THE 9th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition has traditionally been the country's last major auto show of the year as it is usually held in November.

While there may be some bumps on the road in overall auto sales this year, the Guangzhou show proves that the prominence of the Chinese auto market is still obvious as carmakers introduce strategically important models or high-priced dream cars.

Such cars represent the confidence of automakers in the longterm growth of the market and their ambition to grow market share amid fierce competition.

This year, the show will be held from tomorrow to November 28 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. It will spread over an area of 180,000 square meters with a total of 16 exhibition halls.

With the theme of "Green Technology Harmonious Future," carmakers from home and abroad including Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota will draw crowds to their latest models. The most advanced fuel-efficient technologies will also likely attract a great deal of attention.

Organizers said there will be a record high number of world premiers at the show.

Shanghai Daily has selected a few highlights to give readers a glimpse of what they can expect at this year's show.

Venucia

Dongfeng Nissan said the first volume car under its own brand Venucia will hit the market at the Guangzhou auto show. From the concept photo released by the company, the design of the sedan even looks somewhat sporty. The striking front lamp gives the sense of future technology while the rear makes it look agile. Dongfeng Nissan said it had planned five Venucia models with a sales target of 300,000 units.

Great Wall Voleex C50

The Great Wall Voleex C50 is the top-end sedan for the brand since it joined the passenger car market in 2008. The model is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbo engine, the first time that Great Wall has used the energy-saving technology on an engine with smaller replacement. Though without a direct injection system, the engine launched at the show has a maximum power of 98 kilowatts at 5,600 rpms with the largest torque of 188 Nm/2,000-4,500 rpms.

Audi A7

The 2012 Audi A7 is a practical five-door hatchback that seats four in relative comfort. The A7's supercharged 3.0-liter V6 makes 295 horsepower. It's attached to an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers power to all four wheels, as every A7 is equipped with Quattro all-wheel drive. There will also be a more powerful and sporty A7 model.

BMW M5

The fifth generation BMW M5 comes with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that reduces emissions. The driver can benefit from a completely new 7-speed SMG, a rapid manual gear-shift, and the adaptive M suspension that ensures comfortable driving. The new M5 also stands out with its luxury interior design, including the full-color heads up display and BMW Entertainment System.

Renault Laguna Coupe

With elegant styling and agile handling, the Renault Laguna Coupe represents the automaker's "casual luxury" philosophy. The design turns heads with nice curves and a low roof line. The Laguna Coupe has hi-tech 4Control four-wheel steering while the 2.0-liter turbo engine helps to improve fuel efficiency while maintaining power. The Guangzhou auto show marks the sales launch for the model in China.

Maserati GranCabrio Sport

Maserati has taken the GranCabrio convertible to a new level of performance with the new GranCabrio Sport. Visually, the GranCabrio Sport is characterized by a more-pronounced look, beginning with the GranCabrio's distinctive nose that continues with a host of small integrated changes throughout the body and the interior. Publicly unveiled at this year's Geneva Motor Show, the GranCabrio Sport combines an upgraded 4.7-litre V8 engine with a 10 horsepower increase to 450 hp and improved fuel economy with the faster MC Auto Shift transmission. With more power, a faster gearshift and a distinctively aggressive look, the GranCabrio Sport has given Maserati a harder-edged convertible to sit alongside the GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte Sport GT S as the performance flagships of their respective ranges.

Jaguar 12 MY XJ3.0

The Jaguar 12 MY XJ3.0 is designed with the latest aerospace aluminium technology. Jaguar is a global leader in aluminium construction and will be deploying it across more Jaguar models. The 12 MY XJ3.0 has lower carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption. The car is also lightweight, stiff and strong. And because aluminum absorbs more energy on impact than steel, the car is actually safer than vehicles made of steel.

Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius is the world's largest mass produced hybrid electric vehicle with accumulative sales exceeding 2 million units worldwide. Toyota will make public the third generation of Prius at the Guangzhou auto show. Toyota is widely believed to be preparing for its domestic launch as early as next year.

The third generation of Prius represents a slew of improvements on size, design, body structure as well as safety from the previous versions. The most eye-catching difference is the exterior, which has a slightly sportier feel.

Chevrolet Volt

General Motors will officially announce the China launch of its Chevrolet Volt extended range plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at the Guangzhou auto show. The model can travel up to 80 kilometers on its lithium-ion battery alone. The total range reaches 570 kilometers when a gasoline engine powers an electric generator. GM said the maximum power of Chevrolet Volt could reach 111 kilowatts with a maximum torque of 370 Nm. The model can run at a top speed of 160 kph.

Range Rover Range_e

The Range Rover Range_e with an all new powerplant option in the form of a diesel-plug in hybrid system will make its Asian debut at the Guangzhou auto show. It combines a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine and an electric motor with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. In the pure electric mode, the all wheel drive Range Rover E Hybrid can travel a distance of 32 kilometers. The top speed of the diesel-electric Range is about 193 kph, which is pretty respectable.

Mercedes-Benz smart forvision

Mercedes-Benz's smart forvision electric vehicle represents forward-thinking for the brand's future vehicles. In conjunction with smart's revolutionary DNA, the smart forvision is trendy and inspiring in its design. The high quality is shown by transparent solar cells covering the entire roof surface, which is the first light-transmitting roof that also generates energy. The first all-plastic wheel suitable for high-volume production makes the model a pioneer in weight reduction. The use of revolutionary thin fabrics with customer-tailored conductive coatings creates a pleasant feeling of warmth through direct heating close to the body.

Mercedes-Benz will showcase a total of 33 models under its Mercedes-Benz, smart, Maybach and AMG brands at the Guangzhou auto show.

Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu is the key model for General Motor's Chevrolet brand in the mid- to high-end market in China. At the Guangzhou auto show, the domestic joint venture of GM will unveil the interior of the Malibu. The spacious and well-finished cabin is expected to use more high quality macro-molecular materials.

Ferrari 458 Spider

As the world's first mid-rear engined berlinetta, the new Ferrari 458 Spider joined the 458 Italia and widened the range of Ferrari's models in the segment. With a folding metal roof, the new 458 Spider is a true lightweight sports car, weighing 25 kilograms less than previous versions. The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari's naturally aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 liter V8, which was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year. The power is transferred to the road by Ferrari's dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff for maximum handling dynamics.

SVW Cross Polo

The all new Cross Polo is designed to be one of the most unconventional vehicles in the subcompact class. It has been designed to appeal to Chinese who are self-confident, inspiring and brave enough to meet all challenges. The five-door model has a higher ride height. It also boasts an individually styled design, uncompromising handling and unique colors and other features that make it more fun.

Porsche 911 Carrera S

The new Porsche 911 Carrera S will celebrate its Asian debut at the Guangzhou auto show. The completely redesigned Porsche 911 Carrera S is stepping into the limelight with its flat, stretched silhouette, exciting contours and precisely designed details.

Lexus GS 250

The Lexus GS 250 makes its world premier at the 2011 Guangzhou auto show. Though it is the third edition of the Lexus GS series, it retains the iconic exterior design such as the rhombus grille. The all-new GS is equipped with Adaptive Variable Suspension and the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system.

BMW 1 series

The BMW 1 series will make its China debut at the Guangzhou auto show. The second generation of the series includes a Sport Line and Urban Line. The most striking feature of the series is its dramatic styling. The front-end resembles a shark-nose. The rear-wheel drive luxury compact also has an updated interior and power system.