Guangzhou Auto Show highlights

As the Chinese domestic market becomes increasingly saturated and its homegrown brands step up their global efforts, Guangzhou saw a combination of global-ready offerings aimed at international markets as well as China-only models to defend its home stake. 

From community-inspired concepts to rugged off-roaders, this rapidly maturing industry is becoming more expressive, user-driven, and globally ambitious. Typically there was an emphasis on luxury both in exterior styling and interior comfort. The duo-tone Maybach look is very much in, even more so when combined with Rolls-Royce Cullinan-style interior design features. 

Guangzhou also showcased the increasing popularity of adventure SUVs, with rivals for the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser everywhere. In no particular order, here are some of the standouts.

Firefly Eye of the Storm Concept

Firefly is increasingly embracing automotive community-driven projects and jumping into creative collaborations, with one example of this being the Eye of the Storm concept, co-developed with APW, a professional outdoor modification community. It transforms the brand’s cute urban hatchback into a rally-inspired tourer, featuring lowered suspension, carbon fiber aerodynamic elements, an aggressive body kit, and all-terrain tires. The design aims to blend the ruggedness of rally cars with the refined character of a grand tourer to deliver a sophisticated yet adventurous look.

Chery icar V27

Chery is moving upmarket with the iCar V27, the brand’s first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and the flagship of its V-series. A more refined front fascia combines a narrow grille with understated square headlamp housings featuring the distinctive circular light signature. The side profile is boxy and muscular, with straight, assertive lines and familiar cues from the iCar V23. Rugged capability is emphasised through a number of classic off-roader elements such as steeply raked windscreen, raised ride height, chunky door handles, and octagonal cladding around the large wheel arches.

GWM Ora 5

The Ora 5 builds on the rounded, playful design language of the Ora 03, but in a slightly larger, more upright package. It retains signature cues such as the ovoid headlights, full-width tail lights integrated into the rear glass, and a clamshell boot lid, while a redesign of the front facia includes a larger air intake and vertical corner inlets. The longer, more upright greenhouse, topped by roof rails, increases interior space and gives the vehicle a more practical, crossover-like presence while maintaining the charm and character of its smaller sibling.

Toyota-GAC bZ7

Toyota’s new flagship electric sedan for China, the bZ7, produced in joint-venture with GAC, builds on the family design language introduced with the bZ3X SUV. The front features a signature split-headlight layout integrated with side air ducts, paired with an exaggerated bumper that improves aerodynamics. Its elongated side profile is highlighted by large wheels, and semi-hidden door handles with a coupe-like silhouette that stretches the panoramic roof into the tail, creating a large rear quarter window. Full length taillights, a dynamic spoiler, and rear bumper air ducts complete the athletic, modern look.

IM Motors LS9

The IM Motors L9 marks a shift from the brand’s typically sleek, aerodynamic designs toward a more bold, boxy aesthetic. The front fascia features a closed grille, trapezoidal air intake (another EREV), and chrome accents, complemented by a long light strip that integrates with T-shaped clusters on either side. Its side profile is defined by a straight waistline and distinctive wheel design, and at the rear, a full-width taillight cluster, spoiler, and chrome trim reinforcing the vehicle’s strong, commanding presence.

Geely Galaxy V900

The Galaxy V900, a rebadged evolution of the LEVC L380, retains the original model’s strong, upright silhouette, preserving its sense of volume and stance. The shift to an EREV platform introduces a redesigned front fascia, featuring a functional wave-patterned grille that integrates the headlamps while adding a sense of depth. The full-width light strip and two-tone body remain to reinforce its horizontal proportions. Aside from the roof-mounted lidar unit, the side and rear profiles are largely unchanged, maintaining the clean, architectural character of the L380’s original design.

Audi

Audi was one of a number of brands that displayed a classic model on its stand. Showcasing the four rings was an Audi 100 coupe, which attracted almost as much attention as the new model reveal. One of the new models was the first battery-electric A6L E-Tron long wheelbase, developed jointly with FAW. With its narrow headlights and fastback rear, it’s very different to the A6 in Europe. The focus though was on Audi’s Chinese sub-brand — AUDI. Created with partner SAIC, the AUDI E SUV is the second model in the range and while there is familiarity, the front treatment is very different, with a large, flat grille area dominated by a lighting surround that creates a menacing presence. The production version will be shown in 2026.

Leapmotor A10

Stellantis’ Leapmotor showed it’s down with the cool kids when it dropped the suspension on a Lafa 5 convertible and went full Fast and the Furious. However, it was the new A10 range that was its star debut, a compact crossover on a new global platform that will be rebadged as the B03X in Europe. The curvaceous styling of this 4.2m long crossover is reminiscent of rivals such as the Renault 4 and Smart #5 but its standout feature is front and rear LED lights designed to look like emojis. Leapmotor also showed its D19 range extender, a large SUV that joined many other brands at the show with Maybach-style wheels and duo-tone paintwork.

Volkswagen ID. Evo

VW expanded its electric ID. range with the introduction of the ID. Evo to join the ID. Aura and ID. Era models. It’s a great example of how some designers are focusing on minimalist, sculpted exterior surfacing. At the same time, the ID. Evo adopts a new take on the frontal light bar, one that looks as though it was integrated from the start as part of the design rather than simply as a last minute must-have feature. A narrow greenhouse, wide rear haunches and superb rear proportions make the ID. Evo one of the stars of the show with a design language that could easily be exported and perhaps should be. Less likely to be popular are furry cars. VW used the show to have a bit of fun with its partnership with Disney for Zootopia 2, covering an ID.3 and ID.4 with fur and ears.

Xpeng P7 refresh

The star of Xpeng’s stand wasn’t a car at all, but its humanoid robot, named Iron. More car-like was the Land Aircraft Carrier with its personal flying transport, but there were a number of new cars too. This included the new X9, a family MPV that moves past the era of massive grilles and excessive chrome and instead focuses on providing stylish luxury. It’s also the company’s first range extender model, reflecting the increase in interest in this category and a model that is earmarked to be launched in Europe too. It also showed the next version of the car that started it all for the brand, the P7. A modern take on classic GT design cues, it has clean lines and a spacious interior that not surprisingly is dominated by a large infotainment screen. A version of the P7 is planned for Europe and we will bring you more details on that in January when the embargo lifts.