At least until the US economy recovers, China is now the world's largest car market.
And the China Motor Show, alternating between Beijing and Shanghai, now ranks among the most important, at least from the perspective of the car makers themselves.
You'd expect the multitude of Chinese manufacturers, most of which will be strangers to you and probably always will be, to show off their newbies here (Shanghai, this year).
But Audi (Q3), BMW (6-Series Coupe and M5 Concept), Chevrolet (Malibu), Mercedes-Benz (A Class concept) and Volkswagen (Beetle), among others?
Maybe not quite Frankfurt or Detroit.
But it's pretty impressive.
I'll have as full a report as I can conjure up this weekend in Wheels.
Meanwhile, here are a few models to whet your appetite.
That's the Chinese 'Brilliance' (above left), and the Audi Q3 (above right).
The Mercedes-Benz A Class concept (above left), looking VERY different from the car it is replacing, and the Chevrolet Malibu (above right) looking very much LIKE the car it is replacing.
You wouldn't believe how long I had to wait, and how impolite I had to be to shoo people out of the way, to get these pics.
China's shows are still back in the 'drape pretty women all over the cars' phase of Auto Show evolution.
The 'angel' on the Chinese-made 'Voleex C70' (above) had the weirdest costume. And while NBA star Yao Ming was at the show, I don't know if the woman beside the Ford (right) was his sister or not. But she was the tallest Chinese woman I think I've ever seen (OK, who's not on the Chinese National Women's basketball team).
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