The 2020 Beijing Auto Show in China opened its doors on September 26. The show is normally held in April but was delayed due to Covid-19. Happily, car makers had lots of new cars to show, and electrics cars are ever more popular. Here are five of the most interesting new electric cars for the Chinese market:
ORA Good Cat GT
ORA is a new electric-vehicle brand under Great Wall Motors, making hip electric cars aimed at a young audience. The latest addition to their fast-expanding lineup is the ORA Good Cat GT. ORA is into animal names lately. One of their other cars is called White Cat, and both cats have to watch out for the Haval Big Dog! Back to the Good Cat GT. It is a sporty five-door hatchback with a retro-modern design. There are racing stripes, an aggressive front spoiler, and big shiny wheels. The electric motor has 143 hp and 210 Nm, and NEDC range is 501 kilometers. It will hit the market in late October.
Hongqi E-HS9
Hongqi, or Red Flag, is best known for making old-school black state limousines for military parades. But recently they have re-invented themselves as a high-tech car company, working on autonomous driving systems and on fancy electric cars. Their new top model is the Hongqi E-HS9, a giant 5.2 meters long luxurious electric SUV with a grille as big as a building. It has a twin-motor setup with a total output of 550 hp and 820 Nm, good for a 0-100 in 3.9 seconds. NEDC range is 510 kilometers. Price starts at 750.000 yuan or $110.000.
Human Horizons HiPhi X
This is not a concept car. This is for real. This is the crazy and brilliant Human Horizons Human HiPhi X, a futuristic twin-motor electric MPV with an output of 545 hp and 950 Nm. Human Horizons is a new EV maker, established only 3 years ago. The HiPhi X competes directly with the Hongqi E-HS9 but they couldn’t be more different in design. Most eye catching are the rear suicide doors. They open 45 degrees to the rear, and the roof opens 45 degrees up. The interior is very luxurious with two sofa-like seats in the back. Like the Hongqi, it does 0-100 in 4.9 seconds. It is available right now, for just under 800.000 yuan or $117.300.
NETA V
After these high-end speed machines, we now go back to a somewhat more modest new electric car, but one that will sell in far greater numbers. This is the new NETA V, a sporty 5-door hatchback with racy red detailing, shiny silver wheels, and large lights. NETA is an EV brand under Hozon Auto, another 3-year old automaker. The NETA V is the company’s third car, after the Neta U and the Neta N01. The NETA V has a single electric motor over the front axle with an output of 73 hp and 175 Nm. Range is 401 kilometers NEDC. It will launch on the Chinese car market near year’s end.
Geometry C
Geometry is a new car brand under Geely, the most prolific brand-creator of all Chinese car makers. The company now runs 9 brands plus 3 brand-lines, and that is unlikely to be the end of it! The Geometry C is the brand’s second car after the Geometry A. The ‘C’ is based on the petrol-powered Geely Emgrand GS. It is powered by a single electric motor with 204 hp and 310 Nm, and that is a lot of power for a car of this size. Range is an impressive 550 kilometers NEDC. Price starts at 129.800 yuan or $18.710. The Geometry brand will launch another 10 cars before 2025.
That’s it for this year’s Beijing Auto Show. The next major auto show in China is in Shanghai, April 2021.