China’s auto shows are growing bigger and bigger by the year as the local market continues to expand in sales. The most significant car show is the Auto China, which is held alternatively in Beijing and Shanghai every other year. This year’s edition will take place in Shanghai.

More often than not, leading American, European, Japanese and Korean automakers present their newest offerings at well-established car shows like Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris and Detroit, but in the past few years, we’re seeing increased numbers of new models being unveiled in China.

This year show will be no exception, as many new cars are planned to be revealed in Shanghai (April 23-28), despite the fact that it overlaps the 2011 NY Auto Show (April 22 – May 1).

One of the most highly anticipated models rumored to make their world premiere in Shanghai is the Audi Q3 baby SUV, Inglostandt’s answer to the BMW X1. The crossover model will use the same platform as the VW Tiguan, with production set to start in Seat’s Martorell plant in Spain later this year.

There’s a good chance we might see VW unveiling the new Beetle at the Shanghai Show as well as in New York, while the Germans will also use the Chinese show to officially introduce its Seat brand to the local market.

BMW will premiere its 6-Series Coupe in Shanghai, along with the 5-Series plug-in hybrid built for the Chinese market. Reports from Germany suggest that BMW will also bring to China the pre-production BMW M5 Concept, while Mercedes-Benz is said to show a pre-production design study of the future A-Class, set to appear on the market in 2012 in two- and four-door body styles.

Citroen is rumored to show the DS9 concept car, which will bring the Metropolis design study one step closer to production.

Add to these the large number of Chinese brands that will be present and the premieres that we don’t know yet about and Shanghai already looks like a world-class venue.

According to local officials, this year’s Auto China exhibition will occupy 205,000 square meters (2.2 million square feet) and will be the largest ever organized in Shanghai. While the 2011 NYIAS is expected to host some 30 world and North America debuts, industry officials estimate that overall, Shanghai will have more than 60 world premieres.

By Dan Mihalascu

Sources: Shanghai Auto Show & Automotorundsport

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