April 29: From China with love?

As I said in last Tuesday's blog, the Beijing Auto Show is increasingly important, due to the growing size of people in that country, who can afford four wheels, a motor and a body to cover them. China is now also probably the biggest market for ultra luxury cars. But as I said, Beijing is an important show, so watch what is introduced there specifically for their market, or at least that is what we are being told.

Let's take a look at what was unveiled this past week........

This pic is of the Honda Avancier and no, I have no idea what the heck that means, but possibly it is "vehicle sold in the east that, will never see North America". But that is just a guess. No so sure with this one. Look at all the four door "coupe" crossovers that are being introduced in Europe and also in our market. Wouldn't this one be perfect for Honda showrooms or was the embarrassment of the ill conceived Crosstour too much to bare? Give it a good name or a combo of letters and watch it fly out the showroom doors.

Speaking of Honda, this brings me to Acura's new, for China only, CDX.......

Believe it? Neither do I. With the RDX and the MDX supporting their North American line up, wouldn't it be smart for Acura to add an even smaller suv or crossover (whatever you want to call them)? After all, look what the competition is doing, for example the Audi Q5, Q3, now Q1. Also Mercedes (GLA) and BMW (X1). To me, the CDX has success written all over it. Expect to see it over here in the next year or so.

The Infiniti QX70, formerly the FX35, has been with us for too many years without a major revamp, so time to shake it up. At Beijing, the QX Sport Concept was shown, supposedly indicating what a new QX might look like........

Translation? This is the new QX70 and not a single line will be changed form this concept. Don't think so? Ok, fair enough, but check out the concept that led to the new QX30. Identical. Infiniti designs are getting pretty wild these days, so count on this one coming here for 2018 and not a day too soon. So, now Infiniti, let's get that long in the tooth Q50 a brand new set of clothes.

Good ol' Mazda has had great success with their Mazda6 sedan. Just kidding, they are nailed to the showroom floor and more's the pity. No, I was going to say their new smaller suv's, the CX-5 and the 

CX-3. Both get very good reviews and are driving Mazda sales in Canada and the US. So, let's see what Mazda showed in China.......

This is another one that went from concept to production with hardly a line altered. And once again, there is that "coupe" roof line. Not planned for North America? Are these guys nuts? Is there something in their sake? Look at it. This would be a perfect edition to their line up over here and I'd be very surprised, if it didn't top their sales charts in short order. Will we see it? Hope so, but knowing Mazda, kinda hard to say. I'll go out on a limb and say there is a 60% chance (are you writing this down?).

Think that the Nissan Juke has run its course? Maybe, since niche vehicles like that, have a relatively short life span. Time to move on? If so, then the Nissan Kicks concept that was shown at Beijing, would be a good choice for the Juke's replacement. Up to date and full of the new Nissan design language.

 

Be in our Nissan dealerships by 2018? I'd bet on it.

Before I conclude, let's check out a new model that will definitely never grace our shores. Remember the Land Will? It was China's take on the Land Rover Evoque and shared a line or two with the vehicle it copied.......

Obviously a tongue in check comment, since as you can see, the only slight difference in in the last part of its name, "Will" as opposed to "Rover". This is what weak or nonexistent copyright laws will get you. Ok, this is old news, but let's check out China's latest home market suv.......

 Porsche Macan? One might think so, but this is the brand new Zoyte SR8 or T700. Direct copy? Absolutely. Anything Porsche can do? Nope! Price? Maybe about one third the price of their hot selling Macan. I think I'd like to be a car designer in China, since all I'd have to do, is change the name on some of my favorite cars and make them at one third the price. Maybe there is a Lambo in my future after all. I'm packing my bags as I write this!

Want to look into the future? Easy, check out what is happening at China's biggest car shows.

Until next time......