In July of this year, China's new energy vehicle penetration rate surpassed 50% for the first time, successfully outpacing gasoline-powered vehicles.

Clearly, new energy vehicles have become the mainstream in the market, with new models emerging continuously and a fierce price war underway. Traditional brands are facing increasing difficulties.

However, the more difficult the situation, the more they need to compete. At the upcoming Chengdu Auto Show, both independent brands and traditional brands are attaching great importance to it, pulling out all the stops to introduce new models in a tight schedule, aiming to show their best side to the market and consumers.

So, what are the hot models worth paying attention to at this year's Chengdu Auto Show? Today, we'll take a look at some of them.

Sedans

XPENG MONA M03

Less than 120,000 yuan, XPENG is going crazy!

On the evening of August 27th, XPENG officially launched the MONA M03, the first model in its new MONA series, priced at 119,800-155,800 yuan, positioning it as an intelligent pure electric sports sedan.

The new car does not continue XPENG's family design language but adopts a brand new one. The "010" split headlights, with the active air intake grille below, can adjust intelligently according to speed. The rear adopts a hatchback design.

In addition, there are many aerodynamic optimization projects throughout the car, which brings the drag coefficient of the XPENG MONA M03 down to 0.194Cd, making it the lowest among globally produced cars. The previous holder of this record was Xiaomi SU7.

The car's dimensions are 4780/1896/1445mm (length/width/height), with a wheelbase of 2815mm. The interior design adopts a minimalist style similar to Tesla, with a single central control screen integrating all functions. It is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon SA8155P automotive-grade cockpit chip, supporting card-style interaction, multi-finger fly screen, and other interaction methods.

The new car is also equipped with 20+ intelligent sensing hardware, including 2 mm-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 7 cameras, integrating advanced AI intelligent driving technology. It also possesses a series of urban intelligent driving functions.

Editor's Comment: As the inaugural model of the MONA series, the M03 is indeed highly anticipated by XPENG. When the price was announced, the cheers at the press conference were non-stop, which is proof that XPENG succeeded in its first step.

He Xiaopeng said that XPENG invested 4 billion yuan and 4 years in developing the MONA M03. The price of less than 120,000 yuan is indeed very difficult for XPENG. However, the market is becoming increasingly competitive, and consumer demand is gradually upgrading. Cars are no longer simple means of transportation. Without showing something truly valuable, they may not attract buyers anymore.

BYD Dolphin 06GT

Industry's first hatchback rear-wheel-drive pure electric hatchback

Remember the OCEAN-M concept car that BYD unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show? At this year's Chengdu Auto Show, BYD brought its production version, the Dolphin 06 GT.

Positioned as a pure electric mid-size car, the BYD Dolphin 06GT is the first GT model under the Ocean Network. It adopts the Ocean Network's family design language for the front face, with dimensions of 4630/1880/1490mm (length/width/height) and a wheelbase of 2820mm. It features hidden door handles and sharp body lines, earning the title of "industry's first hatchback rear-wheel-drive pure electric hatchback" from BYD.

The interior also adopts a family design, with a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, a floating full-color LCD instrument panel, a floating central control screen, and a lever-type electronic gear lever, similar to the Dolphin 06 layout.

In terms of power, the rear-wheel-drive single-motor versions have power ratings of 160kW and 165kW, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version has a maximum power of 310kW. It is equipped with BYD Blade Batteries, available in two capacities: 59.52kWh and 72.96kWh.

Editor's Comment: With the Denza Z9 GT before it and the Dolphin 06 GT now, it seems that BYD is launching a fierce attack on the GT market!

Volkswagen Passat PRO

Has this been a successful "facelift"?

At this year's Chengdu Auto Show, in addition to independent brands shining brightly, joint venture brands are also catching up. SAIC Volkswagen brought its all-new Passat PRO to the show.

The new car adopts a brand-new family design language, offering two exterior options. One has a more business-like style with a chrome-plated grille, while the other features a sportier look with a blackened grille and R-Line sports package. The lower grille and wheel design are also different from the former.

The Passat, with its "two faces," offers consumers more choices.

In addition to the "facelift," the new Passat PRO has also undergone dimensional upgrades. Its dimensions are 5006/1850/1489mm (length/width/height), with a wheelbase of 2871mm. Except for the wheelbase remaining unchanged, the length, width, and height have all been increased.

In terms of power, the Passat PRO offers two options: 1.5T and 2.0T engines, with maximum powers of 118kW and 162kW, respectively, demonstrating its sincerity.

Editor's Comment: This time, the Passat PRO can be considered a successful "facelift," appealing to both young and old in terms of its appearance and power. As for the price, it may be higher than the current Passat PRO. Will you be willing to pay for it when the time comes?

SUVs

Zeekr R7 - The SUV with the lowest drag coefficient in global production?

At the upcoming Chengdu Auto Show, HarmonyOS Smart Mobility's first coupe SUV, the Zeekr R7, will make its debut.

In terms of appearance, the Zeekr R7 adopts the same family design as the Zeekr S7, with a rounded overall body shape. Its dimensions are 4956mm long, 1981mm wide, and 1634mm high, with a wheelbase of 2950mm.

The new car is available in single-motor and dual-motor versions, all equipped with Huawei's "Whale" 800V high-voltage battery platform. Standard features include CDC continuously variable damping shock absorbers, air suspensions, and a fully-loaded chassis, providing a more stable and comfortable driving experience for users.

It is worth mentioning that during the recent AITO new M7 PRO launch event, the Zeekr R7 made a surprise appearance. Yu Chengdong also stated that the Zeekr R7 achieves the lowest drag coefficient among globally produced SUVs.

Editor's Comment: The Zeekr R7 does not give us a sense of surprise in appearance, and the interior has not been announced yet. However, based on the information that has been revealed, the Zeekr R7 reaches the leading level in its class in terms of materials, configuration, and hardware. Especially with the support of Huawei's ADS 3.0 advanced driving assistance system, its intelligent driving capabilities are worth looking forward to.

AITO 07

EREV + Huawei Intelligent Driving = Invincible?

With the success of Li Auto and AITO in the EREV market, many automakers have seen the advantages of EREV powertrains and have begun to focus on this segment. At this year's Chengdu Auto Show, AITO also brought its third model, the AITO 07.

Positioned as a mid-size SUV, the new car offers both pure electric and EREV power options.

It adopts the AVATR 2.0 design concept, with highly recognizable C-shaped LED light strips. The overall body lines are rounded and sporty.

The interior is futuristic, equipped with a 15.6-inch central control screen, a 35.4-inch 4K integrated remote screen, a flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel, and a lever-type shift mechanism. It also features electronic exterior mirrors and a Meridian audio system.

In terms of power, the EREV version is equipped with a 1.5T engine as a range extender, available in both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations, with pure electric ranges of 230km and 220km, respectively. The pure electric version comes in two-wheel-drive single-motor and four-wheel-drive dual-motor configurations, with ranges of 650km and 610km, respectively.

Editor's Comment: The advantages of this car are evident, offering both pure electric and EREV options for consumers to choose from based on their different needs. Its interior design is also luxurious and futuristic. However, whether it can achieve good sales performance after its official launch depends on its pricing strategy.

ZEEKR 7X

The "SUV version" of the ZEEKR 007?

If everything goes as planned, ZEEKR will have another hit on its hands.

It is well known that ZEEKR is a bona fide "hit-maker," with the ZEEKR 001 preceding the ZEEKR 007. And at this year's Chengdu Auto Show, ZEEKR will introduce its highly potential first mid-size SUV, the ZEEKR 7X.

Unlike the ZEEKR X, the ZEEKR 7X is a family SUV. Its exterior and interior designs continue the language of the ZEEKR 007, making it essentially the "SUV version" of the ZEEKR 007.

Its dimensions are 4825/1930/1666mm (length/width/height), with a wheelbase of 2925mm. Based on the SEA Grand Ocean Architecture, it comes standard with an 800V high-voltage platform and a silicon carbide rear electric drive.

The new car is available in single-motor rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive versions. The single-motor version has a maximum power of 310kW, while the dual-motor version has front and rear motors with maximum powers of 165kW and 310kW, respectively, for a total power of 475kW and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 3 seconds.

Editor's Comment: Both the ZEEKR 001 and the ZEEKR 007 have established a solid reputation for ZEEKR. In the automotive market, SUVs have always sold better than sedans. Moreover, the ZEEKR 7X is a family SUV with a broader market audience. Coupled with its superior product capabilities, it is believed that it will perform well in sales.

NIO Letao L60

Cheaper and better than the Tesla Model Y?

Like XPENG, NIO has also launched a second brand this year - Letao. Its first model, the Letao L60, will make its debut at this year's Chengdu Auto Show.

Positioned as a pure electric mid-size SUV, the Letao L60 has dimensions of 4828mm x 1930mm x 1616mm (length x width x height) and a wheelbase of 2950mm, boasting longer, wider dimensions and a larger interior space than the Model Y.

The new car features a closed front grille paired with split headlights, sleek and harmonious body lines, and a fastback design.

In addition, NIO officially claims that the Letao L60's low-drag wheels have the lowest drag coefficient among globally produced SUVs, at just 0.229Cd. This is similar to the XPENG MONA M03 in that regard.

In terms of power, the new car is based on the 900V high-voltage platform and offers both single-motor and dual-motor versions. It adopts the same pure vision-based intelligent driving route as Tesla, equipped with an NVIDIA Orin X chip with a total computing power of 254 TOPS.

Of course, the biggest highlight of this car is NIO's signature feature: battery swapping. It is reported that the new car will share NIO's third- and fourth-generation battery swap stations.

The Letao L60 has officially started presales, with a presale price of 219,900 yuan.

Editor's Comment: The pressure on Letao is quite significant. Just like XPENG's MONA brand, which has already launched and offered a very competitive price, consumers are equally expectant of NIO's Letao brand. The new car is on par with the Tesla Model Y in all aspects, and with NIO's signature battery swap technology, it could become a hit if the pricing is competitive.

BMW X3L

Longer wheelbase, larger space!

Compared to new energy automakers introducing new models, traditional automakers focused more on upgrades and replacements at this year's Chengdu Auto Show. BMW's all-new BMW X3L will make its debut at the show.

The "L" in the new car's name indicates changes in dimensions. Its dimensions are 4865mm x 1920mm x 1664mm (length x width x height), with a wheelbase extended by 110mm to 2975mm, the same as the standard-wheelbase BMW X5.

It continues the classic BMW family design elements, with enlarged kidney grilles and highly recognizable double L-shaped angel eye headlights.

The interior has also been upgraded, featuring the latest digital cockpit design with a larger touchscreen and a more intuitive human-machine interface, enhancing driver convenience and infotainment experience.

In terms of power, the new BMW X3 is expected to offer multiple power options, including gasoline and plug-in hybrid versions, to meet the needs of different consumers. It will also be equipped with a 2.0T turbocharged engine with a maximum power of 211kW.

Editor's Comment: The arrival of the all-new BMW X3L addresses a pain point of the previous BMW X3. Coupled with upgrades to the cockpit and other aspects, it is expected to bring surprises to consumers in terms of intelligence. The BMW X3 has always had a strong presence in the luxury SUV market, and this new generation will further enhance its influence among its peers.

MPVs

BYD Dynasty Network's first MPV - A "game-changer"?

Here it comes, BYD Dynasty Network's first MPV model has finally arrived.

At this year's Chengdu Auto Show, BYD Dynasty Network's first MPV model made its official debut. Before its official unveiling, many spy shots of the model had already circulated online, demonstrating its high popularity.

From the spy shots, the car has a square and rugged design, with dimensions approaching those of the Denza D9. Its large front grille exudes a powerful presence, and it features dual electric sliding doors. Inside, it adopts a 2+2+3 seven-seat layout, equipped with a floating central control screen. The second-row seats will be equipped with independent armrests, leg rests, and small tables. The first-row center console will house a control panel, with a space reserved below for a vehicle-mounted refrigerator.

In terms of power, the car is expected to be equipped with BYD's fifth-generation DM technology, which should offer good range performance.

Regarding the naming, many people speculate that the model may be named "Tang MAX," while others suggest it may adopt a brand new naming convention, possibly "Zhou."

Commentary: Rumors have it that BYD's first MPV under its Dynasty series is expected to be priced between 200,000 and 300,000 yuan. If this price range is indeed achieved, it will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to other MPV models in the market. After all, this car is highly competitive in terms of both configuration and power. With BYD already shaking up the sedan and SUV markets, the arrival of this all-new MPV model signals a strong push into the MPV segment as well.

- END - Luo Lin