What New Cars Debuted at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show?
China is open for business and is holding traditional auto shows. Last fall, it was Beijing. This week, it was Shanghai. And in Shanghai, electric vehicles were the big news. If you’re wondering what new cars and SUVs debuted at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, this article highlights the electrified concept and production models that have implications for the U.S. market.
Audi A6 E-tron Concept - Find the best Audi deals!
Reportedly, what you see here is 95% correct for the next-generation Audi A6, which should land on U.S. shores as a 2024 model-year electric vehicle.
Built on an EV platform shared with Porsche, the Audi A6 E-tron will live alongside the current-generation A6, according to Autoblog. As Audi transitions to an all-electric future, the current A6 will continue to offer mild-hybrid gasoline-fueled powertrains to consumers who still want them.
The Audi A6 E-tron Concept offers single- and dual-motor drive systems with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The dual-motor Quattro AWD version makes 469 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, good for a claimed run to 60 mph in less than four seconds.
A 100-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery supplies the juice, and the A6 E-tron’s 800-volt electrical architecture is compatible with 270-kilowatt DC fast chargers. Audi says it takes 10 minutes of fast charging to add 186 miles of range and 25 minutes to replenish the battery from a 5% charge to 80%.
Audi projects a maximum of 434 miles of driving range, based on WLTP standards. Expect a lower EPA range rating when the next-generation A6 arrives in the U.S. market.
Genesis Electrified G80 - Find the best Genesis deals!
For its first electric vehicle, Genesis transforms the new G80 sedan into the Electrified G80. It looks just like the existing production car, but with subtle modifications to the grille and bumpers and greater use of recycled and natural materials within the cabin.
Genesis doesn’t explicitly state that it bases the Electrified G80 on the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP EV platform. Still, it shares similar capabilities such as 350-kW DC fast charger compatibility and a Vehicle to Load (V2L) function that exports up to 3.6 kW of electricity to power whatever needs powering.
Every Electrified G80 has a 2-motor drive system good for 365 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, evenly split between the front and rear wheels. Acceleration to 60 mph requires less than five seconds. Genesis says drivers can run the Electrified G80 in rear-drive mode to maximize efficiency.
Genesis did not divulge battery specifications, but the car has a 400-volt/800-volt electrical architecture and is compatible with 350 kW DC fast chargers. Genesis says it takes 22 minutes to recharge the battery from 10% to 80%.
At 311 miles, the driving range sounds impressive, but that figure is based on the wildly optimistic NEDC scale. An EPA rating will undoubtedly land far south of that number.
Mercedes-Benz EQB - Find the best Mercedes-Benz deals!
If this little guy looks familiar, your eyes are not mistaken. It’s the current Mercedes-Benz GLB but with an electric drive system. You can tell the difference between the two by the EQB’s new headlights, taillights, and a black panel where the grille would typically go. Inside, the instrumentation is different.
Mercedes confirms that it will sell the EQB in the U.S. market starting in 2022. In European specification, the small electric SUV comes with front-wheel or all-wheel drive and uses a 66.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Range is WLTP-rated at 260 miles, so expect less when the EPA gets a hold of an EQB.
For people seeking more performance, Mercedes is planning an AMG Line version and a 288-horsepower drive system.
Toyota bZ4X Concept - Find the best Toyota deals!
Details about this new electric Toyota SUV are scant, but it is notable for a couple of reasons.
First things first, the bZ4X previews the first Toyota EV available in all of the automaker’s global markets. Naturally, it is a 5-passenger crossover SUV.
Second things second, with this vehicle, Toyota launches a new Beyond Zero (bZ) sub-brand to apply to its future electrified models. Reportedly, Toyota will offer 15 bZ-branded EVs by 2025.
Not only that, but Toyota engineered the bZ4X with Subaru, which will also use the underlying platform. Specifications remain a mystery, but the SUV sits on a new electric version of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), and it offers all-wheel drive.
Reportedly, the production version of the Toyota bZ4X arrives for the 2023 model year, though the timing for the U.S. market is unclear.
Volkswagen ID.6 - Find the best Volkswagen deals!
The Volkswagen ID.6 is not a surprise, as unofficial photos of the 3-row, 7-passenger SUV broke cover weeks ago. But now, the new VW ID.6 is official, shown here in extra-SUV “Crozz” trim.
It uses the same platform as the 5-passenger VW ID.4 and draws design inspiration from the same well. It’s about a foot longer to accommodate extra people and cargo and offers single-motor, rear-wheel-drive, or dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configurations. Output measures from 201 horsepower to 302 horsepower, and the 77-kWh battery pack supplies 365 miles of NEDC-rated driving distance on a single charge.
Volkswagen hasn’t announced official plans to bring the ID.6 to the U.S. market. While it seems like a no-brainer in a region where the SUV is king, don’t forget about the confirmed ID.Buzz that is coming to America.
Now, which of these would you rather drive?
The auto manufacturers are the sources of information for this article. It was accurate on April 20, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.
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