Top 5 SUVs under the spotlight at Auto Shanghai 2017

SUV is the way forward for car makers and there is no disputing this fact. So naturally, auto shows this year will have a whole line-up of these, either in their production avatar or in their conceptual stages, strutting their stuff to woo auto enthusiasts. We take a tour of the Shanghai Auto Show and bring the top 5 SUVs to you while you wonder how many of them will be made in long-wheelbase versions only.

Lync & Co 01

Geely-owned electric car maker, Lync & Co, has displayed the production ready version of its five seater SUV called ‘01’. Since Geely also owns Volvo, the fact that the 01 is based on the XC40 platform, doesn’t come as a surprise. The 01 is a hybrid though and will get the 2.0-litre 240bhp turbocharged petrol engine synced with a 220bhp plug-in hybrid motor, just like the one we have on the Volvo XC90 T8 in India. In keeping with its ‘born digital’ reputation, this is a connected car which also has all the necessary framework laid in to accept future autonomous driving technology.

Citreon C5 Aircross

Citreon, known for its nimble hatches, has unveiled their most powerful car yet at Shanghai and it is a SUV. The C5 Aircross has been designed to be funky and it does so with typical French quirkiness as well. But, the most important thing about the Aircross is that it is a plug-in hybrid that combines a 200bhp petrol engine and two electric motors for a combined output close to 300bhp.

Neo ES 8

After showcasing the first all-electric hyper car, the EP9, Nio has unveiled their next electric vehicle and this time it is a full-sized five metre long seven seater SUV. It gets two electric motors for its two axles, air suspension and a swappable battery pack in case you do not have the time to recharge. The wheelbase, at 2998mm, matches the Range Rover LWB and so does the expected price tag – 1.15 million Pounds.

Honda CR-V hybrid

Honda has unveiled the CR-V hybrid in Shanghai and it does raise a few eyebrows. Especially because, the 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain being offered on the CR-V is exactly the same setup as the one on the Honda Accord Hybrid which we have in India. There is a very slim chance of the CR-V hybrid coming to India, especially because it is difficult for Honda to rein in the price tag. But the all-wheel drive is certainly on its way to the US after it starts selling in China.

Vauxhall Grandland X

The PSA group has gone all-out to woo Chinese car buyers by building as many iterations as possible of their cars. Vauxhall, the Peugeot-owned Opel’s alias, has unveiled the Grandland X – a compact five-seater SUV based on the Peugeot 3008. The Grandland joins the Peugeot 4008 and the Citreon Aircross, all spawned from the same 3008 platform but built to cater to different audiences. This one though doesn’t get a hybrid setup and will target the traditional markets rivalling the Seat Ateca globally.