The debut of the new generation Lexus ES can be called one of the most important events of the Shanghai Motor Show, which is currently underway. But this is far from the only high-profile debut! The Shanghai Motor Show 2025 became the debut of a large number of interesting electric cars that are intended for the Chinese market, but may later become global models and appear in Ukraine: AUDI E 5 Sportback, Honda GT , Mazda EZ -60, Mercedes - Benz Vision V, Toyota bZ 7, ZEEKR 9 X. What is already known about them?
AUDI E5 Sportback
Remember the news about the launch of the new AUDI brand in partnership with SAIC and the debut of the AUDI E concept car? Only half a year has passed and here we see the finished electric car AUDI E 5 Sportback .
Moreover, the new AUDI brand decided to play big right away, both literally and figuratively: it is a 4.88-meter station wagon with a 2.95-meter wheelbase, a new platform with support for the 800-volt architecture, electronically controlled suspension, and a rear-wheel steering mechanism. Versions with one electric motor and rear-wheel drive or two electric motors and all-wheel drive are planned; the promised power of the electric motor/motors starts from 220 kW or 300 hp and goes up to 579 kW or 787 hp.
Finally, another unexpected surprise from the AUDI E 5 Sportback : the brand and model were created for the Chinese market, but later it is not excluded that they will enter global markets. Therefore, it is likely that over time we will see the electric station wagon AUDI E 5 Sportback on Ukrainian roads - the question is in what status it can come to us. The start of sales of the AUDI E 5 Sportback on the Chinese market is scheduled for the summer of this year.
Denza Z Coupe
The stylish Denza Z coupe (today the Denza brand is part of BYD) currently has the designation of a concept. However, the most careful processing indicates the proximity of this concept car to the production version. So: we are talking about a coupe with classic supercar proportions, which should offer electric all-wheel drive and electronically controlled suspension with the ability to adapt in 10 ms.
However, perhaps the most interesting “highlight” of the Denza Z coupe will be a fully autonomous driving system – there is even a steering wheel that can completely fold into the dashboard! An interesting solution for a sports coupe, which, as it were, should be bought for the pleasure of driving…
But whatever one may say, the Denza Z coupe precursor really looks like one of the most attractive and emotional debutants of the Shanghai Auto Show.
Honda Civic
One model – two faces! This is not the first time that Honda has taken this approach in the Chinese market, paying special attention to partnerships with two local companies – GAC and Dongfeng – and preparing individual versions of one common model with them. This time, it is a large, almost 5-meter electric liftback Honda GT.
The Honda GT electric car is built on the e:N Architecture W platform, which provides rear-wheel drive with one electric motor (200 kW, 272 hp) or all-wheel drive with two electric motors – in the latter case, you can count on 350 kW or 476 hp of total power.
The interior is the same for both versions of the electric car, and the most surprising thing inside is the six displays! Yes, six: a digital instrument panel, a large central display, a miniature vertical display on the center console, two displays instead of side mirrors, plus a display for the passenger. It seems like it's too much.
The market launch of the Honda GT electric car on the Chinese market is scheduled for the end of 2025. Given the popularity of Honda electric crossovers from the Chinese market in Ukraine, the appearance of the new Honda GT is not excluded shortly after the start of sales.
Leapmotor B01
It seems that here is a low-profile electric sedan from the not-so-well-known brand Leapmotor. However, the peculiarity of Leapmotor is its close cooperation with the Stellantis concern and the gradual entry of such electric cars into the European market. What's more: there was information about the possible appearance of Leapmotor electric cars also in Ukraine, and through a network of official dealers. As far as I know, the final decision on the launch of Leapmotor in Ukraine will depend on the conditions of customs clearance of electric cars in the future: if preferential conditions are maintained, then this will make sense; if not, then no.
That is, the situation is that today we have barely heard about the Leapmotor B 01 sedan - and in six months it may be presented in many showrooms throughout Ukraine. And what will the Leapmotor B 01 offer? At a minimum, a fairly laconic and restrained design, a considerable 4.77-meter length, a lithium-iron-phosphate battery, as well as two versions - with a capacity of 132 kW (180 hp) or 160 kW (218 hp), which is quite good for an electric car of this format.
Mazda EZ-60
Similar to the previous example of the Leapmotor B 01, the first information about the Mazda EZ -60 crossover actually appeared as an announcement before the start of the Shanghai Auto Show. And similar to the example of the Mazda EZ -6, the new Mazda EZ -60 crossover is developed in conjunction with the Chinese company Changan.
However, the Mazda EZ -60 crossover differs significantly from the Deepal S 07 model, which is often called the basis for the new product: not only has the "face" with the branded false radiator grille and lights on the trunk lid been changed, but the side parts have also been completely changed - the shape of the doors, the window sill line, etc.
The new electric crossover Mazda EZ -60 turned out to be quite large: the length is 4.85 meters, the wheelbase has been extended by 2.9 meters. The cabin features a new steering wheel, a horizontal 26.5-inch display, and small side displays under the camera mirrors. A premium audio system with 23 speakers is also promised.
And for the new Mazda EZ -60, a fully electric version with a 78 kWh battery is promised, which should be enough for 600 km of range. An alternative is a PHEV hybrid with a 31.7 kWh battery, a 1.5-liter gasoline engine-generator, and a main electric motor with a capacity of 190 kW or 258 hp, which rotates the rear wheels. The debut of the all-wheel drive version is in question. As is the future of the Mazda EZ -60 crossover - after all, remembering the Mazda EZ -6 electric car and its transformation into the Mazda 6e for the European market, a repetition of this story is not excluded.
Mercedes-Benz Vision V
Only a concept, very shocking appearance; however, the fact is that in the form of the Mercedes-Benz Vision V we see a harbinger of the new generation Mercedes-Benz V -class. I hope that the radiator grille in the production model will become smaller; I am almost sure that the combined headlights with stars inside will remain. It is very likely that the interior design has already been determined, plus or minus: the front part of the cabin combines a flat panel with a bunch of displays and a recognizable Mercedes steering wheel.
But in the case of a business van, the most important part of the cabin is not the front, but the rear! The Mercedes - Benz Vision V concept car offers two folding seats and a 65-inch screen in the back, background contour lighting and a 42-speaker audio system, wooden and chrome decor. Although, of course, this is just a concept…
We will see serial versions of the new generation of the Mercedes - Benz V -Class, built on the basis of the latest VAN architecture. EA, as early as 2026. And the range will definitely include not only luxurious Lounge versions, but also more traditional passenger vans and commercial vans.
Toyota bZ7
Not much is known about the Toyota bZ 7 electric sedan, which will be produced jointly with GAC. However, I personally see it as one of the most interesting debutants of the exhibition. After all, the large 5-meter Toyota bZ 7 electric car has a rather attractive design, a loud brand name, and also - it occupies the position of the flagship of the bZ line of electric cars.
These points are enough for the Toyota bZ 7 sedan to appear in Ukraine in the future; even if through the efforts of private sales companies. The launch of Toyota bZ 7 sales is planned for 2026, closer to that time detailed technical information about the new product will appear.
ZEEKR 9X
The last interesting debutant in alphabetical order, but not the last at all, was the large crossover SUV ZEEKR 9 X. Currently, it has the status of a concept car, but the maximum detailed execution indicates a close relationship to a production hybrid car.
Yes, a hybrid one! Although from the very beginning the ZEEKR brand, as part of the large Geely company, was planned to produce expensive and high-tech electric cars; however, later the brand concept was expanded to also include the possibility of producing electrified hybrids. Moreover, the new ZEEKR 9 X is interesting not only for the promise of a hybrid power plant, but also for its gigantic dimensions (its length exceeds 5.2 meters) and design with hints of Range Rover , Toyota Century SUV and other luxury SUV models.
Of course, these are not all the debutants of the Shanghai Auto Show 2025: we can also note the trio of concepts of the Vollswagen ID series (Era, Aura, Evo), the launch of the serial electric sedan Nissan N 7 and the hybrid pickup Nissan Frontier Pro, concept cars of the rather brutal crossovers MG Cyber X and Geely Galaxy Cruiser, the debut of the extended version of the Mercedes - Benz CLA L and the limited version of the BMW M 4, three concepts of the Buick Electra series, etc. Of course, some of the new products will remain only on the local Chinese market. However, I am almost sure that some of the above-mentioned new models will still appear on Ukrainian roads.