Six new car brands coming to the UK this year including Porsche rival & EV-maker selling bargain-priced hatchback
Among them is BYD's rival to Porsche, as well as NIO's budget-friendly sub-brand, Firefly, which could compete with established players such as Renault and Dacia.
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Denza
6
Move over Porsche... Denza is coming to town
Credit: Denza
Porsche could soon face some serious competition from China in the form of motoring giant BYD.
The ever-expanding car brand, one of the largest private companies in China, has already begun making waves globally, including in the UK, with its range of Tesla-challenging EVs.
For those seeking something with more speed and
luxury
, their sister brand Denza might appeal, starting with the first car in its line-up – the stunning Z9 GT.
Clearly borrowing design cues from Porsche's Taycan and Panamera, the grand tourer, with its shooting brake estate styling, was unveiled at the recent Milan Design Week ahead of its European market release later this year.
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The Z9 GT, available in both EV and PHEV variants, will be followed by four to six
models
in Europe, including SUVs and off-roaders, launching over the
next
few years.
Firefly
6
Firefly, which belongs to the Chinese car manufacturer Nio, will look to take on the budget car segment
Credit: Pacific Coast News
From one sister brand to another: Firefly will be the lower-tier, budget option introduced by Chinese EV maker NIO.
Its first UK offering will be a sleek, five-door supermini designed to rival the Renault 5 and Dacia
Spring
as one of the most affordable electric cars on the market.
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Specifications such as
power
and range have yet to be confirmed, but it will feature NIO's innovative battery-swap technology.
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GAC
6
Mini, who? China's answer to the famous hatchback is on the way
Credit: Instagram
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the little-known brand GAC is preparing to take on the mighty MINI with an all-electric hatchback.
The Chinese manufacturer, which has partnerships with Honda and Toyota, is one of the country's largest carmakers.
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Watch the promo for the BYD Sealion 7
GAC is gearing up for its UK debut with the stylish Aion UT hatchback, billed as 'China's version of the Mini'.
The compact car certainly bears a resemblance to the iconic Mini and has been designed with city driving in mind.
In terms of size, it's perhaps closer to the Volkswagen ID.3, with its interior space being remarkably well-utilised.
The Aion UT is expected to launch in the UK at a price point just above £20,000, making it significantly cheaper than the £30,795-rated ID.3 and roughly on par with the MG 4 EV and the Renault 5.
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Mobilize
6
The Mobilize Duo is Renault's take on the quadricycle
Credit: www.mobilize.co.uk
It's not all about China, as Renault's new urban mobility brand is entering the fray to challenge the UK's favourite quadricycles – the enduring Citroën Ami and the charming Micro Microlino.
The Mobilize Duo, a spiritual successor to the cult-favourite Twizy, reportedly has a 100-mile range with its larger battery version, while a van variant—called the Bento—provides additional cargo space at the rear.
Onvo
6
The plush Onvo L60 coupe-SUV
Credit: Getty
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Another NIO-owned brand is set to arrive in the UK in the coming months, offering an affordable EV that could give Tesla a run for its money.
The luxurious Onvo L60 coupe-SUV is expected to hit showrooms soon, with a particular emphasis on value as it aims to undercut Tesla's hugely popular Model Y.
The L60 prioritises interior space, with NIO claiming the model's short overhangs maximise cabin room and that 'with ingenious storage design, every occupant can bring along their own luggage'.
It's also significantly more powerful than the £46,990-rated Model Y, featuring a 900V electrical architecture capable of ultra-rapid charging.
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Yangwang
6
Yangwang's go anywhere U8
Credit: BYD
The curiously named Yangwang, like Denza, is linked to BYD – but with an added touch of prestige.
Yangwang specialises in large, luxury SUVs, such as the Yangwang U8, a rugged off-roader with a surprising party trick: it can float in water for up to 30 minutes.
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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
BYD Sealion 7 review: Chinese electric SUV makes strong debut despite testing mishap
WHEN you cock something up, it is always best the best policy to put your hands up and admit as much. So, here I am throwing myself down before the altar of forgiveness, begging for mercy. It all has to do with a recent test of the seemingly excellent BYD Sealion 7, the latest all-electric SUV from the Chinese manufacturer which hit the streets here in Ireland recently and is already having a big sales impact. Having been booked in to test the beast, I duly arrived at the local dealer in Cork early one Monday morning to collect it. I assured the dealer principal it was unnecessary to give me a run-down on the workings of the car because, well, I'm a motoring correspondent and therefore all-knowing. As is the case with many Chinese cars these days, they are ready to go from the moment you plonk your ass on the drivers' seat — once you're in possession of the key, of course. I duly did so, engaged 'Drive' on the auto gearbox and drove off, with well over 400km of range being shown. Now, as sometimes happens with diary bookings this was a week where I had two cars for one reason or another and it was my intention to share the week between them, I was going to take one home to West Cork from my city lair and then come back later in the week and drive the other. Coming from Little Island to the city I noted the vast amount of tech on offer with the Sealion 7, its enthusiastic response to the throttle, excellent brakes, top drawer interior décor, and its spaciousness. When I got to my city base, I locked the car and went in home. At this point I was of the opinion it would be going west the following morning. Sadly, this was far from being the case. I was going to the local shop — on foot, as it happens — later that evening and as I walked past the car the lights suddenly came on. I thought: 'My God, those Chinese have technology in the car which recognises you as the most recent person to drive it, even if you haven't got the keys on you.' Thinking little more of it, other than how ingenious the Chinese were, I went to the shop. I came home about 20 minutes later and the lights were still on. I had supposed that the 'welcome back' lights would have turned themselves off. But no, they were still on and so too was the infotainment screen and so forth. BYD spacious interior The lights were obviously daylight sensitive because when I came back the following morning, they had turned themselves off. As I readied to go west, I decided to just check that there was a charging cable with the car, but could find nothing of the sort in the boot. The frunk, I presumed, would be where it was stored. Except I could not access the space under the bonnet. There did not appear to be any interior handle to open it, so I tried to see if there was some control to open it with via the infotainment system, but I couldn't find one. Read More BYD Seal U review: Packed with potential but lacking precision If it was not chargeable, then it was not going west — simple as that. I'd leave it in Cork and take it for a good spin when I got back on Sunday. That was the plan, but it turned out to be a bad one. When I returned on Sunday the battery has drained to the point where there was just 80km of range left. There was going to be no 'good spin'. According to one of my observant neighbours, the lights came on every night and the infotainment screen seemed to be permanently engaged. He had calculated I was losing roughly one kilometre of charge every hour. I was dismayed. For a start, it turned out I knew diddly-doo about anything, not least the start/stop procedure on this BYD. That meant that the recharging cable issue was irrelevant anyway. I had to get to the bottom of it. Having locked and unlocked the car again many times, I still could not solve the lights/infotainment screen situation and they remained doggedly on. In some desperation I sat back into the drivers' seat to recalibrate. Like many Chinese cars, there are few actual buttons and everything is largely controlled via the screen. But then I looked down and to my left and, to my horror, I saw a small start/stop button which had previously avoided my attention. What a prat. So, this was on one of those Chinese cars (or a Volvo EV, which has the same characteristics) which comes alive when your bum touches the seat and turns off when said bum departs. I'd got it terribly wrong and we were now looking at one of the shortest test drives in the history of Examiner Motoring. You may already know that BYD is now the fastest-selling EV brand in the world, shifting 4.2m of them last year. That's an impressive achievement considering that in 2020, it sold just 430,000 units. That being so I can tell you that the Sealion 7 is related to the company's Seal model, but is styled like a Coupe SUV, although the interior space belies the fact. The tester was the entry level Comfort version with a single motor mounted on the rear axle and driving the rear wheels only. BYD Sealion 7 There is some 308bhp on tap and this converts into a 0-100km/h time of 6.7seconds and a top speed of 215km/h. Claimed range is 482km and the 10 to 80% charging time is a very respectable 32 minutes, but, sadly, I never got to see that in action. The two other models in the range — the Design and the Excellence — are both 4WD machines which boast added levels of kit and tech, but the Comfort version is not exactly shy in this regard. The cockpit is dominated by a 15.6' rotating infotainment screen and a separate digital screen in front of the driver for all relevant driving information. It is a well appointed and built cabin and, as Tesla is one of its main rivals, there's a lot in here which apes the tech on offer there, which is no surprise. ALTHOUGH we didn't get to drive it on the roads which usually provide us with the down and dirty on handling and ride prowess, it seemed decent enough in both departments. As to how engaging it is to drive, we can only guess. For the price, however, the package seemed to be a very attractive one and we can easily surmise that they'll sell a shedload of them for the bobs being asked. However, thanks to the ineptitude of yours truly I can only place myself at the mercy of the generosity of the distributor and suggest they might give me another go in it to truly evaluate how this car performs. They say that shit happens, but in this case the blame can only be apportioned in one place and I can, therefore, only put my hands up and say: 'Mea culpa.' Read More Volvo EX40 Black Edition review: bold design but falls short on the open road
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Brussels and Beijing talk trade and Ukraine, but deliver few concrete results
The expectations in advance of Thursday's EU - China summit in Beijing on Thursday were so low that it would have been almost impossible to fall below them. A joint statement on climate change was short on detail and empty of measurable commitments but it was enough of a 'deliverable' to save face on both sides. The summit's primary value lay in the fact that it happened at all and although it was scaled down from a planned two days to one, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa spent a few hours first with Xi Jinping and then with premier Li Qiang. This was a rare opportunity to talk face to face about everything from their trade relationship to Russia's war in Ukraine . As a former Portuguese prime minister, Costas brings valuable experience of dealing with China that helped to oil the diplomatic wheels on Thursday. Speaking about Ukraine, he zoned in on areas of agreement as he urged China to help persuade Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire and enter meaningful peace talks. READ MORE The EU's hapless foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who has a tin ear on China, took part in the summit but was given a low profile and did not appear at the press conference afterwards. And von der Leyen, who has been sharply critical of Beijing in recent weeks, tempered her tough approach with a willingness to seek common ground where possible. [ 'Dominance, dependency and blackmail': EU and China talks overshadowed by deep divisions Opens in new window ] Among the most interesting exchanges between the two sides came in a discussion of China's industrial overcapacity; it produces too many goods for its own market and has to export them at low prices. Beijing rejects the concept of overcapacity but it is worried about involution in its domestic market – competition so fierce that it is depressing profits and wages and fuelling deflation. If China tames competition among its manufacturers, domestic prices will rise, making the domestic market more profitable and easing pressure to export. Beijing and Brussels agreed a deal earlier this month to set minimum prices for European brandy in the Chinese market and China is hoping for a similar agreement that would spare its electric vehicles from EU tariffs in return for minimum pricing.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
‘It tastes like an ashtray': Irish pubs lament the arrival of Chinese-brewed Guinness
This promises to be a good week for many Irish pubs in China , bracketed by All-Ireland finals at each end, with the British and Irish Lions ' Australian matches in between. But for some publicans, each pint of Guinness they pour this week is part of a countdown to an unwelcome change that one told me could close his business. Until recently, Guinness was shipped from Ireland and distributed in China by AB InBev , the brewing giant that makes Budweiser. But earlier this year, the company started brewing Guinness under licence in China and the reception in Irish pubs has not been good. 'The feedback from everyone is that it tastes like cigarettes or an ashtray. The taste is not the same at all and the aftertaste is terrible,' one publican told me. Almost every time I have been with a group of Irish people in China in recent months, the subject of the new Guinness has come up 'That's what the customers are saying. They refuse to drink it. We only have three kegs left of the original but other bars have the new stuff and all the people come in and say the same things.' READ MORE Almost every time I have been with a group of Irish people in China in recent months, the subject of the new Guinness has come up and I have yet to meet anyone who likes it. Most describe it as having a burnt taste and the comparison with an ashtray is a common one. 'It's a different drink altogether I'd say. The current Guinness is lovely, creamy and tastes like a great pint of Guinness you'd get back home,' said one aficionado. 'The Chinese or alternative Guinness has a slight burnt taste and doesn't taste like the original Guinness. I'd go as far to say it tastes worse than a bad pint of Guinness back home.' There are dozens of Irish-themed bars across China but a smaller number of authentically Irish pubs, many of them owned or run by Irish people. Most depend on a mixture of Chinese customers and foreigners from many countries who come for the atmosphere, to watch a match or to take part in a quiz as well as for a drink. The Irish Embassy and consulates host events for Irish citizens but it is the GAA and the network of Irish pubs that provide the social backbone of the community The Irish community in China is small and much diminished since the coronavirus pandemic, probably numbering only a couple of thousand people. The Irish Embassy and consulates host events for Irish citizens but it is the GAA and the network of Irish pubs that provide the social backbone of the community. Like Irish pubs across the world, China's double as information hubs and informal support centres, often organising fundraising efforts to help Irish emigrants in distress. And although there are not enough Irish people to keep a pub going on their own, Irish identity is a big part of the attraction of these bars, many of which are renowned for the quality of their Guinness. 'It's literally our best seller, so this could close us. All the feedback is extremely bad with the new stuff,' said one bar owner. 'We sell a lot of Guinness in the bar and people know it for Guinness. So we'd expect a drop in the customer base if we can't sell Guinness. All the reviews we get online are about Guinness, so it has a huge impact.' We regularly monitor and engage with the trade via our appropriate channels — Budweiser China spokeswoman I put these complaints to Budweiser China, who are brewing Guinness under licence and asked if they could explain why it has a different taste. I asked if they had brewed stout before and if they could do anything to improve the product. 'Guinness is produced in numerous locations around the world, and all authorised breweries of Guinness Stout adhere to consistent production standards and specifications. We regularly monitor and engage with the trade via our appropriate channels,' said a spokeswoman. 'To meet growing market demand, starting from 2025, we began producing Guinness in China, allowing consumers greater convenience in enjoying a consistent supply of fresh Guinness beer. The brewers from the Guinness Irish Team at St James's Gate, Ireland, carefully oversee all aspects of locally brewed Guinness. The Guinness stout produced in China has the smooth taste, well-balanced flavour and consistent quality Guinness is renowned for all over the world and the Guinness stout brewed in China has received a full 10/10 Guinness Technical Flavour Score.' When I asked her if this would continue to be the only Guinness available in China, she simply repeated that they started brewing it in China this year, 'allowing consumers greater convenience in enjoying a consistent supply of fresh Guinness beer'. There's nothing we can do, and we just have to suck it up — Publican in China I put the same questions to Diageo and asked if they would supply the original Guinness to pubs in China while they were improving the locally brewed product. Conscious of the importance of the Irish diaspora experience in Guinness's marketing, I told them about the importance of the pubs to China's small and fragile Irish community. 'Alongside our third-party operators, we have an unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality, taste and experience of our products across the globe,' said a spokeswoman. Or as one publican in southern China put it when he said he saw no point in complaining, 'there's nothing we can do, and we just have to suck it up'.
