Eco-friendly cars to drive into spotlight at Guangzhou show

CAR makers are gearing up to finalize their preparations for this year's Guangzhou auto show to display their eco-friendly new models as they go all out to sustain this year's booming sales.

Overseas and domestic car makers will display more than 720 models at the 7th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition, which will run from next Tuesday to November 30 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in the capital of south China's Guangdong Province.

Themed as "Tech, Trend and New Life," the annual auto show will present 32 concept cars spread over more than 150,000 square meters, an increase of 11 percent from last year. About 70 new models will be unveiled for the first time in China.

Concerned that the expected expiry of the Chinese government's stimulus measures at the end of this year might translate into flat sales next year, car makers are rushing out new models such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the new Mazda 3 and Kia Soul sedan to lure buyers.

Shanghai Volkswagen will unveil its domestically-made Tiguan sport-utility vehicles, equipped with either the 1.8 liter or 2.0 liter engine, for the first time to ride the boom in the SUV market in China.

Changan Ford Mazda will debut its EcoBoost cutaway engine and launch the new 1.5-liter Ford Fiesta hatchback.

As fuel prices keep rising, car makers are also attaching greater attention on new energy vehicles.

Among the 45 models presented by Toyota Motor Corp, the FT-EV electric car, powered by motor and lithium battery, will be a highlight at the show. The Japanese auto maker will also unveil the FT-HS sports car that uses new hybrid technologies and the Hi-CT plug-in hybrid vehicle.

German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz will showcase three new cars that incorporate its latest Blue Efficiency green technology. The E-200 and E-260 sedans as well as the E260 coupe could save at least 0.15 liter per 100 kilometers in fuel consumption, according to the car maker.