The 10th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition, the last major auto show of this year in China, opens today amid considerable jostling for position as car sales in China slow and automakers rejig their strategies for wooing consumers.

Questions abound: Who will continue to enjoy the heyday of luxury cars and sports utility vehicles? Can domestic manufacturers of cheap cars move up the value chain to stay in the competition? Will Japanese automakers be able to recapture their reputation after a wave of anti-Japanese sentiment washed over China earlier this year? If not, who stands to gain from the vacuum created?

The slowdown in China's auto sales growth this year is leading to a zero-sum price war at all levels and in every segment. Extended purchase restrictions by governments anxious to control roadway gridlock are giving low-end producers a particularly hard time.

In the end, it all comes down to offerings. Shanghai Daily has taken a close look at some automobiles that will be unveiled or spotlighted at the ongoing Guangzhou auto exhibition.

GAC Mitsubishi ASX

Whether or not this inaugural model of the Sino-Japanese joint venture will prove a boost for Mitsubishi's tepid sales in China may all rest on the car's pricing, which is due to be officially announced soon. After all, the 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter engines, rated at maximum 123 horsepower and 166 horsepower, are not strong enough to make the compact SUV an eye-catcher in a segment known for big horsepower. And the car's aggressive front grill might be too much for Chinese consumers.

In fact, Mitsubishi's whole Chinese product portfolio has never been much of an attraction, especially considering its semi-premium price tag. The company must be aware of the situation because it provides a cheaper base model option for the locally produced ASX by downsizing the engine displacement of the imported version.

Acura RLX Concept

Promising large interior in a mid-size package, the new luxury flagship sedan does have a certain appeal to Chinese motorists enamored of spaciousness. But even if the model has "BMW 7 series-grade legroom with 5 series-beating agility"- as it is being portrayed- Acura probably cannot hope to repeat the success of the German carmaker in China before convincing image-conscious consumers of its worth.

To that end, Acura is at least making changes in the lineup. The concept car looks more expensive than its outgoing predecessor Acura RL, with understated elegant lines and an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine matched to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.

2013 Mazda CX-9

The crossover to be launched next year will get Mazda a new foothold in the niche market by filling a gap in its SUV portfolio for China now made up by compact and mid-size cars. Bearing an resemblance to its smaller brother CX-7, the refreshed CX-9 strengthens a family look in the making. And available in a 3.7 L V6 engine version, the car is considered a cost-effective choice in a segment characterized by engines of 4.0 liters or above.

But even with ambitions to double down on its SUV strategy in China, Mazda may want to keep a steady pace of importing and producing SUVs in the throes of dissolving its manufacturing tie-up with Ford and balancing its two sales networks.

2014 Subaru Forester

The mid-size SUV that once helped Subaru register remarkable growth in China has finally come in updated versions to attract increasingly sophisticated consumers.

Compared with its first appearance in China four years ago, the car is now slightly extended, with an upgraded interior and a new grill that somehow recalls the Subaru XV. And a continuously variable transmission will replace the archaic 4-speed automatic gearbox, aimed at driving the car back into fashion. Keeping its offerings up-to-date will be critical for Subaru to secure or even increase its market share in China, since it has failed to get a government approval to produce cars locally and increase their price competitiveness.

Landwind X5

Even Landwind, the once purist manufacturer of off-road vehicles, is joining the trend of crossover utility vehicles by launching its X5 into the urban SUV segment.

Despite its deep root in utility vehicles, the brand has failed to cash in on China's SUV boom with its largely body-on-frame products that have a muscular build but little comfort or fashion. That explains why X5, so far the funkiest-looking car of Landwind, had adopted a unibody structure.

But a softened face doesn't mean a weakened heart. The car will be the first domestic SUV to carry China's self-developed eight-speed automatic transmission, which can be mated to an 180 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo-charged engine besides a possible 160 horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter version sourced from Mitsubishi.

Great Wall Hover H7

As the biggest and most powerful SUV of Great Wall, Hover H7 will be a stepping-stone for China's No.1 SUV maker to break into the market's high-end segment-a preserve traditionally occupied by foreign nameplates.

Measuring 4.81.91.8 meters in its mass-production version, the luxury SUV will be powered by Great Wall's self-developed 2.0-liter turbo-charged engine, which can generate 215 horsepower and 324 Newton meter of torque under gas direct injection, and be paired with a manual transmission or a six-speed automatic gearbox. It is heartening to see Great Wall make a substantial move to climb up the value chain from lower-end segment. But to be honest, the car is not that technologically advanced. Its front recalls the 2007 VW Touareg, while its rear resembles the new Renault Koleos. Even though Great Wall is playing the trump card of cost-effectiveness, H7 still faces tough competition in a segment that values innovation more than anything else.

Kia K9

Though the Korean carmaker may have the most to gain from the sales decline of their Japanese rivals in China, Hyundai and Kia are running the risk of cannibalizing with highly overlapping product portfolios and strategies. Kia's top-of-the-line K9, for example, may siphon off the market share of Hyundai's equally luxurious Equus and Genesis models as both brands strive to go upscale in China.

The flagship saloon to be imported soon will be based on the same platform as Genesis and equipped with the 3.8-liter V6, 4.8-liter V8 and 5.0-liter V8 engines, which Equus shares. The most evident product differentiation in this sibling rivalry is the tiger-nose grill that K9 inherits from of Kia, while its cousins stick to Hyundai's fluid styling.

BAIC C70G

As the first wholly owned high-end sedan from BAIC, China's fifth largest carmaker, this car may mark the beginning of the company's independent brand Shenbao, which is an old Chinese name for the Swedish car brand Saab in South China.

BAIC has a reason to draw such a connection. The car is based on the 9-5 model that BAIC acquired from Saab in 2009, along with its 9-5 model and engine and transmission technologies.

It looks like BAIC is going to use some decades-old features to make a new line-up. But will the increasingly sophisticated Chinese consumers fall for it?

The company is doing as much as it can to leave a good first impression. The old model has been restyled by the Italian design-house Fioravant, giving flashier design elements in the interior to replace Scandinavian simplicity with Chinese luxury, and extending by 55 millimeters the wheelbase to meet the demand for spaciousness.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

The mid-size crossover SUV will hit the Chinese market in both imported and locally produced versions, going head-to-head with two hot-selling Toyota models.

Powered by a 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter gasoline direct injection engine, the Chinese-made version will be a five-seater that challenges the RAV4, while the imported seven-seater will take on the Highlander with its high-performance 3.0-liter GDI engine and roomy interior.

The Korean carmaker does have what it takes to shake the dominance of Japanese brands in the fast-growing mid-range SUV segment in China. Its offerings bear a resemblance in technical and aesthetic design, which tends to give the car an "average" look that appeals to Chinese consumers as a safe choice.

Shanghai General Motors Cadillac XTS

Starting with local production of this full-size luxury cruiser, Cadillac will strive for a cost advantage equal to the German carmakers that currently dominate China's premium car segment. But to become an equally reckoning force, the brand may have to tone down its design a bit in order to widen its appeal to a larger audience.

With its sculpted front fascia and muscular lines, the XTS may come off as too flashy for many affluent Chinese motorists, who generally prefer "low-key" daily luxury amid growing public hostility toward the rich.

However, one man's poison may also be another man's meat. Cadillac had better keep that in mind when adjusting its design because some of the customers may love the brand just because of its edgy styling.

All-New Changan Ford Kuga & EcoSport

As a latecomer in the world's largest auto market, Ford is betting on SUVs to capture diminishing growth opportunities. And it does have some good cards to play, like Kuga, the Chinese version of the all-new compact SUV Escape, which has topped SUV sales in North America several times since its launch in June. It has been giving the best-selling Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V a run for their money.

There are obstacles to Escape's repeating its success in China. Ford cars are apt to seem a little "unrefined" to detail-focused consumers here. But even if that is the case with Kuga, its new turbo-charged Eco-boost engines may be able to offset this shortcoming with their high power performance and fuel efficiency.

That also applies to the mini SUV EcoSport, which might help Ford enrich its sparse SUV portfolio in China.

BMW 114i

The new base version of BMW's 1-Series three-door hatchback may further bring down the entry price of the brand. But would it still be worth buying without the badge?

The controversial part of the car is its 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, the same one found in the 116i but detuned from 136 horsepower to only 102 horsepower. It delivers even lower performance than some normally aspirated engines of the same displacement. Though the engine's maximum torque amounts to 180 Newton meters, the car takes 11.2 seconds to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour.

It can be a risky game to push the boundaries of affordable luxuries and possibly lower the brand's image along with the level of offerings.

Looking on the bright side, 114i can position itself as the most fuel-efficient model in the 1-Series line-up, using just 5.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers with the stop-start technology.

2013 SEAT Ibiza

The launch of the new Ibiza hatchback will be SEAT's latest attempt to crack the Chinese market as a sporty and impressive niche car brand. But does such a gap really exist?

Since becoming part of the Volkswagen family, the Spanish car brand has lost some of its idiosyncrasy. The angular lines and sporty detailing, and even some unusual color options, are not enough to make Ibiza stand out for its appearance, not to mention the interior, which looks awfully similar to that of Volkswagens.

When it comes to sportiness, two of its three high-performance engines, the 1.2-liter and1.4-liter TSI, also power the Volkswagen Polo and its GTI version, sharing the platform with Ibiza but ranking even lower in market position. That could call the pricing strategy of SEAT into question.

Land Rover Freelander 2 and 2013 Range Rover

Land Rover has equally high interest in promoting small-size but high-output engines in China. Its hot-selling luxury SUVs often conjure up the image of gas guzzlers because of their large displacement.

The brand's latest push for better fuel economy is the Freelander 2, which carries the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in 2013 Range Rover Evoque. As the single power option for the luxury compact SUV, the engine replaces the 3.2-liter six-cylinder and brings with it the benefits of being 88 pounds lighter, generating 10 more horsepower and 16 more pound-feet of torque.

Another fuel-saving strategy of the brand is pushing the development of lightweight materials. The 2013 Land Rover Range Rover full-size SUV has adopted an all-aluminum body that makes the car 300 kilograms lighter than its predecessor.

Whether Land Rover can take its product strategies in China to the next level largely depends on the co-production and co-development of such innovations with its new Chinese partner Chery, which has solid knowledge in making direct-injection engines with turbochargers. Dongfeng Citroen C4L/Dongfeng Peugeot 3008

PSA has long been a sleeping giant in China, largely due to its lack of innovation in engine design. But it's now trying to wake up and revive sales with its advanced 1.6-liter turbo high pressure engine, co-developed with BMW, which can squeeze out better gas mileage but produce power similar to a large engine.

The engine will create a competitive differentiation from PSA's Chinese-made SUV Peugeot 3008 because Japanese and Korean models haven't been turbo-charged yet and German rivals missed the 1.6 turbo niche market. The Chinese version of Citroen C4 L sedan, with a six automatic transmission to support the engine, can be equally competitive with the hot-selling VW Sagitar and Buick Excelle GT.

The good thing for PSA is that it has a wide range of suitable models in China to deploy innovation through product upgrades.

And with fuel price and efficiency standards on rise in this country, there will be more opportunities for the company to regain its market leadership.

Jaguar F-Type

The coupé is the brand's venture into China's compact sports car segment, aimed at taking on the Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLK.

The car's power options include a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 model delivering 495 horsepower and 460 pound-feet. The sole transmission is the eight-speed automatic.

But even after F-Type joins a line-up in China that includes sports saloons XF and XJ, and the grand tourer XK, the brand may maintain its high-end, elegant sporty image in China without highlighting its sports car DNA. This is not exactly a strategy of market differentiation, but one that enables a late-comer like Jaguar to pitch to as many Chinese luxury car consumers as possible with a consistent voice.