Cadillac SLS

Shanghai GM was showcasing the Cadillac SLS. Based on the STS sport sedan, the overall length of the SLS has been lengthened by 100mm. As part of a plan to establish Cadillac as GM's strategic premier brand in China, it was important to cater for the legroom of the rear seat passengers. The interior has also been re-designed to meet specific local needs in this primarily chauffeur-driven luxury segment.

Through the changed proportion, the overall stance of the vehicle has greatly improved, and in addition to a sporty profile, the SLS look much more luxurious, visually creating a distinctly different car from the shorter STS version. The front bumper license-plate block covrers the sharp edged nose of the STS, creating a large visual change with minimal effort.

The interior design received the bulk of the changes, where a rear middle seat has been removed to give the passengers more space, and the introduction of a main styling line around the upper dashboard has radically altered the styling from the old STS interior. Luxurious materials such as brushed aluminum and full-leather seating were also implemented to maximize the luxury atmosphere.

Three engine options will be available which include the 2.8L V6, a 3.6L V6 and the top-level Northstar 4.6L V8 with 239kW/320hp. The new SLS will be built at the Shanghai GM plant for the Chinese market, with a strong rumor of exports to the North American and global market as early as late 2007.

Mitsubishi Galant

Slipping under the radar and spotlight throughout the Auto China press days, and even worse, being left out of the Foreign Manufacturers booth and displaying its cars along with the Chinese domestic manufacturers, it was a sign of how far once-proud Mitsubishi has fallen in automotive ranks in recent years.

Mitsubishi presented the Galant, an upper-medium sized sedan for the Chinese market. Visually smaller, but measuring in at approximately the same dimensions as the VW Passat, Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima and Hyundai Sonata, Galant will again have to compete hard to gain the market share in this ultra-competitive D-1 Family Sedan segment.

Essentially a facelift of the North American version, the Galant shows a well balanced and sturdy profile, yet with smaller wheels occupying wheelarches which were created to house 18-inch wheels, even at a first glance something isn't quite right. The overall styling, apart from the vertical shutline at the rear door, is calm and clean all the way.

A flowing line running all the way from the A-pillar connects to the grille in a single surface - evident in numerous Chinese designs - and boundary lines of the details are organic and flow almost to the point of losing tension.

Chery V5 

Government owned Chery Motors was at full strength at Auto China 2006, with three concept cars, each displaying their own distinct characteristics.

Chery's V5, an MPV-type CUV targeting the likes of the Nissan Geniss and the Honda Odyssey, might have been the least eye-catching car at the Chery display booth in terms of styling, but to many professionals present, the V5 was the most significant of the cars on display. While nobody doubts the support Chery will receive from the government, ultimately Chery will have to produce attractive road going cars to be profitable, and new segments such as the CUV is the market where up-and-comers can slip right into the mix of things with a relatively good chance of success. It's no wonder that V5 was being displayed at the show with feasible technology such as diesel engines and production-ready styling.

The V5 family tree can be traced back to the B14 Concept from the 2004 Beijing Motor Show, and carrying over the theme from the concept, the overall proportion of the V5 is solid with a narrow DLO and strong side surface volume. The rather lengthy front overhang has been visually shortened with heavy tapering from the front wheelarches. The main side volume doesn't feature any distinct characteristics apart from generic wheelarch and sill volumes, and likewise front and rear details were played safe all the way through.

Overall, V5 is an adequately styled vehicle with a hint of over cautiousness weighted by its massive expectation to be successful in the market. A three billion dollar annual support from the deep-pocketed government will continue, but the patience will be running thin if the potential cannot translate itself to a profit.