Five Things: Weird and wonderful Shanghai Motor Show reveals

Monday, 3 May 2021

Here are our five favourites from the 2021 Shanghai motor show.

The Shanghai Motor Show wrapped up last week, and we were treated to a bunch of awesome new concepts and near-production prototypes.

And being the Chinese show, more than a few of them were wonderfully weird as well. Here are five of our favourites.

Ora Punk Cat

It might look almost exactly like a Beetle, but it’s actually a Chinese knock-off, brilliantly called the Punk Cat.

The Ora Punk Cat is one of Ora’s two, er, “VW Group-inspired” concepts that debuted at the Shanghai show. It takes its look from the Volkswagen Beetle, with a rounded nose, circular headlights protruding from each fender and a snub, 1950s-style rear end.

Part Suzuki Jimny, part Kia Soul EV and part Jeep. Haval’s X-Dog will launch in China next year.

* Great Wall sub-brand reveals twin cat electric attack

* Million-dollar showrooms in malls are the new battleground for China EVs

Shangai Motor Show Five Things 2021 Haval x dog Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio Great Wall Baja Snake Hongqi L-Concept

* MG teases new roadster concept

The weird Playstation-controller-grille would be the first thing to go.

Inside is more retro goodness, with a slim, simple steering wheel featuring touch controls for audio, a round, digital instrument cluster with a rectangular digital infotainment screen, lots of white leather, shiny inserts, and round vents and controls.

Haval X-Dog

In whichever universe Spider-Man is a villain, this is what he would drive.

Haval’s new X-Dog concept looks like an interesting combination of Suzuki Jimny, Kia Soul EV and a little bit of Jeep, with a healthy dosage of digital screens inside. There are no fewer than six in the front of that cabin alone – two on each end of the dash, a digital instrument cluster, a central touchscreen with another display in the centre console and one more screen in the steering wheel.

Power will be sourced from a plug-in hybrid system, which uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine and makes an unspecified amount of power.

Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio

Who doesn’t love a baby convertible? The Cabrio version of Hongguang’s Mini EV is set for showrooms in 2022 and will reportedly retain its awesome concept styling.

The whole car weighs just 665kg, with a single electric motor sending 13kW to the rear wheels. A 9.2kWh battery offers enough power for 120km of range. Standard features include air-conditioning, rear parking sensors, ABS and an audio system. Price? A hair over NZ$6000, but sadly it won’t make it here.

Great Wall Cannon Baja Snake

Before it was revealed in full, we all thought Great Wall had partnered with Shelby American to create the Baja Snake here. That’s not the case – Shelby confirmed to U.S. media that it has zero connection to the ute.

The Cannon uses the regular 140kW/360Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission offered in standard GWM utes in China, albeit paired with a lift kit, Fox shocks, all-terrain tyres and wider arches. Plus there’s that weird Playstation controller grille.

Hongqi L-Concept

This is what Spider-Man would drive if he were a villain. There are plenty of spider web motifs in the lights but the black paint, huge chrome grille and uber-luxurious interior (complete with chandelier) are much more Kingpin than the friendly neighbourhood spider.

There’s no obvious steering wheel, which suggests the L-Concept drives itself, and we would assume electric power lurks beneath the bodywork. Whatever the case, there’s a chance we could find out in the near future. Rumour has it, Hongqi will actually build the L-Concept and sell it in 2023.