The 2011 Auto Shanghai motor show, opening in a week time, will not be business as usual. Indeed it will mark a new era of the entire world car industry, the one steered by the Chinese market and industry. China is the biggest car market, and the one that is growing faster worldwide. The leading premium brands are betting on for most of their growth in the decade.

For VW China is by far the biggest market. Last year they sold 2 million cars there, twice as much as they did in Germany. For the German premium-car makers, China already is their top export business and might soon become their biggest market too.

So much so that makers such as Audi and Peugeot have approved investment for classic notchbacks that they their traditional markets would not buy in numbers big enough to justify the investment. The new Peugeot 508 is the first example: half of the project production and sales are for, and from, China.

Next will be the Audi A3 Limousine and the all-new Volvo four doors, 5-metres, long-wheel-base Luxury Coupe. This one is just of the many new cars (and some surprises) to be unveiled at the latest hour.

Within this scenario, with their world-premières the top European brands will steal just a share of the public attention from the dynamic home players, which will unveil an overwhelming number of attractions of all sorts.

In addition to the newcomers unveiled in Geneva last month, visitors to Auto Shanghai will be delighted to be the first ones to see in full metal the new Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz’s vision of their A-Class replacement that goes on sale next year. Both in high performance and luxury equipment settings. Both come with “small” 4-cylinder engines with output in the area of 200 hp. The A class is front wheel drive only whereas the Q3 is available also with “quattro” transmission.

Next is the new generation of the VW Beetle that must be up to the design standard of the superlative VW Bulli Concept presented in Geneva, to really catch the young generations it is hunting for. The new Beetle will be launched worldwide from Shanghai and broadcast from MTV World Stage Parties in Berlin and New York, with dedicated exhibitions.

MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households,

BMW reacts to the attacks of its competitors in many ways: with a typical “made for China and built in China (with Chinese partner Brilliance)” hi-tech luxury concept that combines the status and comfort of a long wheel base 5 Series with the advanced, high performance, plug-in hybrid technology.

For a green 5 Series for tycoons sitting in the back, there is another one for those who love driving themselves: the new 560 hp BMW M5, it is called a concept car but indeed it just preview the newcomer due to go on sale this year.

The answer from Porsche comes with the name of Panamera Turbo S, also a four door limousine that now come with some 550 hp and a top speed close to 310 kph.

On its turn MINI has reserved to Shanghai the new ultra-luxury MINI Inspired by Goodwood and designed with the help of they Rolls-Royce team takes the highest quality standards of the traditional, all-leather -and-wood, British design. Production is based on craftsmanship and is limited to 1000 pieces, with deliveries starting in one year time. Luxury can be small and is trendy in megacities.

The Germans are dominating the scene in China but Peugeot and Citroen are challenging them and are very serious at improving their performance there. While Citroen has in store a surprising long-wheel-base luxury flagship Peugeot will not do just with the 508 Sedan and its hybrid concept.

They will also tease the public with the concept of a cutting edge 4×4 crossover with hybrid technology (petrol engine this time, not diesel) reportedly called Peugeot SXC, designed by Peugeot’s design team in China

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Just 21 days ahead of the Auto Shanghai 2011 show, BMW has officially released the news concerning the very unique and amazingly fast M3 Pick-up developed by a task force in a very short period of time.

Considering the speed of the entire development, today I prefer to let the press-office tell you the entire story by reproducing here the full press release, issued just few hours ago.

Media Information 01 April 2011

Unique: BMW M GmbH develops the world’s fastest pickup. Drive and suspension technology from the BMW M3 – comprehensive testing completed on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife – 420 hp and 450 kg load capacity – world premiere on 1 April 2011.

Munich. Following the BMW M3 Coupé, BMW M3 Convertible and BMW M3 Sedan, a fourth body variant of this globally successful high-performance sports car is about to cause a stir. Under the strictest secrecy, the world’s first high-performance pickup has been created at the BMW M GmbH development centre. The sportiest example by far in this vehicle category, the BMW M3 Pickup will fire the imaginations of all motorists with a deep appreciation of top performance matched by a keen practical bent. 309 kW/420 hp under the bonnet and a rear-axle load capacity of up to 450 kilos take the hallmark BMW M relationship between race-oriented driving pleasure and everyday utility to an entirely new level. This unique vehicle has already completed extensive test and set-up drives on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife in advance of its global unveiling on 1 April 2011.

With this vehicle, BMW M GmbH once again furnishes evidence of its exceptional competence in developing and building high-grade, individual dream cars. With a high-revving V8 engine at the front, a generously sized load area behind and a removable Targa roof above, driver and passengers in the BMW M3 Pickup will relish an unprecedented take on the familiar M feeling. Yet this spectacular new development is unmistakably recognisable as a member of the BMW M3 model family. Corroborating this kinship are not just the inimitable power of the engine, but also fine-tuned aerodynamics and a tailored suspension set-up. Measurements in the wind tunnel at the BMW Group’s Aerodynamic Test Centre showed a Cd factor on a par with that of the BMW M3 Coupé. Like every BMW M model, the BMW M3 Pickup has also demonstrated its dynamic potential on the North Loop of the Nürburgring. Official lap times have not yet been released, but the needle in the dial vouched for a top speed of 300 km/h.

The kerb weight of the world’s fastest pickup undercuts that of the BMW M3 Convertible by around 50 kilograms. Removing the Targa roof shaves off a

further 20 kg while at the same time lowering the car’s centre of gravity. This most unusual experience of top-down driving pleasure in a BMW M3 thus goes hand in hand with further optimised dynamic handling.

The practical features of the BMW M3 Pickup are no less impressive. Maximum load capacity has been raised to 450 kilograms. The load bed of the BMW M3 Pickup is clad in high-grade structured aluminium sheeting and provides the biggest cargo capacity ever offered on a BMW M vehicle. In terms of the unit of measurement generally applied to premium automobiles, that gives the loading area of the BMW M3 Pickup the capacity to carry up to 20 standard 46-inch golf bags. What’s more, the BMW M3 Pickup is the first BMW M3 variant in the 25-year-plus history of this model range to come with a trailer tow hitch.

Notwithstanding these unquestionable stand-out qualities, the BMW M3 Pickup will not be heading for the golf course or series development, but will retain its status as an exclusive one-off. It is earmarked for use as a workshop transport vehicle for BMW M GmbH. With this in mind, the current BMW M3 Pickup – unlike a similar predecessor built back in the 1980s – has gone through the requisite procedures to earn its road certification. Which makes it officially a truck – but one that puts a whole new spin on the meaning of the word.

The past week-end Fiat has announced it will unveil the first addition to its product range sourced from Chrysler. It is a crossover to be called Freemont and indeed a rebadge, and very slightly modified, 2011 Dodge Journey.

The first Fiat vehicle to come out of the partnership with the Chrysler Group will come out from the Toluca (Mexico) plant where the 500 is also going to be produced for the US market.

The Fiat Freemont, which will go on sale in the second half of 2011, says Fiat.

Like the Dodge Journey, the Fiat Freemont is 4890 mm. Long, 1880 mm high and 1720 mm. Wide, sitting on a long 2890 wheelbase. Its key feature as a most versatile all-round family vehicle is its standard 7 seats interior architecture.

The seats of the third row may be folded down with one simple movement to disappear completely below the floor and create a regular load platform. The seats of the second row are fitted higher than those at the front while the third row is raised in relation to the second allowing all occupants maximum visibility.
On-board comfort is also assured by a high driving position, new roomy and ergonomic seats, a host of storage compartments, a generous luggage area with two compartments and a flat load platform for an overall capacity of up to 1461 litres.
Only two outfits will be provided for the interior and each is aimed at two different customer groups. The equipment level for both outfits is extremely comprehensive and all the main content items comply with the ‘Fiat fair price’ strategy, says the company.

At launch time, the Fiat Freemont comes with front wheel drive and two 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo diesel power units (for either 140 HP or 170 HP) marche to a manual gearbox. Later, the Freemont  will also be available in 4×4 versions with 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet and 276 HP 3.6 petrol V6 Chrysler Pentastar engine. Both with automatic transmissions, courtesy of the Chrysler Group Pentastar.

According to Fiat, the vehicle’s dynamic performances have also been improved with the aid of Fiat engineering, which has developed and introduced a special suspension and steering configuration for greater accuracy.

More news have come form Italdesign-Giugiaro on their presence at the Geneva Motor Show, with some detail concerning the powertrain developed with Proton and their own Lotus Engineering think thank in the U.K.

Lotus Engineering have developed their own hybrid powertrain according to the parallel-hybrid principle. A small 1.3 litre 3-cylinder engine at the front works only to charge two compact packs of lithium-ion batteries, each placed on one axle, front and rear. This grants all-time four-wheel drive and hence the inspiration for the second member in the new family of compact-outside-huge inside cars. The first addition is called “Country” and its design is positively that of a “crossover”, with a slightly higher ground clearance and the trendy and stereotyped look of a simile-SUV.

There is no official news yet of a third member in the family being readied for Geneva to really impress the viewer. This is a dramatically shorter derivative, aiming at putting four adults in a 3 metres long package that would show and prove how much can be done to make our cars serious and practical means of individual mobility. Perhaps not really sexy but clearly useful and environment friendly.

Its mission is simply to be the most rational, functional, comfortable, luxurious and yet emotional, sexy and charismatic car of the next decade. To do so, the very best of BMW as experienced with  recent luxury and premium cars is combined in the all-new BMW 5 Series GT (famous acronym for Grand Turismo, as you well know) when its make its world-premiere at the IAA in Frankfurt next September.BMW is preparing the public for the acceptance of a radically new car, a car that has many technical innovations to offer but that will be more or less successful according to the acceptance of its body concept and architecture as well for its coupé-like styling. Most probably it will not be love at first sight, but give the new Gran Turismo version of the next 5 Series generation a year or two and it will be the car that everybody will want in his/her garage.

As anticipated there are small differences between the Concept unveiled in Geneva as far as the body design and architecture goes. This means that the actual production version now being preview by the official photographs confirm what I reported on a previous occasion. In essence, the BMW 5 Series GT is indeed the car that connoisseurs, executives, engineers and designers in the car industry have always known as the theoretical best combination of perfect engineering. A combination that only few projects, and in very few cases, can achieve beyond the many, intrusive or reasonable compromises that go into a new automobile design.

Can you really marry rationality with passion and emotion, and be successful on the market? Soon it will be up to the market to answer. As I said before, I think it is reasonable to expect turbulence and another wave of controversial comments on its exterior design. Probably even more harsh than what we have seen with the revolutionary seven series.

To make sure its ultimate trend-setting product has all aces on its side, BMW is introducing in the new 5 Series GT its latest developments in powertrain and dynamic stability control. All versions come with the new 8-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels (with an xDrive all-wheel drive alternative in the pipeline). This is mated (at launch time) with three different engines: the 306 HP, 3 litres twin-turbo, six-cylinder in line; the 407 horsepower 4.4L twin-turbo V8 and the “entry level” (at some 55.000 Euros) 245 HP, 540 Nm) 3.0 litre turbodiesel with the third generation common-rail. Matching the potential of the powertrain to ensure that the 5 Series GTs handle like true BMW, all cars come with Dynamic Drive Control; with the maker’s Adaptive Drive system available as an option.

Other goodies that will be available as standard or optional equipment (depending on the version) are  BMW’s ConnectedDrive, a unique feature that includes Cruise Control with Stop & Go, a High-Beam Assistant, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, BMW Night Vision with detection of individual persons, Side View, Top View, and a back-up camera.

The new 5 series GT introduce herself as the smart alternative to the classic sedan, to the protective SUV or BMW’s SAV, the roomy Touring or station wagon, the MPV or minivan, and the new and trendy four dour coupé. Plus the comfort, luxury, performance (and technology) of a luxury, top class, 7 series. The difference here is whereas the 7 series is the perfect corporate limousine, the 5 Series GT, is meant to be the choice of the affluent upper class, architects, medical doctors, lawyers, artists. Self employed professionals who choose their own cars for all occasions. What will they get from this new BMW? Well, first of all a big car with the strong character and a progressive style. It sits on a very long wheelbase  of 3070 mm.

That is the same of the 7 series and will be available with BMW’s brilliant Dynamic Drive (active rear wheel drive system). The GT is shorter than the 7 series (even it is a rather long car, just 2 mm, under the 5 metres) but at 1555 mm. its overall height is greater whereas the width is virtually identical.

It is a big car that comes with four large doors: it is perfect for four passengers, each seating in a very comfortable and stylish armchair. Not five. Perhaps, for the first time in a mass production car those who live and travel inside the car (for hours) have been given uncompromised priority over those who see the exterior design and style for few minutes.  It is not just a matter of shapes, lines, style, colour, equipment and ergonomics, as usual.

There is plenty of air and light, with the panorama roof, and plenty of room where it can be used best. In addition, there is here a new “semi-high” driving position that is much lower than in the company’s SAV. Here you do not have to make the effort of climbing to your seat, not to dig into it, down the ground.

With the H point set at 574mm., the driver is 177mm closer to the ground than in an X5 but is 48mm. higher than on a 5 series sedan. Those sitting in the rear not only have excellent access to their individual armchair but have “first class” leg more and even more headroom but can adjust the entire seat as the front passenger, reclining the back as much as he likes. The seat back is not affected by the luggage compartment that is placed behind an insultating (from sound and air) “wall”.

Indeed the rear passenger in the 5 Series GT will be better than in the 7 series. Yet the luggage compartment is virtually as big as that in a 5 series Touring and it can expand into the rear passengers’ areas, when needed, with the seat back folding flat forward. Here one finds the flexibility of the best and most luxurious MPVs and big SUVs.

The BMW 5 Series GT is the first to share the new platform and chassis of the next generation 5 series (to be launched early next year) but its design and styling (front and rear) will be significantly different.

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There is no doubt that the most provocative, outrageous and controversial “concept” car presented at this year Geneva Motor Show is the Lagonda. It was on display only on the second and final press day at Aston Martin. Day one was focuses on the showing of the full scale mock-up and the 200,000 English pounds carbon fibre rolling chassis of the One-77.

When I saw the Lagonda, my first reaction was: “what is this? How can they think of showing such a “politically uncorrect” vehicle, here and in the current circumstances?

Than, looking at the full scale model I could not make my mind about its design. Is it actually ugly or is there quite a few interesting lines that would look better (and eventually good) on the road and in daylight? At this point came another question: would the Lagonda see the light of the day at all, one day? Should it?

Few minutes later, the rational side of my small brain starts lucubrating. Aston Martin are not in the business to give the world the clean and green, low consumption, rational and functional automobile the world need to move around. They are in a different business. They produce and sell emotion, excitement, passion, reward, luxury, satisfaction, prestige and you name it. There must be somebody who satisfies this different sort of human needs. There is no virtue without sin. And indeed there is some who is in business for those who loves this sort of flambyant statements of wealth and status.

To exist these companies, including Aston Martin must understand what their clientele wishes and expects from them. Those many “new riches” in emerging economic areas, such as China, India, Russia where roads are though for sports cars or covered with snow and ice for many months. There, a luxury, roomy and comfortable, four-wheel drive crossover meatching the status and comfort of a limousine with the road capability of an SUV, might be the ideal car for serious entrepreneurs and dubious business men, which business people do not want to know about. Something more (and better?) then a Porsche Cayenne or a BMW X6.

Click on the image for Aston Martin One-77 and more Lagonda images: (to be linked as soon as possible)

And here is how Aston Martin introduced its new Lagonda to the press.