If you’re a car, it’s difficult to stand out from the 2015 Guangzhou Auto Show, which opened last Friday in the capital city of Guangdong Province. As the second-largest auto show in China, it is displaying nearly 1,000 models, including 36 models for their global debut.

The “new normal,” which China’s Premier Li Keqiang used to describe the cooling of the country’s economic boom earlier this year, has become an entrenched part of reality for carmakers missing the stellar years. 

As the double-digit growth age drifts further away, new product releases come under extra scrutiny or their competitiveness. Devils are always in the details.

Land Rover Discovery Sport

The 7-seat SUV comes out as a visionary new killer product for China’s off-road family excursion as the country is set to roll out its second-child policy nationwide next year, which means more family members to bring along the way.

While retaining a more compact footprint than traditional 5-seat SUVs, the highly versatile car is made deceptively spacious by its innovative 5+2 seating. An optional sliding second row can offer a sector-leading 160mm of travel, and two little ones can fit comfortably in the back, which features a simple, single-handed 50:50 deployment.

Driving off the beaten track has never felt so sure-footed thanks to the car’s all-terrain progress control that helps drivers to accelerate in low-speed situations.

New Porsche 911

Even the legend must change with the times. The time-honored engine-powered sports car series has embraced the industry-wide trend of turbo-charging, leading to the fastest 911 Carrera ever.

The twin-turbo technology enables the completely new engine generation to offer a 20hp increase. The 3.0L engine in the standard Carrera now develops 370hp while the 911 Carrera S delivers 420hp from the same displacement.

Both of their engines are characterized by significantly increased torque, offering up to 331lb-ft and 368lb-ft, respectively, from 1,700 rpm up to 5,000rpm.

The turbocharging, coupled with its first-time option of rear-axle steering for enhanced ability, makes the latest Carrera S beat its predecessor by 10 seconds on the North Loop of the Nürburgring, chalking up a record lap time of only 7 minutes and 30 seconds.

Ferrari 488 Spider

A combination of beast and beauty, what the V8 sports car aims is a superb drop-top driving pleasure. Propelled by a mid-rear turbo-charged engine with a maximum power output of 670CV, it can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 3 seconds flat and from 0 to 200km/h in just 8.7 seconds.

To achieve engaging handling balance, its mechanical set-up was honed in tandem with the electronic systems which now include the evolved version of Ferrari’s side slip angle control system. Response time thus becomes 9 percent more shorter than the previous Spider, now only 0.8 second, free of turbo lag.

New BMW7 series

Besides the first industrialized application of reinforced carbon fiber plastic as its rigid but light structure and the pioneering usage of laser high beam that can illuminate up to 600 meters for better nighttime visibility, the car’s innovation is also very focused on the rear seat, a subtle but significant signifier of the owner’s status in China’s culture.

Coming out with its flagship model is a new ambition of BMW: to make its car known as much for its luxurious riding experience as for its driving pleasure, a direct challenge to Mercedes-Benz’s reputation for providing a moving executive lounge.

The removable BMW Touch Command tablet integrated into the central armrest in the rear can conveniently adjust the front seat position, interior ambient lighting, and control entertainment such as Vitality Program and comfort functions like massage all for the rear seat.

The Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system offers outstanding studio-quality sound in the vehicle.

Ford Taurus

The launch of this new large business sedan, with its price from 248,800 yuan (US$38,69)to 348,800 yuan, is Ford’s bold attempt to evolve beyond its reputation of selling cost-effective small cars to go premium in China, a tough task for any carmakers. It feels a confident foray, driven by a new high-output twin-turbo 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine. The car takes full advantage of its 5m length and 2.95m wheelbase to provide abundant second-row legroom, and place 25 intelligent stowage spaces throughout the cabin.

Cup holders designed to securely hold different-sized tea bottles are just one thoughtful detail. Soft but durable materials are used throughout the cabin, while bright chrome finishes for the exterior adds an extra layer of details and a sense of prestige.

BMW X5 PHEV
and Volvo XC90 T8

Luxury brands are taking a leading role in electrifying large SUVs. Where else can a hybrid system show its efficiency better than on bulky gas-guzzlers?

The BMW X5 PHEV boasts the first combination of an all-wheel drive system BMW xDrive and an BMW plug-in hybrid system, which can deliver a combined output of 313hp.

An intelligent energy management offers an effective interplay between the powerful BMW TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine and the electric motor, promising a fuel consumption level as low as 3.9L/100km, an 0-100km/h acceleration in just 6.8 seconds, and a maximum range of more than 800km.

The Volvo XC90 T8 shows Volvo’s challenger spirit in a nutshell.

After its Drive-e engine defies the consumer understanding that the level of luxury goes up with the number of cylinders and liters, this series now also includes the brand’s first electrification compatibility designed from the ground up.

Its hybrid system consists of a 2.0L four-cylinder twin-charged engine rated at 320hp and an electric motor delivering 87hp, powerful enough to propel a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds, and efficient enough to keep the fuel consumption down at 2.6L/100km.

It is a hybrid car and high-performance car rolled into one.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Despite the slow growth of car industry this year, Mercedes-Benz bucked the trend and grew significantly faster than other major competitors.

The German automaker sold 1.5 million cars globally through October, a year-on-year increase of 15 percent, with China’s market as its key contributor. It is now launching another made-in-China model GLC SUV to carry on that momentum. 

The first locally produced GLC midsized SUV went on sale one day before the Guangzhou Auto Show after it hit the assembly line at the end of October.

Price for GLC ranges from 396,000 yuan to 579,000 yuan with heavily chromed grille and bumper in five colors, which are favored by the Chinese.

China has now become the biggest market for Mercedes-Benz, overtaking the United States by volume, and surpassing the 300,000 units of sales in China for the first time ever.

Mercedes-Benz launched the GLA compact SUV in April and the long-wheelbase C-Class last year in China, sending its sales 34 percent up by far this year.

Lincoln Navigator

Ford’s premium Lincoln brand started to sell its Navigator SUV at a price of 1.19 million yuan. The big-size SUV features a long list of second and third row comfort features and offers nearly 32 more cubic feet for cargos, making it family friendly.

“The Navigator is Lincoln’s flagship SUV,” said Robert Parker, president of Lincoln China. “It is a big, robust, American-style SUV. You’ll find people in big cities here that like it and see it as a trendsetter.”

Lincoln started sales in China last October with the mid-size MKZ sedan and the MKC SUV. Besides SUVs, Lincoln China also launched its 2.0 version of online service “Visual Lincoln Way” on November 20, providing video shopping experience for high-end customers.

Qoros 5

Embodying a concept of “unique pursuit for design that matches the spirit of the city,” Qoros launched its new SUV model one day before the start of Guangzhou Auto Show.

The Qoros 5 SUV will be the flagship of the Qoros range, standing on the same platform that also underpins the Qoros 3 Hatch, the Qoros 3 City SUV, and the Qoros 3 Sedan. The price range is set between 150,000 yuan and 220,000 yuan, according to Sun Xiaodong, Qoros’ vice chief executive officer, slightly lower than previous models considering the brand’s relatively weak market performance.

Qoros, co-owned by Chery and Israel Corp, is also the latest Chinese automaker to hire foreign designers to help boost their brand image and reverse a loss in market share to overseas automakers.

Jaguar F-Pace

Being the first SUV in Jaguar’s 80-year history, F-Pace was put on the Chinese market with faithful proportions to its C-X17 concept car.

Under the skin, the F-Pace uses the same lightweight aluminum structure as Jaguar’s new XE and XF saloons. The company has borrowed expertise from its sister brand Land Rover for the all-wheel-drive system.

Priced between 548,000 yuan and 898,000 yuan, 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter petrol and diesel engines are available for Chinese buyers.

Nissan Lannia

The new mid-size Lannia sedan embraces a local vision for younger Chinese. V-motion grille, boomerang-shaped LED headlamps, kick-up C-pillar and floating roof, all reflect Nissan’s latest global design language with several distinctive signatures.

Being offered at a starting price of 105,900 yuan, Lannia is trying to push forward “in China, for China” concept, especially targeting the “post-80s and post-90s” generation who are becoming the most influential demographic group in China.

Boasting an upgraded 1.6L engine with Xtronic Transmission, Lannia also owns an in-car connectivity which offers a complete infotainment system, including advanced audio system and additional USB interfaces for the back row to address the needs of those who rely on technology to stay connected at all times.

Infiniti QX30

Designed with smoothie lines, Infiniti’s new QX30 crossover had its debut almost spontaneously in both Guangzhou and Los Angeles.

The sporty outlook and artful design reveals Nissan Motor Co’s premium brand Infiniti to catch young buyers, as Daniel Kirchert, Infiniti’s president emphasized that the “adoption of a youthful image is the key to conquer the world.” Loading a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox and all-wheel-drive system that can send up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels as necessary, QX30 will be unveiled to the Chinese market in the second half of 2016.