Manufacturing News

'World' cars to debut at Shanghai auto show

If the Shanghai auto show is any indication, China's auto market is rapidly moving upscale.

Automakers are starting to unveil "world" cars in China that they intend to sell in Los Angeles, Paris or Berlin.

A few examples: Shanghai world debuts have been scheduled for the Chevrolet Malibu, Volkswagen Beetle, BMW M5 and 6 Series Coupe, Mercedes A-Class, Audi Q3, and an as-yet unidentified Ford SUV.

The German luxury brands have been previewed elsewhere on this page. Here's the rundown for the others:

Volkswagen's redesigned 2012 Beetle will be a bit larger and roomier than its predecessor. VW has not yet released details about the car, but photos indicate that the vehicle's distinctive curved roof has been flattened.

According to media reports, the redesigned Beetle is 3.5 inches longer than its predecessor, with more luggage space and a roomier passenger compartment.

General Motors plans to introduce the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu sedan in Shanghai as part of its plan to move the brand upscale in China.

The Malibu will be a true world car -- built in the United States and China, and sold in nearly 100 countries.

GM says the Malibu will be powered by a four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed transmission. The automaker has not offered additional details, but AutoWeek reports that the Malibu will be powered by a 2.4-liter or a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.

AutoWeek adds that the Malibu is expected to share a version of the Buick Regal's underpinnings, which come from European division Opel.

Meanwhile, Shanghai GM has announced plans to introduce the Buick Envision concept SUV in Shanghai.

The Envision, a plug-in hybrid, was designed in GM's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai. GM says the sleek concept "projects the future of Buick products."

According to Edmunds.com, the Envision is likely to share underpinnings with the Daewoo Winstorm and the Chevrolet Captiva, a variant of the Saturn Vue that is sold overseas.

Edmunds notes that GM once planned to introduce a plug-in version of the Saturn Vue in model year 2010. That project died along with the Saturn brand, but now it appears that the plug-in will be revived as a Buick.

At the moment, it doesn't appear likely that the Envision will be sold in the United States. That may not matter much to Buick, which sold more than half a million units in China last year.

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