News

Mercedes-Benz claims to have “set a benchmark” for the future of luxury travel with the Vision V concept.

Shown for the first time at the Shanghai motor show, it previews a new VIP shuttle -  dubbed the “dawn of a new era” - that will top a new-look V-Class line-up. 

This will range from practical family oriented vehicles to “luxurious limousines” that will all be based on the Mercedes’ new Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA) platform; the first model will arrive in 2026.

The range-topping production Vision V is being readied to push the nameplate further upmarket, said Mercedes, targeting the likes of the Volvo EM90 and Lexus LM. 

The concept features a striking exterior that “marks the next step” of Mercedes’s design language, it said, especially in terms of also making it as aerodynamic as possible - key in terms of maximising range for the production EV, that will likely be a heavy machine.

Notably, the brand points to its new grille (similar to that found on the EQS), headlamp design and illuminated standing star, suggesting these could make production, while the machine’s futuristic-looking rear light bar will likely be toned down before it hits showrooms.

The dramatic four-seat cabin, however, is where most work has been done, says Mercedes.

Key focus has been made on creating a “private lounge” for the rear passengers, that’s extensively clad in white Nappa leather. Main features include a retractable 65-inch cinema screen (that when up also acts as partition wall), a 42-speaker sound system and two airline-style seats (made with tubular cushions) that are fully reclinable.

Seven projectors are also fitted to create different ambiences, the rear windows can be switched from transparent to opaque for a “unique cocooning effect”, and there’s even a karaoke mode (one of seven that range from “gaming” to “relax”).

The concept showcases the “dawn of a new era”, says the German brand, that “sets standards in design, comfort and an immersive user experience,” adds Thomas Klein, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Up front, the elements that could carry over the real machine are clear to see, such as a production-spec steering wheel, the three-screen Superscreen (to debut in the upcoming CLA) and crystal-look air vents.

The extensive interior space is made possible by the new modular VAN.EA platform. While no details have been revealed on what powers the concept, the platform is fitted with 800V electricals and will be offered with front- and four-wheel-drive powertrains. The longest-legged variants will top 311 miles of range.

Volkswagen has unveiled a trio of concept cars ahead of the Shanghai motor show, previewing a dramatic expansion of its offerings in the crucial Chinese market.

Developed in collaboration with VW’s joint-venture partners SAIC and FAW, plus its sub-division headquartered in Anhui (East China), the new cars form the backbone of a 30-model line-up that is due in China over the next two years.

The headliner is the ID Era developed with SAIC, previewing VW's first car with a range-extender powertrain. It is a three-row seven-seater similar to the existing Tayron that pairs a combustion-engined generator with a battery-electric powertrain for a combined range of more than 621 miles (1000km) with the fuel tank and battery brimmed. 

The other SUV in the trio is the ID Evo, developed by VW Anhui. It has been conceived as a sibling to the ID Unyx – the Chinese-market version of the Cupra Tavascan – but swaps that car’s rakish styling for a more conventional hatchback silhouette. However, it packs an 800V electrical architecture, rather than the 400V system used by the Tavascan. It also uses a new zonal computer set-up that is said to enable a wide range of new digital services and rapid over-the-air software updates.

The final model is FAW’s ID Aura, a small notchback saloon in the vein of the old VW Bora. It is at buyers who would typically tend toward affordable A-segment city cars and will manifest the first car based on the new Compact Main Platform (CMP) architecture aimed at the Chinese market.

VW has yet to publish specifics on each model’s powertrain but confirmed all are New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), a Chinese term encompassing plug-in hybrids, range-extender hybrids and battery-electric cars.

It added that each car is fitted with an artificial-intelligence based autonomous driving system that will be capable of driving in so-called “Level 2++” mode next year, in which the car takes most of the controls but the driver retains much of the liability for keeping out of harm’s way. “In certain situations cars will be able to drive fully autonomously – including overtaking and turning maneuvers and independently merging into traffic – with the driver’s supervision,” VW said in a statement.

The MG CyberX SUV has been previewed on video ahead of its unveiling at the Shanghai motor show tomorrow.

Briefly shown in a video posted to Chinese social media platforms, it is a new electric SUV that will be the second model in the brand's Cyber line-up, established last year by the Cyberster roadster.

The early images reveal MG’s latest electric SUV will receive a more upright, boxy and rugged silhouette than its existing models and be positioned more towards lifestyle-minded buyers.

It also features illuminated badges and full-width LED light bars front and rear. Rivals are expected to include the new Smart #5.

MG's Cyber sub-brand has been created to target younger buyers and is initially aimed at China. But MG has previously confirmed global ambitions for its Cyber-branded models. The Cyberster, for example, is on sale in the UK.

In addition to the CyberX, MG plans to launch eight new models over the next two years across three product lines: sports cars, saloons and SUVs. 

The CyberX will be underpinned by parent company SAIC’s latest E3 electric platform and will be among the first MG models to adopt this new architecture.

It is described by SAIC as its “first fully electric, system-level architecture”. It is designed to support a wide range of models – from compact cars to large SUVs and sports cars – and has the flexibility to accommodate “various drivetrain configurations”.

At the heart of the structure is SAIC’s new CTB (cell-to-body) construction, where the battery structure contributes to the rigidity of the car's body, helping to reduce weight and improve efficiency.

MG says the new SUV will also be among the first models to receive its new Zebra 3.0 operating system and digital user interface. It is designed to offer more contemporary voice recognition and connectivity features than existing MG systems.  

New MG models based on the E3 platform will also use Horizon Robotics' J6 chip, which is expected to support new developments in driver monitoring, navigation and semi-autonomous functions.

Together, these systems will underpin the CyberX’s technical package, although full drivetrain specifications and battery specifications have yet to be revealed.