall length. E-Class L will be restricted to China, offering both Sedan and Sport Sedan trims: the latter adds the AMG styling package, with a discreet aerodynamic kit and bigger grilles, the front one including the brand’s logo on it, rather than on the hood. The trims will be E260, E300 and E400, with a hybrid E400 coming later.

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MG

MG 3: Also known as Supermini, this isn’t a new generation of MG 3 but a new version. To be more specific, this will be the European version of the small hatchback (the other one is restricted to China), featuring English production at the Birmingham plant. There will be minor style changes, but this version’s biggest difference is at the equipment list. Unlike its Chinese sibling, this car will offer three trims with very high overall internal quality, in order to make MG’s debut into the “emotional hatchbacks”, such as Citroën DS3, Fiat 500, Mini Cooper and Opel Adam. It’ll use a 105-hp gasoline engine.

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Porsche

Panamera: This is one of those cars whose design is so integrated that any partial changes would give bad results: while it’s too early to release a whole new generation, it’s better to keep it untouched. That’s why the external updates for 2014 were nothing but lights and bumpers. Bigger improvements went to the S trim, which drops the 4.8L V8 for a twin-turbo 3.0L V6, which has 5% bigger power, 10% bigger torque and 18% lower consumption. Besides, the S Hybrid was also improved, featuring 8% bigger power in order to improve the 0-60 mph time, while making 75.3 mpg and 100 g/km.

Volkswagen

iBeetle: This car allows you to connect your iPhone into it, rather than bringing one of possible ideas you’ve might had of what would be a car-sized Dock Station. The only changes applied to this Beetle concern the infotainment system, which offers bigger integration between car and phone. Besides conventional functions such as music streaming and social networks connection with photo sharing, Apple’s cell will be able to show and register information like gas mileage, oil temperature and even G-force variation. VW’s very first vehicle to be fully-integrated with Apple devices will hit the streets in 2014.

Gran Lavida: How about a car with shorter length than its own version which doesn’t use the “Gran” prefix? That’s Volkswagen’s latest release for the Chinese market, which still shares the PQ34 platform with the original Lavida. Being 6 inches shorter than the sedan makes the newcomer a “Sportback” version, just like what Audi does with the four-door A3: bigger than a normal hatchback, but smaller than a station wagon. The intention is to repeat the sedan’s powertrain and interior, but with easier trunk access due to the hatchback lid. This car will be sold only in the Chinese market.