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Aston Martin Rapide S

Longer E-class for China market

Extended-wheelbase E-Class aimed specifically at wealthy Chinese buyers who like to be driven around town.
Automotive status symbols vary in different markets. In China, it all comes down to being chauffeured around in a long-wheelbase luxury sedan. That’s why Jaguar is reportedly looking at a more spacious XJ for China, why Porsche has revealed a new stretched Panamera, and why Mercedes-Benz came to Shanghai this year with a long-wheelbase version of its popular E-Class sedan. The extension of 14 cm (about 5.5" for those unschooled in the metric system) translates directly to that much extra legroom in the back of the luxury saloon.

Rear-seat passengers will also be able to move the front passenger seat forward by electric control to make for even more space on the right side. Outside, the elongated form is further emphasized by a specific character line that runs down the flank.The E-Class L will be built in China for the Chinese market, where it will be offered with the classic or sports grilles, a host of interior options and three engines: a 204-horsepower direct-injection four (E 260 L), a 245hp six (E 300 L) and a 333hp six (E 400 L).

BMW 1-series sedan

BMW could make rival to the recently launched Audi A3 Saloon
BMW is considering a 1 Series Saloon, following the launch of the rival Audi A3 Saloon at the Shanghai Motor Show.
If such a model does make production, it will enter BMW into the world’s biggest single segment, worth 5.5 million sales a year in China alone.

“BMW is never shy of new segments,” BMW sales and marketing boss, Ian Robertson told us. “There are no plans to do it at the moment, but do we want to do it? We’ll see…”

Building a 1 Series saloon is just one option open to BMW, a saloon version of the MINI is another. “Making a MINI like this certainly wouldn’t be the norm, but then part of MINI’s appeal is not to be normal,” Robertson said.

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Bentley four-door coupe planned

Bentley rival for the Mercedes CLS and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe considered
Bentley CEO Wolfgang Schreiber has confirmed that a four-door coupe based on the Continental GT is under consideration. If it makes production, the new model will be an upmarket rival to the Mercedes CLS and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe.

"I definitely wouldn't say no to the idea," Schreiber told us. "With the new Flying Spur we have a model that supports the Mulsanne, and a coupe with four-doors could sit below that."